2014v2Online

OFF THE VINE
CHRIS BURNETT
As we celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month in April
and continue swinging at 18th & Vine in May, we at the
American Jazz Museum are very pleased to offer a variety
of excellent programming choices as Spring arrives in full
bloom. From our world class performances, award-winning
venues and exceptional educational programming;
to, striking jazz art exhibitions, stunning film collections
and one-of-a-kind exhibit spaces, your American Jazz
Museum is the destination for all things jazz.
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Performance
Named after the famed 1930s Street Hotel club in
the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the Blue Room
simultaneously honors the past and showcases the present
names in jazz. April and May highlights feature:
April 2 Bennie Moten Celebration! -
Elderstatesmen of KC Jazz
April 3 Ernie Krivda Quartet ($15 Cover)
April 12 Concord Recording Artist
Helen Sung Trio ($15 Cover)
April 19 Rob Scheps/Eliot Zigmund
Quintet ($15 Cover)
May 9 CD Release Party! - Diverse
May 15 Joe Cartwright and Musa Nova
May 31 Frank Potenza
A multifaceted exhibit highlighting the countless
musicians who crafted “Kansas City jazz,” a sound known
all over the world. Recognized by DownBeat and Ingram’s
magazines, the Blue Room is a perennial KC Visitors’
Choice winning venue that provides a high quality jazz
“listening room” experience for patrons and a platform
to present dynamic performances from the best local and
national jazz talent in an intimate setting.
Jammin’ at the Gem continues during Jazz Appreciation
Month with the Lifetime Achievement Award
Concert featuring Dr. Nathan Davis and the band of
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Dr. Nathan Davis
jazz all-stars he’s assembled to perform on Saturday, April
19. Dr. Davis will be joined by NEA Jazz Master Curtis
Fuller; the masterful pianist, George Cables; Abe Laboriel
on bass; and, Winard Harper on drums. Dr. Davis, also
a native of Kansas City, Kansas, recently retired from his
tenured post as the esteemed head of the jazz department
at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Jammin’ at the Gem series season concludes on
Saturday, May 17 with a performance that celebrates the
60th anniversary of what is commonly referred to after
Stewart Hoffman’s book, as “The Greatest Jazz Concert
Ever” - Jazz at Massey Hall. The original 1953 concert