By ALAN HOSKINS
Swing jazz at its best is on tap for the second in the “Jazz by the Lake” series at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday, Nov. 1.
Featuring the Bram Wijnands Trio, the free concert will be held from noon-1 p.m. in the Conference Center adjacent to the Campus Lake at the State Avenue end of the College campus at 7250 State Avenue.
“Originally from Holland, Bram Wijnands is in a class by himself when it comes to stride playing and swing jazz; one of the most talented musicians I’ve come across,” said Jim Mair, Director of KCKCC Jazz Bands.
An outstanding pianist and accordionist, Wijnands is an adjunct instructor in bass and piano at KCKCC.
He will be joined by two other KCKCC adjunct instructors, guitarist Rod Fleeman, a three-time Grammy nominee, and percussionist Jurgen Welge, a native of Germany who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago.
“Our adjunct instructors will stand up to any in the country,” said Mair. “Also, this will be something of a reunion as Bram and Jurgen moved to Kansas City as part of the Bram Wijnands Trio in the early 1990’s.”
The “Jazz by the Lake” series is held the first Thursday of each month. The Everette DeVan Quartet featuring Eboni Fondren drew a standing room only crowd in the opening performance.
Still ahead in the series is the Joe Cartwright Trio Dec. 6, Diverse Feb. 5, Chris Hazelton and Friends March 7 and Tim Whitmer April 4.
