[JPL] American Jazz Museum marks 10 years

[Dr. Jazz]

Posted on Tue, Sep. 11, 2007


  American Jazz Museum marks 10 years

By DEANN SMITH
The Kansas City Star

The American Jazz Museum is emphasizing community ties as it holds a 
three-day gala this week marking a decade in the 18th and Vine Historic 
Jazz District.

The headline event Friday night is sold out, but organizers have 
activities planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday including a street 
festival, free concerts, lectures, a domino tournament and a free 
pancake breakfast. Admission to both the jazz museum and the Negro 
Leagues Baseball Museum will be free Saturday, and periodic guided tours 
will be given.

"We are truly building such a spirit of community here," the jazz 
museum's executive director, Gregory Carroll, said Tuesday. "It is a 
huge event, but it is an event I think will come off with flying colors."

*Thursday*

The three days of the celebration, called "Turning X on 18th and Vine," 
kick off at 6 p.m. at the Gem Theater. Historians and others will 
discuss the area as a hub of commerce, culture and entertainment in an 
event called "More Than Jazz, More Than Baseball."

*Friday*

Local youth will attend all-day sessions called "Jazz Jump-start." The 
students will get to watch a live rehearsal by Patti LaBelle and the 
Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and jam at the Mutual Musicians 
Foundation.

The public is invited to join the schoolchildren for a discussion about 
jazz at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Gem Theater. The panelists include John 
Lee, executive director of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band, and 
renowned New Orleans jazz pianist and composer Ellis Marsalis.

Friday night, Marsalis will receive the museum's Lifetime Achievement 
Award and play a song at the sold-out gala at the Gem. LaBelle and the 
Gillespie band will also play separately and together.

"It's almost like marrying a dream team," Carroll said.

*Saturday*

The Rebirth Brass Band, a New Orleans band whose repertoire includes 
traditional jazz music, will perform both Friday and Saturday. The band, 
which is participating as part of a new "Sister Cities" collaboration 
with the jazz district, will conduct a march to kick off a parade 
Saturday morning.

The 11 a.m. parade goes down the middle of the historic district and 
will include a high school marching band and motorcyclists.

A pancake breakfast begins at 10 a.m. and continues while supplies last.

For Saturday's street festival, Carroll said an eclectic lineup will 
appeal to a variety of tastes, including jazz, gospel, and rhythm and 
blues music on four stages. Funk artists Cameo will be the headline act 
beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Besides merchandise and food vendors, the activities will also include a 
domino tournament, dancing, film screenings, oral histories from "elder 
statesmen" about the district and appearances by Negro Leagues baseball 
alumni.

Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks said she is concerned about adequate 
parking, but said there is considerable excitement from residents about 
the festivities, particularly the street festival Saturday.

"People can't believe it's free," she said.

For more information, call 816-474-8463, or to get a complete lineup of 
the festivities, go to www.americanjazzmuseum .org.


      To reach DeAnn Smith, call 816-234-4412 or send e-mail to
      dsmith at kcstar.com <mailto:dsmith at kcstar.com>.


        © 2007 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights
        Reserved. http://www.kansascity.com

-- 
Dr. Jazz
Dr. Jazz Operations
24270 Eastwood
Oak Park, MI  48237
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http://www.drjazz.com
SKYPE:  drjazz99

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