Friends, family, and artists convene to remember the life and music of legendary pianist and bandleader, Jay “Hootie” McShann. Join us as we celebrate his  birthday on Friday January 12, 2024 in the Atrium of the American Jazz Museum. The event runs from 5:30pm until 8:30pm and will include live music, stories and more. McShann was born in Muskogee Oklahoma, and was later nicknamed Hootie, as in “drunker than a hoot owl”. During his youth, Jay taught himself how to play the piano through observing his sister's piano lessons and trying to practice tunes he heard on the radio. He was also ..read more

Friday evening December 8, 2023 UMKC Jazz Studies Program presented a concert in collaboration with UMKC Orchestra in White Hall on campus. The first two thirds of the program was UMKC Orchestra and the last one third was UMKC Jazz Studies. What interested me was the sharp contrast between the conducting style of the classical versus the jazz. The classical conducting style was constant, detailed, and elaborate movements. The conductors expended continuous energy. Body bobbing, arms animated. Lively, spirited, energetic. The jazz conducting style, on the other hand, was spare, minimal, with u ..read more

As we enter 2024, the Jazz Ambassadors would like to shed light on those who have shepherded this non-profit organization for the good of the community over the past several decades. We begin by honoring retiring president / treasurer, Mark Edelman. Mark has enjoyed a long and successful career in show business. He played bass in some of the top soul bands in the area, while still attending Shawnee Mission High School. After high school, he attended college and continued his show business forays. “My first presentation in Kansas City—while I was still in law school—involved a student activiti ..read more

Origin Records 2023 It is an album of all originals, nine in total, penned by bandleader and saxophonist Matt Otto, KC staple, but also of LA and NYC. The album opens with “Little Things,” which is understated funk and contemporary—with a heavy, low, electric bass vamp (subtly propelling) beneath. Otto (sax) and Herman Mehari (trumpet) duet at first, calls in the dark. But that’s not all there is to this song (or the other songs) on this album. “Little Things” has a number of styles and movements, much like a Mingus tune: from funk to double-time swing to 6/8, two against three. Otto’s compos ..read more

It all started four decades ago in the same town that gave birth to Pat Metheny. Veteran Kansas City bassist Rick Willoughby found his calling on the bass in his hometown of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The violin was his first foray into music at age 3, the string bass at 11, and It all culminated when Rick picked up the electric bass at the age of 13. “I really don’t feel like I’m old enough to do anything for 40 years. I didn’t start reading music until I got into the school system. Ironically, when I got into the 4th grade and started school orchestra, my mom was my teacher,” Rick said. “She w ..read more

D The third annual JAM Musician Awards kicked on off June 15th, when the nominations opened for the 2023 honors. The nominations and voting are now closed. Your favorite jazz musicians will be collecting their awards on Thursday, December 14th, 2023, at 8pm, in the Uptown Lounge, 34th & Main Street, KCMO. Make plans now to join us for the finale of the JAM Awards third year! The fun begins at 7 pm. On the agenda, this year, is the Jazz Ambassadors annual meeting, our December Jazz Futures concert, featuring Ryan Heinlein’s JCCC band. Doors open at 5pm for hob-knobbing with your jazz favor ..read more

The International Sounds of Songstress Eboni Fondren I have watched audiences fall in love with vocalist Eboni Fondren. And, I must admit, I fell for her the first time I met her. For several years, Everette DeVan hosted a sort of annual late-night loft party jam session. If you remember Everette, you may remember a cavalcade of sweet voiced young vocalists that he mentored. Many of those vocalists have become fixtures of the Kansas City music scene, and Eboni was a stand-out from day one. She has a way of taking the lowest of low down blues and singing it in a way that makes you think: “That ..read more

A trifecta of Kansas City Jazz is scheduled for Thursday, December 14th at the Uptown Lounge, located at the corner of 34th and Main Streets. Trombonist and educator Ryan Heinlein brings students from the Johnson County Community College Jazz Program to perform from 7pm to 9pm as part of the Jazz Ambassadors’ Future of Jazz program. Current members of the Jazz Ambassadors are invited to arrive at 6pm for the Annual Meeting of the Association. The Third annual Kansas City JAM Awards will begin at 8pm, as the City’s favorite jazz musicians, clubs and venues will be honored. Make sure to go onli ..read more

Jazz in the Valley, a free music festival on the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley campus, will be held 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. The public is invited. Penn Valley’s third annual jazz event will feature: • The Jim Lower Jazz Orchestra (6 p.m.) – Lower is a Kansas City-based traditional jazz drummer and bandleader who attended MCC-Penn Valley and played in a big band on campus. Lower enjoys an active performing schedule all over Kansas City, with his 16-piece big band, the same group he is bringing to Jazz in the Valley. • MCC’s own Millie Edwards Nottingham, Clarence Smith and Frien ..read more

Happy Hour at Upcycle Piano Craft 3945 Main Street, KCMO As I walk in late, to Upcycle Piano Craft’s monthly jazz event, I feel at home immediately. Thirty-some jazz folks sit around casually, on piano benches and chairs, moving their bodies to the irresistible rhythm of Paganova. led by the prolific pianist, composer, and arranger Mike Pagan, Paganova includes Mike’s son Louie on bass, Ray DeMarchi on drums, and saxophonists Brett Jackson (filling in for David Chael) and Mike Herrera. “It’s impressive Pagan has the professionalism and charisma to get these guys to hang with him.” remarks Stev ..read more