Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*The Kansas City Star observes the 25th anniversary of the installation of Robert Graham’s Charlie Parker statue in the Jazz District.

*From a press release: Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2024 celebrates the jazz icon’s 104th birthday with jam sessions and musical tributes, tours, lectures, exhibits, panel discussions, workshops, and concerts. The annual program was developed to honor Parker (also known as “Bird”), his legacy, and impact on jazz in Kansas City and worldwide. The event also provides educational opportunities and promotes the music of local Kansas City jazz artists who will perform at select events/venues during the month… Highlighting this year’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker will be a new partnership with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and a performance August 24th at the Folly Theater. For information about event details as they become available, visit: Spotlight: Charlie Parker.

*From a press release: Please join us in congratulating students in the KU School of Music’s Jazz Studies Program for their recent success at the 47th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards. The awards were announced this month, where KU Jazz Ensemble I and the KU Jazz Singers each received Outstanding Performance Awards in the graduate divisions of Large Jazz Ensembles and Vocal Jazz Ensembles. KU Jazz Ensemble I has made a significant impact on the jazz music scene, as this marks the fourth consecutive year they have received an SMA award. The ensemble has also received seven awards out of the last ten years.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*A Philadelphian wrote a guide to area jazz venues for The Kansas City Star.

*Tweet of the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Guitar Elation - Dues Blues (Composer: Danny Embrey) #Jazz #NowPlaying #KansasCityJazz (link)

*From a press release: The KU Jazz 50th Anniversary Celebration will commemorate 50 years of the “official” jazz program—and the “unofficial” bands that existed before this. The event will feature two concerts highlighting alumni of the KU Jazz Studies Program, both taking place at 7:30 PM at the Lied Center… On Friday, October 28, 2022, the current edition of KU Jazz Ensemble I will present a tribute to saxophonist and woodwind artist Gary Foster, with guest soloists Steve Houghton (drums), Matt Otto and Paul Haar (saxophones), Ron McCurdy (trumpet), Jeff Harshbarger (bass) and others. The following evening on Saturday, October 29, 2022, KU alumni from the past 50 years will perform in big bands and a vocal jazz ensemble and will be directed by the program’s 4 directors—Robert Foster (the founder of the program in 1972), James Barnes, Dr. Ron McCurdy and Dan Gailey. Tickets are available here.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*The 2022-23 season of The Folly Jazz Series has been revealed.

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra announced its 2022-23 season.

*Tweet of the Week: KU School of Music- Jazz Ensemble I excelled in the 45th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards and at the 2022 Rudin Jazz Championship at Jazz at Lincoln Center. We are so proud of everyone who worked hard for this! Rock Chalk! Learn about their accomplishments here.

Now’s the Time: Camille Thurman

Camille Thurman performs with KU Jazz Ensemble I at the Lied Center on Tuesday, March 29. The thirty-something New Yorker is an exuberant vocalist and vigorous saxophonist.

Now’s the Time: Candice Hoyes

The New York based Candice Hoyes will perform a stylish form of jazz at Swarthout Recital Hall in Lawrence on Tuesday, February 15. The concert is presented by the University of Kansas’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging committee.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Joe Dimino shared a brief tour of The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure exhibit at the American Jazz Museum.

*Steve Paul documented a portion of Hermon Mehari’s homecoming concert.

*Downbeat magazine checked in with Pat Metheny.

*Tweet of the Week: Jesse Dayton- While driving thru Kansas I’m reminded why Kansas City had such an explosive jazz scene. (image)

*From a Kansas University School of Music press release: The 2021 DownBeat Award-winning Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Dan Gailey, has been invited to compete at the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship at Lincoln Center in January 2022.  Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) announced its second annual Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, a two-day invitational competition featuring ensembles from ten of the most well-regarded university jazz programs in the country. Students will perform on the Rose Theater stage on January 10-11, 2022.