Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner has been named as the new Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum.  A portion of the press release is posted below.  The editorial board of The Kansas City Star applauds the hiring.  Steve Kraske interviewed Kositany-Buckner for KCUR.

*Marcus Lewis is the subject of a lengthy profile by Joe Klopus.

*The Pitch notes the jazz bookings at Prohibition Hall.

*Joe Dimino’s recent Neon Jazz interviews include Matt Wilson and Harold Mabern.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Jermaine Reed- American Jazz Museum announced Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner as Executive Director today @americanjazzkc @repcleaver

*From a press release: The American Jazz Museum (AJM) announced today the appointment of Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner as Executive Director of the organization.  A seasoned nonprofit leader who has garnered numerous awards and recognition for her work, Kositany-Buckner accepts the position following a 25-year career with the Kansas City Public Library, where she rose from network administrator in the IT Department to Deputy Director… The announcement follows a comprehensive national search that included significant local stakeholder involvement and discussions with the leadership of some of the top music and African American cultural institutions in the U.S.

*From a press release: On Sunday, February 21, 2016, legendary jazz artists David Basse and Joe Cartwright will celebrate the release of their new CD Live at Pilgrim Chapel with a concert at Kansas City’s historic Pilgrim Chapel… If anyone embodies the sound and spirit of Kansas City, it’s Joe Cartwright and David Basse. Together and separately, the duo has become known over the past 40 years to represent a jazz musical tradition that began over 100 years ago... the recording would be simple- Joe on a keyboard and David’s vocals.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Steve Vockrodt wrote a thorough analysis of the latest funding initiative for the Jazz District for The Pitch.  A television report about the development suggests that "the historic Jazz District is in disrepair.” 

*Prohibition Hall, a new venue at 11th & McGhee, has jazz musicians booked on Wednesdays and Latin jazz and salsa bands booked on Thursdays through February.

*Mike Warren reviewed Mike Metheny’s Twelve For the Road album for KCUR.

*Jessie Riggins reviewed a Roger Wilder performance.

*Joe Klopus examines the week's jazz calendar in his latest column.

*KC Jazz Lark celebrates the 100th anniversary of Jay McShann’s birth.

*Paul Shinn has released the new album Into That Good Night.

*Vince Giordano and Molly Hammer are among Joe Dimino’s most recent interview subjects.

*Pat Metheny wrote a remembrance of his former collaborator David Bowie.

*Dogs, an album featuring Mike Dillon, Brian Haas, James Singleton and Johnny Vidacovich, will be released on Feb. 26.  Here’s ”Bongo Joe”.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Mark Peavy- @LynnHorsley “Cleaver testified…18th and Vine is the 3rd most recognized street in the U.S.” That’s ridiculous. Maybe 12th & Vine(& KC Wine)

*From a press release: The spring 2016 season of the JCCC Jazz Series will kick off Tuesday, March 1, with the Ben Leifer Quartet. The series, which showcases the talents of local jazz musicians, is free and open to the public. Performances will take place at noon on Tuesdays for seven consecutive weeks. They will be held in the Polsky Theatre of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted. March 1: Ben Leifer Quartet, Polsky Theatre; March 8: Megan Birdsall Quartet, Polsky Theatre; March 15: Kansas City Jazz Collective, Polsky Theatre; March 22: Bram Wijnands Trio, Polsky Theatre; March 29: Doug Talley, tenor saxophone and Rod Fleeman, guitar, Recital Hall; April 5: Charles Williams Trio, Recital Hall; April 12: Max Groove Trio, Polsky Theatre.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)