PHOTOS: Home mural by artist Alexander Austin

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

Homes stand out for different reasons - whether it's the beautiful lawn, the size of the home or the color of it.

One home on 79th Street and Longwood in Kansas City, Kan., stands out in a different way.

A large mural from Kansas City-based artist Alexander Austin was completed on Friday. The mural, located on the eastern wall of the home, includes Civil Rights icons Martin Luther King Jr., and Ghandi.

"I grew up in the 1960's and experienced racism," Austin said. "Those icons have always been a part of my life."

Austin's art career began somewhat on accident. During his time in kindergarten, he developed a reputation for cutting out paper neatly and art was recommended for him.

Over the next few decades, his horizons would expand from cutting paper to painting very large murals in the Kansas City metro area. 

He's painted a number of murals across Kansas City - including the Buck O'Neil mural on 18th and Vine, the Kansas City Power & Light Mural and a Martin Luther King, Jr., one in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City jazz documentary selected for Kansas International Film Festival

The Heartland Films, Inc. documentary “Kansas City Jazz & Blues; Past, Present & Future” has been selected for the 2012 Kansas International Film Festival (KIFF).

The festival showcases filmmakers from all over the world including some local filmmakers.

Former Kansas Citian and award-winning documentary filmmaker Sue Vicory’s jazz and blues film will screen at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, as the closing selection of the KIFF which is October 5-11.

There are two awards for documentaries, an audience choice and a judged best social justice film.  The winners will have a theatrical run at one of the local Fine Arts Theatres.

Before making her documentary, Vicory was unfamiliar with many of Kansas City’s local musicians and had visited 18th and Vine only once.  After learning more about Kansas City’s unique jazz history, she made a film that is a tribute to its past, present and future. 

The film, which is narrated by Nick Lowery, features original music and has been condensed from hundreds of hours of interviews and performances at B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, Jardine’s, The Blue Room, Knuckleheads, and many other Kansas City jazz and blues venues.

Alcott Arts Center to present Shakespeare's Hamlet this Saturday

News Release

The Alcott Arts Center is proud to present Shakespeare in the Parking Lot VI and their first Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet. 

The first performance of the play will be this Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Alcott Arts Center Outdoor Theatre located at 180 S. 18th Street.

Set in Victorian times, the play follows Hamlet, who is reeling from the death of his father, the former king, and quick marriage of his mother, Queen Gertrude, to his uncle (now king) Claudius.

Upon seeing his father’s ghost and hearing the true story of his death, Hamlet plots revenge, while madness, chaos, and death keep the court on their toes.

Featuring Amber Finley, Chuck Smith, Coleman Crenshaw, Frank Presler, Jeff Shehan, Jen Morris, John Plunkett, Khalid Johnson, Lilyana Green, Lonita Cook, Marie Abed, Megan Baker, Sean Hill, Skylar Garcia, and Tyrell Gephardt, the play is directed by Anna Jennings and Lindsay Adams.

Tickets cost $5, along with a non-perishable food item.

'House Jumpers" rock KCKCC's performing arts center

For the second time in less than a month, a dean at Kansas City Kansas Community College has stepped into the musical spotlight.

On Memorial Day, Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts Dr. Cherilee Walker sang “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner” on national TV at Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field before a Chicago Cubs baseball game.

On Friday night, Dean of Business and Continuing Education Dr. Marvin Hunt brought his “House Jumpers” band to the KCKCC Performing Arts Center for a rousing jump blues concert that drew a standing ovation.

Dr. Hunt was joined in the performance by his wife, vocalist Cathy Hunt; drummer Paul Matthews, guitarist Tommy Wagner and Jason Jones on the Doghouse bass.

Nationally known recording artist, folk singer and songwriter Danny Cox opened the concert.

A fund-raiser for scholarships at KCKCC, the Fun Arts concert also included a pre-concert picnic sponsored by the Performing Arts Center directed by Bill Yeazel.

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PHOTO: Dr. Marvin Hunt (left), Dean of Business and Continuing Education at KCKCC, was joined by his wife, vocalist Cathy Hunt; drummer Paul Matthews, bass player Jason Jones and guitarist Tommy Wagner in a rousing jump blues concert at KCKCC Friday.  (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)

Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band win big at the Kansas City Jazz Summit

By ALAN HOSKINS

The Big Dogs had their way at the 2nd Annual Kansas City Jazz Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College April 23-27.

The Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band took home first place in the Kansas City Jazz Heritage “Basically Basie” competition.

Directed by John Selzer, the BV Northwest band received 787 votes to out-distance runner-up Lee Summit North and third place Winnetonka in voting by text by members of the audience.

“I think voting by text was a first for a jazz competition,” said Jim Mair, KCKCC Associate Professor of Music and Festival Coordinator.

The text voting represented 25 percent of the total score.

Not including KCKCC instrumental and vocal groups, 31 middle school, high school and college jazz bands and vocal groups from three states took part in the festival, a 25 percent increase over the initial festival.

“Only two bands from the first Summit did not return,” said Mair.

In addition to the Jazz Heritage competition, 12 groups received outstanding band awards including Central High School from Tulsa, Okla.; Pershing Middle School and Willard High School from the Springfield, Mo., area; and Blue Springs South and Lee’s Summit high schools from the Kansas City, Mo., area. Kansas high school bands receiving awards included Augusta, Olathe East, Olathe North Jazz I and Jazz Choir and SM Northwest along with Washburn University.

“The awards were presented by the adjudicators to bands they thought to be extra special,” said Mair.

Three veteran musicians adjudicated the performances by the bands and also conducted clinics on saxophone and brass techniques and fine tuning for rhythm sections.

Adjudicating were Scott Prebys, 34-year Director of Jazz Bands at the University of Mary in North Dakota; Al Pearson, a Philadelphia native now living in Kansas City who mentored under and played with many of the legends of jazz; and Steve Molloy, the lead trumpet for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and an Artist in Residence at Missouri Western and adjunct Professor of Brass at KCKCC.

In addition to the participating bands, the KCKCC Jazz Combo and KCKCC Jazz Choir put on lunch concerts during each of the three days.

Sponsored by the KCKCC Intercultural Center and Music Club and produced by the Kansas City Jazz Alliance, the Jazz Summit opened with a “Big Band Extravaganza” Monday, April 23, with performances by The New Vintage Big Band and KCKCC Jazz Ensemble joined by Steve Molloy on trumpet and percussionist Scott Prebys.

Prebys was also featured with the KCKCC Latin Band directed by Jurgen Welge Tuesday at the KCKCC Spring Concert which also included two jazz combos directed by Mair. Former KCKCC jazz legend Lisa Henry and the Kansas City Jazz Quintet featuring Mair, Hermon Mehari, Charles Williams, James Albright and Mike Warren wrapped up the Summit with a concert Friday.

“It went well,” Mair said. “We got a lot of help from students, we ran on time and everything went smoothly.” Mair said more evening performances may be scheduled in 2013.
  
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PHOTO: The Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band directed by John Selzer (foreground) won top honors in the Kansas City Jazz Heritage “Basically Basie” competition held as part of the Kansas City Jazz Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College April 23-27. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)

Basic competition, jazz cabaret, Lisa Henry highlight Jazz Summit

By ALAN HOSKINS

The best vocal and instrumental jazz music both past and present Kansas City Kansas Community College has to offer will conclude the 2nd Annual Kansas City Jazz Summit April 23-27.

The finals of the Kansas City Jazz Heritage “Basically Basie” Competition will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday followed by the KCKCC Vocal Jazz Cabaret at 6:30 p.m. and a concert by jazz legend and former KCKCC student Lisa Henry Friday at 7 p.m.

The Summit will begin with a Big Band Extravaganza Monday night, a concert featuring KCKCC jazz combos and the Latin Band Tuesday night and a free rehearsal Wednesday night. In addition, middle and high schools jazz bands and ensembles will be performing during the day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.

The only competition will come Thursday afternoon when the winner of the “Basically Basie” competition will be selected by a vote of the audience via text on their mobile phones.  “To my knowledge, this is a first in the world of jazz,” said Jim Mair, KCKCC Director of Jazz Music and Summit organizer. 

The annual KCKCC  Jazz Cabaret will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Jewell Center and feature the best of KCKCC vocal music including the Chamber and Concert choirs, jazz soloists and ensembles along with a lasagna dinner served by Grandma’s Catering. “All of the ensembles will be performing new music and the finale will be a set of Michael Jackson tunes,” said John Stafford II, Director of Choral Music. Dinner tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children and can be reserved by contacting Stafford at 913-288-7137 or jstafford@kckcc.edu. Standing room tickets will also be available for $8.

Lisa Henry will be joined by the Kansas City Jazz Quintet Friday at 7 p.m.  A former KCKCC student who was mentored by Kansas City jazz great Everette Devan, Henry has performed with numerous jazz legends including Herbie Hancock, Rosemary Clooney, Claude (Fiddler) Williams and Lou Rawls. In addition, she has performed in more than a dozen countries in Africa and South America as well as countless local and national jazz festivals.  The schedule:

MONDAY – A Big Band Extravaganza featuring the KCKCC Jazz Ensemble and the New Vintage Big Band at 7 p.m. No admission but donations will be accepted.

TUESDAY – Combo Night featuring KCKCC jazz combos directed by Mair and the Latin Band directed by Jurgen Welge. Admission is $5.

WEDNESDAY – Middle school, high school and college jazz bands and combos will be performing from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Performing Art Center. In addition,  Lisa Henry and the Kansas City Jazz Quintet will hold an open rehearsal at 7 p.m. There is no charge for either event.

THURSDAY – Count Basie Competition for middle and high school bands will start at  9 a.m. and will conclude at 5:30 p.m. with “Basically Basie” competition finale in which members of the audience will be able to text their votes for their favorite band.

Thursday evening will be highlighted by KCKCC’s annual Jazz Cabaret to be held in the lower level of the Jewell Center starting at 6:30 p.m. Featuring a host of talented vocal soloists, ensembles and jazz choirs directed by John Stafford II, a buffet dinner will also be served. The cost for dinner is $12 for adults and $5 for children. Standing room tickets are $8.

FRIDAY – Final performances by middle and high school jazz groups and community college jazz bands, choirs and combos will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. There is no charge.

The Jazz Summit will wrap up with a performance by Lisa Henry and the Kansas City Jazz Quintet at 7 p.m. Directed by Mair, the quintet features Hermon Mehari on trumpet; Charles Williams, piano; James Albright, bass; Michael Warren, drums; and Mair on saxophone. The cost is $5.

The Summit is sponsored by the Kansas City Jazz Alliance, an organization formed to fund the annual KCKCC Jazz Camp, the High School All-Star program and the Jazz Summit. Other sponsors include the KCKCC Music Club, Intercultural Center and Endowment Association.