Join us as we celebrate the life,
the music, and the iconic legacy
of Kansas City’s own:

Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!

Please keep checking back for More Events for 2024! *Artists and Venues subject to change at any time. Please confirm with Venue directly.

Aug
26
Fri
Brant Jester with Carl Allen @ Majestic Steak House
Aug 26 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Live jazz at The Majestic with Brant Jester and Carl Allen!

About Brant Jester

Brant Jester is from Ozark, Missouri, and graduated from Missouri State University with his bachelor’s degree in music performance. He remains busy as a jazz pianist, piano instructor, and accompanist across the greater Kansas City area. He is also the former pianist of the Missouri Jazz Orchestra (MOJO). Brant has also performed with artists such as Julian Coryell, Bob Bowman, Rick DiMuzio, Zaid Nasser, Peter Schlamb, Randy Hamm, and comedian Todd Glass. Brant also is a composer and arranger and enjoys writing for jazz ensembles and choral music. He enjoys playing both classical and jazz music.

About Carl Allen

“My ultimate goal is to get to a level like Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Elvin Jones, and Billy Higgins … who every time they sit down behind a set of drums it’s swinging….”

With over 200 recordings to his credit, the gifted Milwaukee-born, New York-based drummer, sideman, bandleader, entrepreneur, and educator, Carl Allen’s profound and propulsive percolations provided soulful and syncopated support for nearly three decades.

Born on April 25, 1961, Allen grew up on gospel, R&B, and funk, but later turned to jazz after hearing an LP by the legendary saxophonist Benny Carter. He studied with drum instructor Roy Sneider and band director Robert Siemele. His first hometown gigs were with sax greats Sonny Stitt and James Moody. Allen studied at The University of Wisconsin at Green Bay from 1979 to 1981 and transferred to William Patterson College in New Jersey, where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies and Performance.

Allen joined trumpeter Freddie Hubbard a year before his graduation,  served as his Musical Director for eight years, and recorded several recordings with the trumpeter including Double Take and Life Flight. Allen also played with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Jennifer Holliday, J.J. Johnson, Rickie Lee Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Branford Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Lena Horne, Ruth Brown, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Mike Stern, Nellie McKay, Terence Blanchard, Phil Woods, Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Joe Henderson, Billy Childs, and many others. Allen’s phenomenal sideman discography also includes Jackie McLean (Dynasty), Donald Harrison (Indian Blues, Noveau Swing), Donald Byrd (A City Called Heaven), and Art Farmer (The Company I Keep).

“Carl Allen is an international powerhouse. His sound and feeings have fuled the bands of Freddie Hubbard, Christian McBride and countless others as well leading his own projects. “
– Joe Lovano

Piccadilly Square (Timeless) was Allen’s first CD as a leader, released in 1989, followed by The Dark Side of Dewey (Evidence), The Pursuer (Atlantic), Testimonial (Atlantic), and Get Ready, his 2007 Mack Avenue gospel/Motown accented debut release with co-leader, bassist Rodney Whitaker followed up by Work to Do (Mack Avenue Records) featuring Kirk Whalum.

Education has always been part of my mission Allen says. Art Blakey taught me the importance of nurturing the next generation of musicians. “Every generation needs someone to help them get to the next level and this is what I am hoping to do”. In May of 2012, Allen received an honorary doctorate from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah in Humane Letters.

Allen is also an accomplished businessman. He co-founded Big Apple Productions in 1988 with saxophonist Vincent Herring and produced several recordings for several Japanese labels with future stars Roy Hargrove and Nicholas Payton. Several years ago he created Nella Productions which produces projects and developed an education component for the company called The New York Jazz Symposium where he runs workshops around the world on jazz. Allen has also produced recordings for pianist Eric Reed, Dewey Redman, Pharoah Sanders, Freddie Hubbard, Kris Bowers, and guitarist Lage Lund, the winner of the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Monk Competition and many others totaling nearly 70 credits as a producer.

Carl Allen’s multifaceted career provides the perfect template for what a modern musician should be. As Sid Gribetz of Jazz Times wrote, “more than just another fine drummer, Carl Allen has it all together as a bandleader, businessman, and producer, becoming a force in today’s jazz world.”

Allen maintains an exhaustive schedule of recording, touring, and teaching. He remains active as a sideman with Christian McBride and Inside Straight, Benny Golson, and others. As a leader most recently leading The Carl Allen Quartet as well as The Art of Elvin, a tribute band dedicated to his two drum influences, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones was started after the passing of Elvin Jones in 2004.

Lori Tucker Trio @ Johnny's Jazz Bar & Grill
Aug 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Lori Tucker Trio | Live jazz at the Oak Room inside the Intercontinental Hotel.

About Lori Tucker

Lori Tucker is a versatile vocalist from the KC area! Lori’s expressive vocals have enabled her to hold long-term engagements in many of Kansas City’s finest venues. In addition to rhythm and blues, jazz and blues she’s widely recognized in the gospel arena. Lori is a Kansas City icon – a not to be missed performer!

Lonnie McFadden Quartet @ Lonnie's Reno Club
Aug 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Lonnie McFadden Quartet | Relish in the history of Kansas City jazz music and a delectable pre-fixe menu at Lonnie’s Reno Club. Our upscale jazz club offers a luxe dining and music experience in Kansas City.

About Lonnie McFadden

Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, Lonnie McFadden is a unique 

multi-talented performer who sings, tap dances, and plays trumpet. 

Lonnie has traveled the globe performing and representing Kansas City Jazz at major jazz festivals and shows around the world. His performances have been seen internationally and include such events as the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland and the Nice Jazz Festival in Nice, France. 

Lonnie and his brother Ronald McFadden (The McFadden Brothers) have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in show business. Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Orlando, Lee Greenwood, Gladys Knight, and The Count Basie Orchestra are just some of the great entertainers they have had the pleasure of working with. The McFadden Brothers have also performed for all types of audiences including a very special 2004 USO tour to Kuwait and Iraq for our troops. 

Lonnie has performed in casino showrooms, arenas, and coliseums that include the MGM Grand and Hilton casinos in Las Vegas, Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, Nimes Coliseum Nimes, France, Rosemont Theater Chicago, Lincoln Center New York, Sprint Center Kansas City, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Cerritos, CA.  

Most recently The McFadden Brothers received Life Time Achievement Awards from the Jazz Museum in May 2016, and Living Legends Awards from Tapology in October 2017.

In 2017, Lonnie received the Best Entertainer award from Ingram’s Magazine.

And The McFadden Brothers were inducted into the Jazz Walk of Fame at 18th & Vine in Kansas City on July 2, 2022.

“Ode 2 Bird” featuring Houston Smith + Morgan Faw and The Flame. @ The Blue Room
Aug 26 @ 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

FRIDAY, August 26 from 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm is “Ode 2 Bird” showcasing the 2022 Spotlight: Charlie Parker “Artists in Residence” – Morgan Faw and Houston Smith, and featuring Faw’s band “The Flame.” @ The Blue Room

The Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum, Spotlight: Charlie Parker, and the Kansas City community welcome the return of natives, Houston Smith, and Morgan Faw, (also known as “The Blue Room Babies”) with their “Ode 2 Bird” concert, a Celebration of Charlie Parker and his Music and Legacy.

This performance will also feature the members of Faw’s working band, “The Flame.” 

Conceived by the two alto saxophonists in 2020, “Ode 2 Bird” came from their idea of “pushing the envelope open” through expanding and raising the standard of music coming from a younger generation…a rather Hungry Generation. This concert also realizes the hopes of Charlie Parker himself, who stated as much in a 1954 interview with his contemporary fellow saxophonist, Paul Desmond.

“Ode 2 Bird” features special renditions of compositions by Charlie Parker and Kansas City natives such as Bobby Watson along with the original works of Smith and Faw and more!

Personnel: 

  • Morgan Faw + Houston Smith – Alto Saxophones
  • Christian Napoleon – Drums
  • Isaac Coyle – Bass
  • Alonzo Demetrius – Trumpet
  • Miles Lennox – Piano
Aug
27
Sat
Late Night Jam Session @ Mutual Musicians Foundation
Aug 27 @ 1:00 am – 3:00 am

Late night jam session at the Mutual Musicians Foundation!

MUTUAL MUSICIANS FOUNDATION

Kansas City, one of the principal cradles of jazz along with New York, New Orleans, and Chicago, bred a number of nationally significant big bands and a legion of talented soloists, who revolutionized jazz in America. These musicians belonged to Local No. 627, one of a handful of African-American musicians’ unions affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians.

Established in 1917, Local 627, then known as the “Colored Musicians Union,” operated as a social center, a clearinghouse for engagements, and a vehicle for grievances against unfair practices by booking agents and band leaders. The jazz style pioneered and fostered by the members of Local 627 developed along original lines influenced by, yet unique from, the traditions of New Orleans, Chicago, and New York.

Today, the tradition jams on at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, located on the former site of Local 627 at 1823 Highland Ave., in the heart of the historic 18th and Vine District. The Mutual Musicians Foundation, Inc., originally incorporated to manage the building and assets of Local 627, continued operating the building as a social club for musicians and fans after the merger with Local 34 in 1970. In 1979, the Foundation was prominently featured in Bruce Ricker’s film, The Last of the Blue Devils. A National Historic Landmark, the building is also entered in the National Register of Historic Places and the Kansas City Landmarks Commission Register.

As they have since 1930, musicians gather at the Foundation Friday and Saturday nights after midnight to jam into the early morning hours. The Foundation also serves as a rehearsal space for members, a classroom for visiting students, and a place for private parties. The Historic Jazz Foundation, Inc. supports the Mutual Musicians Foundation and its programs. A living museum, the Foundation preserves and develops Kansas City’s rich musical heritage.

Explore the online exhibit at UMKC’s LaBudde Special Collections “Musician’s Local 627.”

The Mutual Musicians Foundation was listed on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1980.

Early Bird: “Charlie Parker at 18th and Vine” Walking Tour (with tour guides Chuck Haddix and Geri Sanders) @ 18th & Vine Jazz District
Aug 27 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

About this event

Get your tickets TODAY for a walking tour of one of Kansas City’s most historic neighborhoods; 18th & Vine Jazz District! August 29, 2022 is the 102nd birthday of Kansas City jazz legend, Charlie Parker. Celebrate early by touring Bird’s old stomping grounds and feel his tunes run through you!

Tour Guides:

Chuck Haddix – Director of UMKC Marr Sound Archives, host of KCUR 89.3 “Fish Fry” on Friday and Saturday nights, author of “Bird – The Life and Music of Charlie Parker” and “Kansas City Jazz – From Ragtime to Bebop”.

CHUCK HADDIX, AUTHOR AND JAZZ SCHOLAR
GERI SANDERS, DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIONS, AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM

 

Attendees will meet on the sidewalk outside of The Blue Room (1600 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108) at 9:45 am to check in for the walking tour. Bottled water will be provided. Please bring your tickets with you.

About the Tour:

During the days of public segregation, Kansas City’s 18th and Vine area developed into a self-contained community. The intersection of 18th and Vine served as the hub of a bustling business and entertainment district–the heart and soul of an African-American community, bounded by Independence Avenue on the north, Troost Avenue on the west, 27th Street on the south and Benton Boulevard to the east.

Just after the turn of the 19th century, an African-American preacher and his wife, the Reverend and Mrs. Sweeney, operated a truck farm in the 18th and Vine area. By the late 1800s, thousands of African-Americans settled in the area, then known as the “Bowery.” In November 1909, the first moving picture show for African-Americans, the Star, opened in a wood-frame building at the northeast corner of 18th and Vine, forming the cornerstone of the new business district.

The area grew quickly and by 1915 dry goods stores, laundries, fish shops, bakeries, barbers, cobblers, tailors, restaurants, nightclubs and all the businesses and services denied the community downtown packed 18th Street east of Paseo Boulevard. Apartments and headquarters for social clubs perched on the second floor above the bustle of commerce below. The fragrant aroma of hickory smoke from Henry Perry’s Barbeque pit at 19th and Highland wafted over the community. Street cars rattled down the center of 18th Street connecting the community to the rest of the city and jobs in packing plants, the railroads and homes of the wealthy. Once established, the community grew swiftly and prospered.

Young Charlie Parker came of age as a man and musician in the 18th and Vine area. After Charlie’s parents separated in 1930, he and his mother Addie moved to a two-story brick house at 1516 Olive Street just blocks away from 18th and Vine. Addie worked nights and after she left for work, Charlie began his nightly rounds of the night clubs dotting 12th and 18th streets. While on tour later in his career, Charlie often stopped off in Kansas City to visit Addie, play gigs in the clubs on 18th street and renew old acquaintances.

Download the full itinerary here.

“In the Yard” Jazz Film Screenings @ Gem Theater
Aug 27 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
"In the Yard" Jazz Film Screenings @ Gem Theater

In the Yard is back this year with two days of music and more! Mark your calendars and join us at the American Jazz Museum as we continue celebrating our 25-year legacy at 18th and Vine. Film screenings at the Gem Theater featuring classic jazz movies, local filmmakers, and the John H. Baker Film Collection.

Annual Musical Salute to Charlie Parker @ Charlie “Bird” Parker Plaza
Aug 27 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Annual Musical Salute to Charlie Parker

Happy Birthday, Charlie!

Burnett Music Foundation was able to establish a strategic partnership in 2022 with the American Jazz Museum and brings its Bird Boot Camp’s “Musical Salute to Bird” finale to the Charlie Parker Memorial Plaza in the Historic 18th & Vine District. Morgan Faw and Houston Smith will help lead the tribute this year.

The memorial is located directly behind the American Jazz Museum.

The Musical Salute will also act in synergy as a prelude to the AJM’s “In The Yard” concert at 5 pm.

PHOTOGRAPH: 2020 BIRD BOOT CAMP + MUSICAL SALUTE AT THE GEM THEATER WITH BOBBY WATSON LEADING THE TRIBUTE AT THE CHARLIE PARKER MEMORIAL.

The 2022 musical salute will be led by Artists in Residence, Houston Smith and Morgan Faw who anticipate being joined by jazz great Bobby Watson.

BRING YOUR INSTRUMENT AND PLAY ALONG

PHOTOGRAPH: 2021 BIRD BOOT CAMP + MUSICAL SALUTE AT THE FOLLY THEATER WITH RONALD McFADDEN LEADING THE TRIBUTE.

All musicians are welcome to participate in this brief performance tribute to Charlie Parker.

The Musical Salute traditionally symbolized the conclusion of Kansas City’s festive “Spotlight: Charlie Parker” week of celebration.

HISTORY OF THE MUSICAL TRIBUTE

The late Eddie Baker conceived a “21 Sax Salute” at Charlie Parker’s gravesite in Lincoln Cemetery where all of the area saxophonists would congregate to pay musical tribute to “Bird.” The tradition was resumed by Ahmad Alaadeen in 2002 up until his passing. The salute was conducted sporadically until the cemetery owner restricted public access to the historic site. Bird Boot Camp took up the “Musical Salute” as part of our programming in 2019 when Burnett Music Foundation took over administration.

PHOTOGRAPH: 2007 Charlie Parker Lincoln Cemetery Gravesite Tribute – Participating musicians shown (L-R) are: Horace Washington, David Basse, Stanton Kessler, Dan Jaffe, Bobby Watson, Kevin Gregg, Loren Pickford, Christopher Burnett, Ahmed Alaadeen, and Mike Corrigan.

CHARLIE PARKER MEMORIAL – BIRD LIVES

Artist/Designer: Robert Graham
Dedicated: March 1999
Description: Large face of Charlie Parker.  Green patina on face.  Trapezoidal base with brown patina.  “Bird Lives” inscription on the base.  The face was not cast but was pieced together in a grid-like pattern.

This sculpture memorializes legendary jazz artist Charlie “Bird” Parker.  He was a major part of the Kansas City jazz scene and culture.  It is located in the middle of a plaza, also named after Parker, in the historic Jazz District and just west of the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine Streets.

Inscription:

Charlie “Bird” Parker Plaza

Mayor Emanuel Cleaver II

Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners:  Ollie W. Gates, President; Sheila Kemper Dietrich, Commissioner; Anne Garney, Commissioner; Terry R. Dopson, Director

City Council:  Ed Ford, Teresa Loar, Jim Glover, Paul Danaher, Ronald E. Finley, Mary Williams-Neal, Evert Asjes III, Aggie Stackhaus, Ken Bacchus, Kelvin Simmons, George D. Blackwood, Judy Swope.

Robert Graham, Sculptor

In loving memory of Blanche Jones and Doris Jones-Stein.  Given by the Jules and Doris Stein Foundation, the Oppenheimer Brothers Foundation, and Tony and Marti Oppenheimer.

History courtesy of KC Parks.

 

“In the Yard” Outdoor Concert – Jackiem Joyner and the Shedrick Mitchell Trio featuring Christie Dashiell @ American Jazz Museum
Aug 27 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In the Yard ft. Jackiem Joyner and the Shedrick Mitchell Trio ft. Christie Dashiell

About this event

It’s the American Jazz Museum’s 25th Anniversary this year, and we’re bringing more live music to 18th and Vine! Join us for In the Yard, our annual backyard birthday bash for Charlie “Yardbird” Parker including family-friendly activities, food trucks, yard games, and live music!

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY OFFER: Purchase a $25 membership and gain access to our VIP members-only area and special commemorative swag (includes air-conditioning, indoor bathroom, and private bar)

4 pm: Annual horn salute at Charlie Parker Memorial statue, gates open

5 pm: Live music begins on the Great Lawn ft.:

Jackiem Joyner

Shedrick Mitchell Trio ft. Christie Dashiell

 

In The Yard: Outdoor Concert image

Jackiem Joyner:

After more than 12 years as a recording artist, Jackiem Joyner continues to stand out with electrifying live performances and brilliant music productions. As a performer, he has toured over 30 countries and performed with the likes of the late George Duke, Marcus Miller, Keiko Matsui, Donnie McClurkin, Angela Bofill, Najee, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, and many, many more. Joyner’s radio success is widely known within the industry.

Jackiem has two number 1 hit songs, five top 10 billboard singles, and a number one debut album under his belt. Joyner is proud to stand front and center on the main stage most weekends around the country. A quick glance at Joyner’s track record makes it clear that he continues to beat the odds in a tough and competitive music industry. “I love what I do and I have passion”, Jackiem says. “I don’t care how hard things get, it’ll never stop me from doing what I love: playing the sax, writing music and stories, and performing live.” His love of writing novels came as a surprise to many of his fans. “I’m very excited to release my second novel soon after my album release,” Joyner says. “Writing stories is now a big part of my creative journey.”

In The Yard: Outdoor Concert image

Christie Dashiell

In The Yard: Outdoor Concert image

Shedrick Mitchell

Candace Evans @ Cafe Trio
Aug 27 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Live jazz at Cafe Trio!

Offering the perfect Trio of Great local Food, Art, and Live Music.

CANDACE EVANS

ABOUT CAFE TRIO

Comfortable, calming, and chic, Café Trio draws a diverse clientele of urban dwellers, on-the-town suburbanites, and tourists who strike up lively conversations over classically inspired craft cocktails and beautifully imagined seasonal from-scratch dishes. Perched on the incline at 45th and Main Street, the restaurant’s all-seasons patio view of the J.C. Nichols Fountain and Country Club Plaza add to the vibe. Executive Chef Nick Estell and his culinary team hand-cut the steaks and chops and use a cornucopia of local and regional produce and artisan foods for their well-curated menu. Don’t-miss items include Café Trio’s handcrafted cracker-crust pizzas, roasted chicken, confit garlic mashed potatoes, and the warm chocolate truffle cake. Imbibe your pleasures at the weekly happy hour with signature martinis such as the Marilyn Monroe or Paris Hilton — paired with the Prince Edward Island mussels or crispy lump crab cakes, you just might have fantasies of taking up residence in one of Café Trio’s comfy booths. And if you’re planning a party, Trio’s two private event spaces are just the ticket for a sexy soiree.

The Dan Thomas Quintet Featuring Bobby Watson @ Tom's Town Distilling Co.
Aug 27 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Dan Thomas Quintet Featuring Bobby Watson @ Tom's Town Distilling Co.

Presented by The Folly Theater, Kansas City Jazz ALIVE, and Tom’s Town.

Enjoy a special night of jazz at Tom’s Town Distilling Company in the Rickenbacker Room. As part of Spotlight: Charlie Parker, the Dan Thomas Quintet featuring Bobby Watson will perform 2 sets, starting at 7:30pm. Guests are invited to arrive early for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and 1 complimentary cocktail. A cash bar will also be available.

The Dan Thomas Quartet features Dan Thomas, Brian Ward (keys and organ), Forest Stewart (bass), and Marty Morrison (drums).

Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to live jazz in an amazing setting at Tom’s Town Distilling Co!

Limited tickets available – GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Danny Embrey Trio @ Green Lady Lounge
Aug 27 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

DANNY EMBREY

Kansas City-based Danny Embrey has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading jazz guitarists. In addition to recording and playing concerts, festivals, and club dates, Embrey is in demand as an arranger, composer, and producer.

Danny Embrey toured and performed during the 1980s with Sergio Mendes and Clare Fischer’s Latin Band. With the Sergio Mendes Band, he traveled the globe. “My first trip with Sergio was seven weeks in Europe; then, we went to South Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, and Australia.” He recalls playing for King Hussein in Jordan and the Reagans in the East Room of the White House. There were also television appearances on Solid Gold, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Johnny Carson Show.

While in the Los Angeles area he also toured and/or recorded with such notables as Gary Foster, Steve Houghton, Alan Broadbent, Gene Harris, Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Sheppard, Barry White, Shelly Manne, Monty Budwig, Annie Ross, Sam Most, and Leroy Vinnegar.

When Embrey left the Sergio Mendes group, he moved to Seattle, Washington where he would spend the next two years. Living in the Seattle area gave him the opportunity to work in the local area, continue to work on the west coast, and begin a new phase in his career. Chuck Israels asked Embrey to join him as a guitar instructor at Western Washington University. He became a member of the IAJE and did clinics in Seattle, Interlochen, Michigan, and Canada.

Upon returning to the Kansas City area Embrey recorded and toured with jazz artists, Karrin Allyson, Interstring, Frank Mantooth, Sons of Brasil, and numerous other world-class jazz groups. Embrey appears on eight of Allyson’s recordings and has toured worldwide as her musical director and he was co-producer on two of her albums: “I Didn’t Know About You,” and “Azure-Te.”

The Interstring connection resulted in two more highly acclaimed albums: “Odahoda” and Winter Song.” Embrey also recorded during this time with Mike Metheny, PBT Trio, the Blvd Big Band, Angela Hagenbach, Pat Wilson, Margaret Carlson, Ed Pharr, Charlie Gatshet, and numerous others.

GREEN LADY LOUNGE

Green Lady Lounge

$5 cover charge cash or credit at door. Always open seating. No reservations. 21 & over.

Green Lady Lounge features Kansas City Jazz musicians and only their original compositions in the rich Kansas City tradition. Free of televisions you can focus on music, atmosphere, and conversation.

Live Kansas City Jazz 365 days a year.

Hours:
Sunday through Friday 5 pm to 3 am
Saturday 2 pm to 3 am

Leslie MacLean Trio @ Black Dolphin
Aug 27 @ 10:00 pm – 1:00 am

Leslie Maclean Trio – Black Dolphin
10:00pm – 1:00am Sat 8/27

LESLIE MACLEAN

Leslie Maclean, pianist, composer, vocalist, and teacher, has been a professional musician since the age of 13. While in college, Leslie worked extensively with free jazz proponent Muhul Richard Abrams. Her imaginative and artistic performance at the Midwest Intercollegiate Jazz Festival won her the esteemed American Music Foundation Award, granted to the single outstanding instrumental soloist at the event. Leslie was deemed “the best” by judging panelist Marian McPartland, who presented the award.

She opened for jazz legend Stan Kenton and has appeared at many top Chicago jazz clubs and on television and radio. Leslie has also performed with guitarist Mundell Lowe and drummer Roy Burns. She cites as one of her main influences the music of the Big Bands and enjoys bringing the ensemble-style articulations of the big band sound into her playing and her arrangements.

Her piano style also owes much to her background in classical music and displays a satisfying depth of touch and sensitivity to the piano keyboard. Leslie’s original tunes reflect her wide-ranging musical interests and run the gamut from straight-ahead swing and well-crafted ballads to driving Latin rhythms and jazz fusion.

Maclean earned a Master of Music in piano performance at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University.

The Trio

Originally from Chicago, the Leslie Maclean Trio appeared at many of that city’s top jazz clubs including Orphan’s on Lincoln Avenue, The Bulls in Lincoln Park West, and The Back Room on Rush Street. The group now performs throughout the Midwest region where it continues to play unique, exciting, and passionate renditions of jazz classics as well as Leslie’s original compositions.

The Trio has appeared at top jazz venues in the Midwest including Jardine’s, Bar Natasha, The Blue Room, Green Lady Lounge, Black Dolphin (KC), Dazzle (Denver), University of Illinois, The Broadview (Wichita), Acoustic Sounds Café (Little Rock), the Ritz-Carlton, Cafe Balaban, the Bistro, Finale and other jazz venues in the St. Louis area.

No stranger to radio and TV media, the group has appeared on Ross Gentile’s ‘Standards in Jazz’ radio show on WSIE-FM, Don Wolfe’s Saturday night Jazz Show on KMOX-AM, Groovy Grant’s “The Original Traffic Jam” show, and KC’s “Afternoon Jazz” show both on KKFI-FM, Ginnie Coleman’s “Just Jazz” show on KCUR, David Basse’s “The Jazz Scene” show on KANU, Barry Gaston’s “The Jazz Café” show on KMUW, Joe Boehnlein’s show on WICR, and the Morning Show on FOX 2 TV in St. Louis. The Trio’s newest CD, That’s Time Enough, received national airplay and international airplay in the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and Bogotá, Colombia.

Listen

BLACK DOLPHIN

Contact

For information please call 816.215.2954 (textable) or email john.scott@greenladylounge.com

We do not reserve seating. Just open seating. $5 cover charge at the door. Cash or Credit.

Black Dolphin
1813 Grand Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64108
816.215.2954 (textable)

Aug
19
Sat
BIRD BOOT CAMP (+MUSICAL SALUTE) @ Paseo Academy
Aug 19 @ 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

TIA FULLER

GRAMMY NOMINEE
2023 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

 When Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue recording artist, composer, and bandleader Tia Fuller picks up her saxophone, something amazing happens. Blending technical brilliance, melodic creativity, and the performing precision drawn from both her academic and stage experience, Fuller is a force to be reckoned with in the worlds of jazz, pop, R&B, and more. Currently, Fuller balances the worlds of performance and education, fulfilling a demanding schedule as both a busy touring and recording artist and a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Fuller’s resume makes her uniquely qualified for these roles. The Denver, Colorado native graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, and summa cum laude with a Master’s degree in Jazz Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Already established as a leading jazz musician, Fuller was selected to be a member of the all-female band touring with Grammy-winning pop star Beyoncé. Performing as part of the I AM … Sasha Fierce and Beyoncé Experience World Tour on stages across the globe, Fuller also became a featured soloist on the Beyoncé Experience DVD (Me, Myself and I), I AM Yours I DVD (Wynn Theatre) and also appeared on number of major television shows, including Today ShowGood Morning AmericaThe Oprah Winfrey ShowBET AwardsAmerican Music Awards, Grammy Awards and as a featured soloist with Beyoncé for President Obama at the White House. An accomplished solo artist in her own right, Fuller has recorded five full-length projects with her quartet. Her most recent album, Diamond Cut, received a Grammy nomination in the Best Instrumental Jazz category; produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Terri Lyne Carrington, the album also features two superb rhythm sections, both of which contain some of jazz world’s brightest luminaries – bassist Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, then bassist James Genus and drummer Bill Stewart. Adding texture and harmonic support of several compositions are guitarist Adam Rogers and organist Sam Yahel. Additionally, Carrington contributes to two tracks with percussion.

The 2023 🔗BIRDBOOTCAMP.ORG was a success!
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER BURNETT
Musical Salute @ Charlie Parker Memorial
Aug 19 @ 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm


A musical salute to Charlie Parker, following Bird Boot Camp at his memorial.

MOVED INSIDE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT

EVENT HISTORY

BIRD BOOT CAMP began in 2014 as part of the original Charlie Parker celebration that was initiated (Spotlight: Charlie Parker) by the Jazz catalyst nonprofit organization, Kansas City Jazz A.L.I.V.E. The originator of the Boot Camp program idea was Greg Carroll, who partnered with Clarence Smith and they successfully modeled their one-day educational (Charlie Parker Student Music Boot Camp) event after some of the premier jazz camps and other music education programming they’d developed or initiated at various points in their respective professional careers over the years.

Spotlighting the life and musical contributions of Charlie Parker, Jr. (b. August 29, 1920, Kansas City, Kansas – d. March 12, 1955, New York, New York) by the entire greater Kansas City metropolitan area community was also considered to be long overdue among this initial consortium of noted artists, educators, Jazz venue owners, and arts institutions in the region.

In 2019, Burnett Music Foundation, a relatively new Jazz nonprofit organization, was asked to take over the program and has since assumed the primary role of artistic director and administrator, handling every detail of Bird Boot Camp – from the itinerary schedule for the day, booking artists and clinicians, organizing a coherent program, to funding the entire event through sponsorships, donations, and grants to preclude possible financial barriers to participation.

BMF added the Musical Salute element as well. In 2020 Burnett Music Foundation earned a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for Bird Boot Camp + Musical Salute. In 2021 the event was again very successful, was professionally produced, and held in downtown Kansas City at The Folly Theater. (URL: BirdBootCamp.org)

+MUSICAL SALUTE

The late Eddie Baker conceived a “21 Sax Salute” at Charlie Parker’s gravesite in Lincoln Cemetery where all of the area saxophonists would congregate to pay musical tribute to “Bird.” The tradition was resumed by Ahmad Alaadeen in 2002 up until his passing. The salute was conducted sporadically until the cemetery owner restricted public access to the historic site. Bird Boot Camp took up the “Musical Salute” as part of our programming in 2019 when Burnett Music Foundation took over administration.

PHOTOGRAPH: 2007 Charlie Parker Lincoln Cemetery Gravesite Tribute – Participating musicians shown (L-R) are: Horace Washington, David Basse, Stanton Kessler, Dan Jaffe, Bobby Watson, Kevin Gregg, Loren Pickford, Christopher Burnett, Ahmed Alaadeen, and Mike Corrigan.

Aug
20
Sun
Opening Jazz Brunch with Millie Edwards & Dan Sturdevant @ The Phoenix
Aug 20 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

The 🔗 SpotlightCharlieParker.org Opening Jazz Brunch with Millie Edwards & Dan Sturdevant with special appearance by 2023 Spotlight Charlie Parker Artist in Residence, Grammy-Nominee Tia Fuller was a great success!

PHOTOS BY GREG CARROLL

 

Alyssa Murray at the Majestic @ The Majestic
Aug 20 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Gerald Spaits: “An Evening with Sax and Violins” @ The Warwick Theater
Aug 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm


Gerald Spaits: “An Evening with Sax and Violins”

Sax and Violins is a jazz combo and string ensemble that performs original music and arrangements of jazz classics.

Aug 20, 7:00 PM

Aug
21
Mon
Peter Schlamb and Matt Villanger @ Chaz on the Plaza
Aug 21 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm


Peter Schlamb is a vibraphonist and pianist based in Kansas City, Missouri. He released his second album “Electric Tinks” and maintains a busy schedule performing locally, nationally and internationally. Peter spent several years in New York City where he attended and graduated from New School University.

In addition to leading his own groups, the Peter Schlamb Quartet and Electric Tinks, Peter is an active member of several ensembles including Logan Richardson’s Blues People, Matt Villinger’s All Night Trio, and the Marcus Lewis Quintet.

PHOTOS BY DARREL McKAIG


More information:

https://conservatory.umkc.edu/profiles/faculty-directory/peter-schlamb.html

https://www.raphaelkc.com/chazontheplaza

Mike Pagan @ The Majestic
Aug 21 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Blue Room Jam Session @ Blue Room
Aug 21 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm


Jam session featuring Artist in Residence, Tia Fuller at the Blue Room.

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.

A multifaceted exhibit highlighting the countless musicians who crafted “Kansas City jazz,” a sound known all over the world, The Blue Room also provides a distinctive platform to present dynamic performances from the best local and national jazz talent in an intimate setting.

Aug
22
Tue
Vivid Vision Opening Panel Session “Women in Jazz, Charlie Parker’s Influence” @ Downtown Public Library in Helzberg Auditorium
Aug 22 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Photo of the outside of the Downtown KC Library

Join KC Jazz ALIVE for the kickoff of the tenth celebration of Kansas City’s own Charlie”Yardbird” Parker. This Opening Panel discussion features panelists Deborah Brown, Carolyn Glenn Brewer and Tia Fuller, and will be moderated by Lisa Hittle, for a conversation about Women in Jazz: Charlie Parker’s influence. More information on our featured speakers on the website, www.spotlightcharlieparker.org.

Kansas City Jazz ALIVE is proud to present 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker – shining a bright light on the musical genius of Kansas City’s own Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!

Now in its 10th year, the festivities will include more than 25 jazz showcase performances, educational events, a “Bird” musical salute, and jazz history tours. The week will culminate with this exciting “Bird” Tribute Concert featuring Grammy-nominee Tia Fuller with Kansas City jazz all-stars plus a special partnership with Youth Symphony of Kansas City selected string students performing an exclusive reimagining of the famed “Bird” With Strings recording!

 

 

PARTICIPANTS

Lisa Hittle, moderator

Lisa Hittle served as the Director of Jazz Programs at Wichita’s Friends University for 30 years, where she developed and led one of the most outstanding college jazz programs in the Midwest. She is also an accomplished jazz saxophonist, and an alumnus of the Stan Kenton Orchestra and a well-known local musician. She has a degree in Music Performance from Kansas State University, a degree in Music Education from Wichita State University, and a master’s degree in music performance from Wichita State University. She has performed with artists such as Clark Terry, Bob Hope, The Four Freshmen, Rodney Dangerfield, Joan Rivers and many others. She has brought an incredible array of jazz artists to Wichita, including The Count Basie Orchestra, The New York Voices, The Big Phat Band, The Four Freshmen, Monty Alexander, Matt Wilson, Cyrus Chestnut, Carmen Bradford and many others.

 

Joining Friends University in 1989, Hittle mentored and educated hundreds of young aspiring jazz musicians (many of whom are also now Wichita favorites), stoking their appreciation and passion for jazz. Lisa was awarded the Wichita Art Council’s Art Educator of the Year in 2006, and the Homer Orborne Award for Outstanding Jazz Educator in 2012. Under Hittle’s direction, her groups were invited to perform at major jazz festivals in Italy and France and was the only US group invited to perform at the 2013 Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. Her groups have won many college jazz festivals and been selected through taped auditions to perform four times at the prestigious Jazz Education International Conference, and 14 times at the Kansas Music Educators Conference. Lisa is now a Professor Emeritus, and plays with jazz duos, trios and quartets in the Wichita area on a weekly basis.

Deborah Brown, panelist

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Deborah’s musical talents have propelled her from coast to coast in the USA, eventually leading her to Europe via Japan and Indonesia culminating in a 12-year residency in Europe. Performing in nightclubs, concerts, jazz festivals, on television and radio soundstages, Deborah has made a name for herself with appearances in more than 50 countries around the world. Deborah Brown has 16 recordings as a leader and is featured on many others as a special guest artist.

 

Deborah has enjoyed participating in and creating many unique musical situations….among these (in no particular order) are….A quintet recording with trombonist Slide Hampton. A concert tour in duo with Roger Kelloway. Another highlight, a duo performance and recording with guitarist Joe Beck. Also, with pianist Dorthy Donegan at a festival in Holland. A performance with trumpetist, Clark Terry. A studio recording of the cd “A Lover’s Question” with author James Baldwin. Tours with her quartet “Jazz 4 Jazz”, that featured pianist Horace Parlan, Red Mitchell or Hein Van De Geijn on acoustic bass and legendary drummer Ed Thigpen. Concert appearances with Johnny Griffin, Benny Bailey, Billy Mitchell, Michelle Le Grand, “Toots” Thielemans, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Bobby Shew, Kenny Drew, Roy Hargrove, Eric Reeds Trio, The Doky Brothers and so many more jazz greats. Her latest CD was recorded with the fine saxophonist, Bobby Watson on “All Too Soon”. A concert performance and a future recording with Lee Konitz.

Tia Fuller, 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker Artist-in-Residence

Kansas City Jazz ALIVE is proud to present 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker – shining a bright light on the musical genius of Kansas City’s own Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!

Now in its 10th year, the festivities will include more than 25 jazz showcase performances, educational events, a “Bird” musical salute, and jazz history tours. The week will culminate with this exciting “Bird” Tribute Concert featuring Grammy-nominee Tia Fuller with Kansas City jazz all-stars plus a special partnership with Youth Symphony of Kansas City selected string students performing an exclusive reimagining of the famed “Bird” With Strings recording!

When Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue recording artist, composer, and bandleader Tia Fuller picks up her saxophone, something amazing happens. As a force to be reckoned with, Fuller balances the worlds of performance and education, fulfilling a demanding schedule as both a busy touring and recording artist and a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

As a leading jazz musician, Fuller has toured with Grammy-winning pop star Beyoncé and appeared on a number of major television shows, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, BET Awards, American Music Awards, Grammy Awards and as a featured soloist with Beyoncé for President Obama at the White House.

Carolyn Glenn Brewer

Author Carolyn Glenn Brewer is a longtime music educator who has spent a career promoting — through writing, playing, and teaching — the importance of instrumental education. Besides being a grade school and middle school band director, she has played clarinet in bands, chamber groups, orchestras, and musical theaters in the Kansas City area.

A social historian as well, her highly acclaimed books Caught in the Path and Caught Ever After, about the Ruskin Heights tornado, have been featured on radio and television, and adapted to the stage. In 2012 Caught Ever After was named a Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award finalist.

Her jazz books chronicle a happier aspect of Kansas City history. Changing the Tune, the Kansas City Women’s Jazz Festival, tells the story of this ground-breaking event through firsthand accounts and archival documents. Downbeat called it, “a fitting tribute to the Kansas City Women’s Jazz Festival’s achievement and influence, as well as a valuable record of the ongoing struggle of talented female musicians to gain their rightful place in the jazz world.”

Pat Metheny’s teenage years in the Kansas City area, and the first steps of his stellar career as an internationally beloved guitarist are documented in Beneath Missouri Skies. This book was selected as one of the best jazz books of the year (2021) by the New York City Jazz Record.

Carolyn is currently working on a biography of Kansas City native valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. Carolyn lives in Kansas City with her husband, bassist and composer Tim Brewer, and their Bernese Mountain Dog Herbie.

Aug
23
Wed
Ken Lovern’s OJT @ Green Lady Lounge
Aug 23 @ 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm

OJT builds on the classic organ jazz trio by mixing old school Kansas City jazz with blues and a modern funky groove.  Ken Lovern on Hammond organ, Kenny Watson Jr. on drums, and Brian Baggett on guitar play equal parts in balanced arrangements with outstanding improvisations. OJT has been a band for more than 20 years and it shows.  Kenny Watson Jr has been with the group for just over a year and he brings a fresh energy to the old school organ jazz jams.  


OJT is: 

Ken Lovern:  Hammond Organ

Brian Baggett: Guitar

Kenny Watson Jr.: Drums

 

https://kenlovern.com/home

https://greenladylounge.com/

Aug
24
Thu
Bram Wijnands & Lucy Wijnands + Tia Fuller @ KC Bier Co
Aug 24 @ 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Join us for a night of live jazz from Kansas City’s finest musicians and special guests to celebrate the 101st birthday of the legendary Charlie Parker!

Charlie Parker was a pioneering saxophonist and composer who called Kansas City home, and his legacy lives on in the thriving jazz community today.

Musicians include: Bram Wijnands, Lucy Wijnands, Kadesh Flow, and special guest Tia Fuller!

Tia is a saxophonist, educator, and composer with a star-studded resume! Tia is a member of Beyonce’s touring band, a faculty-member at Berklee College of Music, and was a featured jazz musician in Pixar’s “Soul”, where she played alto saxophone for the character Dorthea Williams (voiced by Angela Bassett).

This event is FREE and open to all ages. Seating is communal and limited.

Jackie Myers @ Chaz on the Plaza
Aug 24 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Jackie Myers is a jazz pianist, composer, and singer. She is a transplant from Austin Texas, where she performed in the indie touring circuit for almost a decade. She has been playing in Kansas City since December of 2017 with shows that feature a mix of jazz standards and original compositions. Since then she has held residencies at several notable jazz venues in Kansas City, including but not limited to, Corvino Supper Club, Chaz on the Plaza, and Green Lady Lounge. She also held the position of Music Director and piano player for the nationally syndicated radio show – 12th Street Jump – taped live in Kansas City until 2020, when the show ended.

During the pandemic, Jackie was able to continue performing through live streaming from her home and she produced a series of 9 concerts called “Kansas City Drive-ins” that featured artists including Bobby Watson, The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Eddie Moore, and Beau Bledsoe. The series was well attended and brought jazz back to its audience in a time when the venues could not host. Myers boasts a catalog of 7 albums and is currently working on her 8th. At her live shows, audiences are treated to Myers’ innovative and fluid keyboard work, punctuated by her bluesy vocals. At other times, Myers’ shows feature a purely instrumental dose. Performing as part of a duo, trio, quartet, or quintet, Myers is typically joined by some of the best musicians offered by a locale, typically combining a crisp rhythm section with top artists on horns or guitar. In 2018, Myers added Hammond organ to her repertoire, adding to the diversity of her performances. She currently plays the Hammond B3 for one of Kansas City’s most decorated Blues Artists – Nick Schnebelen.

 

As for Myers’ vocals, Louisiana musical writer Dominick Cross said about an earlier recording: “My initial reaction to the recording was that in some ways its Michelle Shocked meets Amy Winehouse. And several listens later, I’d say the same thing with more emphasis on Winehouse.” Bill Brownlee, jazz critic for The Plastic Sax and several other Kansas City publications said, “Her vocals on Ain’t No Sunshine and Stars Fall on Alabama demonstrated that Myers … brings a singular talent to the scene.” Myers debuted her first straight ahead jazz album in 2018 – The Instrumental One, which was recorded live at the prestigious Green Lady Lounge in Kansas City. Made up of eight tracks, including six original compositions, Jackie’s keyboard stylings groove what one critic called “jazz from a solid R&B point of view.” Critics compared The Instrumental One to works by Ahmad Jamal and Les McCann. Kansas City’s Roger Atkinson wrote: “I still like that soul-jazz genre . . . plus, Jackie Myers has a new fan: me.” Myers has also done some impressive work in musical production. In 2017, she produced the musical production Silent Films Out Loud: A Tribute to Buster Keaton. This event featured a nine-piece ensemble playing newly-written compositions to four Buster Keaton silent film classics, including a score by Myers to Buster Keaton’s 1922 Cops. This event, sponsored in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department, filled Austin’s premier theater – The Stateside at the Paramount. Lastly, she has recently plied her craft with local production startup – FMK Music as a producer and composer for the group. Jackie holds a certificate in music from Berklee School of Music, a BA in music from Grinnell College, and a Master of Arts in Music with a jazz concentration from UMKC.

Ken Lovern’s OJT @ Green Lady Lounge
Aug 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ken Lovern's OJT @ Green Lady Lounge

OJT builds on the classic organ jazz trio by mixing old school Kansas City jazz with blues and a modern funky groove.  Ken Lovern on Hammond organ, Kenny Watson Jr. on drums, and Brian Baggett on guitar play equal parts in balanced arrangements with outstanding improvisations. OJT has been a band for more than 20 years and it shows.  Kenny Watson Jr has been with the group for just over a year and he brings a fresh energy to the old school organ jazz jams.  

OJT is: 

Ken Lovern:  Hammond Organ

Brian Baggett: Guitar

Kenny Watson Jr.: Drums

Ken Lovern’s Guitar Elation @ Green Lady Lounge
Aug 24 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Aug
25
Fri
Lonnie McFadden @ Lonnie's Reno Club
Aug 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Join us Friday night at Lonnie’s Reno Club for an upscale dinner show experience featuring Lonnie McFadden and his band! The club is an authentic KC jazz club with ties to the history of Midwest music. With a simple delectable menu and prohibition era cocktails, music lovers and foodies will enjoy an unforgettable dining experience.

We are proud to announce:August 25 will be the first day of our “Charlie Parker Celebration” at Lonnie’s Reno Club! Thanks to “KC Jazz Alive” Tia Fuller will stop by and play a couple of songs with us that night 😃👍🏽

VISIT: jazzalivekc.org

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm. There is an intermission halfway through, and the show ends at 9:30pm.

Paganova @ 1909 Club
Aug 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm


The 1909 Club is Libations & Company’s vibrant music hall. Come and enjoy this beautiful space dedicated to live music. This intimate setting is cozy and unique, creating an experience that moves both musicians and the audience. Celebrating all styles of music including authentic Kansas City music, blues, jazz, funk, and soul, the 1909 Club offers a space to sip cocktails, listen to live music, and comfortably converse with other guests. Lounge voices are required, and the best manners are expected.  It’s the most vibrant live music scene in Lee’s Summit, the 1909 Club.

Logan Richardson & Blues People featuring Marquis Hill @ The Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum
Aug 25 @ 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Logan Richardson’s playing is beyond lyrical—his alto sax often functioning more as a lead vocalist than a virtuoso solo instrument.

Known for his adventurous, genre-bending jazz, Logan Richardson is an American-born, Paris-based alto saxophonist. He has been a professional musician since he was 16, and came to wider recognition after moving to New York and issuing his 2007 debut, the post-bop-influenced Cerebral Flow. He has performed with a variety of jazz musicians including Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, Butch Morris, Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, the World Saxophone Quartet, Arthur Blythe, and Jason Moran. He is also a member of the Next Collective.

While he is well versed in the jazz tradition, he has proven to be an eclectic, forward-thinking artist whose albums like 2015’s Shift (which featured guitarist Pat Metheny) and 2018’s Blues People showcase his love of mixing jazz with searing rock fusion, hip-hop, electronic rhythms, and Americana.

From his beginnings as one of Chicago’s most thrilling young trumpeters, to his current status as an internationally renowned musician, composer and bandleader, Marquis Hill has worked tirelessly to break down the barriers that divide musical genres. Contemporary and classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house, neo-soul—to Hill, they’re all essential elements of the profound African-American creative heritage he’s a part of. “It all comes from the same tree,” he says. “They simply blossomed from different branches.”

Friday, 8/25 – Logan Richardson & Blues People featuring Marquis Hill



 

PHOTOS – 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker Artist In Residence, Tia Fuller was invited to sit in by Logan Richardson & Marquis Hill. Photos by Greg Carroll.

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. A multifaceted exhibit highlighting the countless musicians who crafted “Kansas City jazz,” a sound known all over the world, The Blue Room also provides a distinctive platform to present dynamic performances from the best local and national jazz talent in an intimate setting. At the Blue Room, upcoming bands, seasoned veterans of the local jazz scene, national talent and internationally renowned jazz artists share the spotlight.

Brian Ward Organ Trio @ Green Lady Lounge
Aug 25 @ 11:00 pm – Aug 26 @ 1:00 am
Brian Ward Organ Trio @ Green Lady Lounge

Dr. Brian Ward, D.M.A., is a keyboardist, recording artist, composer, arranger, and educator from the Pacific Northwest. Ward has performed with Bobby Watson, Will Matthews, Leroy Vinnegar, Bobby Torres, Shirley Nanette, Dee Daniels, Curtis Salgado, Obo Addy, The Oregon Symphony, The Spokane Jazz Orchestra, and many others. Brian helped create the arrangement for “City of Roses” by Esperanza Spalding, which won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for Vocal Performance. Brian currently lives in Kansas City, Kansas, where he is active on the K.C. jazz scene performing jazz and blues.

Aug
26
Sat
Charlie Parker at 18th and Vine Walking Tour @ 18th & Vine Jazz District
Aug 26 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Get your tickets TODAY for a walking tour of one of Kansas City’s most historic neighborhoods; 18th & Vine Jazz District! Celebrate Charlie Parker’s birthday by touring Bird’s old stomping grounds and feel his tunes run through you!

Chuck Haddix – Director of UMKC Marr Sound Archives, host of KCUR 89.3 “Fish Fry” on Friday and Saturday nights, author of “Bird – The Life and Music of Charlie Parker” and “Kansas City Jazz – From Ragtime to Bebop”.

Geri Sanders – Independent historical consultant, specializing in the community at the 18th and Vine Historic District and other diverse projects such being a part of the design team for the reopening of the Kansas City Museum as well as the Community Remembrance Project through the Legacy Museum, founded by Bryan Stevenson in Alabama.

Attendees will meet on the sidewalk outside of The Blue Room (1600 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108) at 9:45am to check in for the walking tour. Bottled water will be provided. Please bring your tickets with you.

About the Tour:

During the days of public segregation, Kansas City’s 18th and Vine area developed into a self-contained community. The intersection of 18th and Vine served as the hub of a bustling business and entertainment district–the heart and soul of an African-American community, bounded by Independence Avenue on the north, Troost Avenue on the west, 27th Street on the south and Benton Boulevard to the east.

Just after the turn of the 19th century, an African-American preacher and his wife, the Reverend and Mrs. Sweeney, operated a truck farm in the 18th and Vine area. By the late 1800s, thousands of African-Americans settled in the area, then known as the “Bowery.” In November 1909, the first moving picture show for African-Americans, the Star, opened in a wood-frame building at the northeast corner of 18th and Vine, forming the cornerstone of the new business district.

The area grew quickly and by 1915 dry goods stores, laundries, fish shops, bakeries, barbers, cobblers, tailors, restaurants, nightclubs and all the businesses and services denied the community downtown packed 18th Street east of Paseo Boulevard. Apartments and headquarters for social clubs perched on the second floor above the bustle of commerce below. The fragrant aroma of hickory smoke from Henry Perry’s Barbeque pit at 19th and Highland wafted over the community. Street cars rattled down the center of 18th Street connecting the community to the rest of the city and jobs in packing plants, the railroads and homes of the wealthy. Once established, the community grew swiftly and prospered.

Young Charlie Parker came of age as a man and musician in the 18th and Vine area. After Charlie’s parents separated in 1930, he and his mother Addie moved to a two-story brick house at 1516 Olive Street just blocks away from 18th and Vine. Addie worked nights and after she left for work, Charlie began his nightly rounds of the night clubs dotting 12th and 18th streets. While on tour later in his career, Charlie often stopped off in Kansas City to visit Addie, play gigs in the clubs on 18th street and renew old acquaintances

PHOTOS BY BJ JANSEN

American Jazz Museum “In The Yard” featuring Logan Richardson & Blues People feat. Marquis Hill and Dwele @ American Jazz Museum
Aug 26 @ 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

In The Yard: Annual Outdoor Music Celebration

Celebrate Charlie Parker’s Birthday weekend during our annual outdoor concert event in our backyard!

Charlie Parker Tribute Concert Featuring Grammy-Nominee Tia Fuller @ Folly Theater
Aug 26 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

🎷 Kansas City Jazz ALIVE is proud to present 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker – shining a bright light on the musical genius of Kansas City’s own Charlie “Yardbird” Parker!

Now in its 10th year, the festivities will include more than 25 jazz showcase performances, educational events, a “Bird” musical salute, and jazz history tours. The week will culminate with this exciting “Bird” Tribute Concert featuring Grammy-nominee Tia Fuller with, Kansas City jazz all-stars plus a special partnership with Youth Symphony of Kansas City selected string students performing an exclusive reimagining of the famed “Bird” With Strings recording!
When Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue recording artist, composer, and bandleader Tia Fuller picks up her saxophone, something amazing happens. As a force to be reckoned with, Fuller balances the worlds of performance and education, fulfilling a demanding schedule as both a busy touring and recording artist and a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
As a leading jazz musician, Fuller has toured with Grammy-winning pop star Beyoncé and appeared on a number of major television shows, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, BET Awards, American Music Awards, Grammy Awards and as a featured soloist with Beyoncé for President Obama at the White House.
This is a concert NOT TO MISS!
The show includes several ticket options, including limited VIP packages, regular seating, saver seats, and limited student tickets.
Date: Saturday, August 26
Time: 7pm, VIP Reception;
8:00pm, Tribute Concert
Location: Folly Theater
For more information about our 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker Artist-In-Residence & Grammy Nominee, Tia Fuller, visit:
2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker, visit:
Kansas City Jazz ALIVE, visit:
Aug
27
Sun
Making History: KC’s Black Suffragists & Jazz Artists @ GEM Theater
Aug 27 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

 


Featuring Vocalists: 

Millie Edwards

Lisa Henry

Pam Watson, Accompanist

Kansas City Girl’s Choir

Choir Director, Mia Edwards



Suffragist History: 

Dr. Carmaletta Williams

Lisa White Hardwick

No charge, Seating is limited, RSVP: inthekitchenak@gmail.com

Sponsored by: Black Archives of Mid America, KC Black Women Suffragist Committee, Women’s Equality Coalition

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