*Dean Hampton, a prominent booster of Kansas City's jazz scene, has died. Hampton founded the now-defunct Webjazz site and was a crucial advocate of the annual Charlie Parker gravesite memorial.
*The Kansas City Star reports on plans for Open Spaces 2018: A Kansas City Arts Experience, a 2018 festival intended to “show Kansas City ‘as both the cradle of modern jazz and the present day site of unprecedented technological innovation.’”
*Danny Embrey’s 1988 album Dues Blues has been reissued.
*The Count Basie Orchestra is nominated for a Grammy Award for its contribution to a track on Clint Holmes’ latest album.
*Deborah Brown was interviewed by Joe Dimino.
*JazzTimes published a review of Bobby Watson’s Made in America album.
*Matt Otto’s 2016 album Soliloquy was reviewed for All About Jazz.
*Tweet o’ the Week: American Jazz Museum- Each year, we invest in 1,745 musicians, we provide over 40 local businesses opportunities through First Fridays, and have a $1.2million dollar economic impact in the city of @KCMO. Now is YOUR chance to have an impact. Visit https://buff.ly/2n88PwI today. #GivingTuesday #Jazz
*From a press release: Kansas City’s own Jazz violinist, Marvin Gruenbaum, is known for his diverse musical and technical skills coupled with an electrifying flare for improvisation and captivating musical interaction. A classically trained violinist and violist, he’s been a member of the Kansas City Symphony since 1982. Performing with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band. 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 6. $7.
(Original image by Plastic Sax.)
