JAZZ EVENTS - KANSAS CITY

Celebrating Women in Jazz Month! Ida McBeth March 21, 8:30 pm Blue Room, $10 Just as Julia Lee was the vocal symbol of Kansas City jazz in the 1950s, the iconic Ida McBeth, many would agree, is today's equivalent. For more than 30 years, audiences have flocked to hear McBeth pour her soul into every shiver-inducing moment of a live performance. In her capable hands, a song transforms into a feeling. Her talent knows no boundaries. McBeth hopscotches across blues, gospel, funk and R&B. She can mold a jazz classic to her style and, in the next breath, drive you to the edge of tears in a ballad. She holds nothing back. Saturday at the Blue Room, prepare to take it all in. - Larry Kopitnik, Pitch Weekly Buy Tickets Jammin' at the Gem Joe Locke Quartet Saturday, April 18, 8 pm Gem Theater, $45 and up JOE LOCKE is widely considered to be one of the major voices of his instrument. He has performed and recorded with notable musicians, including Grover Washington, Jr., Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Ron Carter, The Beastie Boys, the Munster Symphony Orchestra, and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster or call 816-474-6262 today! Hosted by American Jazz Museum and MCC-Penn Valley 18th & Vine Student Jazz Festival April 16-18, 2015 Gem Theater, Free The three-day festival is a non-competitive event that provides middle school, high school, and college students with an outstanding musical expereince as well as an opportunity to gain deeper appreciation for Kansas City's rich jazz heritage. Joe Locke is this year's artist-in-residence. Festival clinicians are: Joe Athon, James Isaac, Stan Kessler, John Kizilarmut, Hermon Mehari, William Richardson, Dan Thomas (courtesy of Yamaha) and James Ward. Download the flier for more information. Save the Date! PEER Into the Future V: Jazz Transforms Our annual luncheon in support of general operations at the Museum will take place on April 20. There are plenty of opportunities to participate by offering to serve as a Table Captain, volunteering, or making a Leadership Gift to help us build momentum toward this important fundraiser! Please contact Jess Rezac at jrezac@kcjazz.org for more information. Poetry Festival Louder Than a Bomb - KC Semifinals - March 23 & 24, 6 pm, Atrium, Free Finals - March 29, 7 pm, Gem Theater, $10 The American Jazz Museum's 2nd annual city-wide youth poetry festival began on March 2 in the Gem Theater. Over 600 Kansas City area high school students representing 17 high schools have already participated. We're back at the American Jazz Museum for Semifinals Bout I on March 23 with Lawrence Free State, KC Poet Tree, and Paseo and Semifinals Bout II on March 24 with Lincoln Prep, Raytown, Shawnee Mission South, and Shawnee Mission West! Join us in the Gem Theater for Finals on March 28 as the top two teams from each Semifinal compete for the title of LTAB-KC champion! Jazz Storytelling Friday, April 3, 10 am AJM Atrium, Free Jazz Storytelling featuring vocalist Lisa Henry, storyteller Brother John, bassist Tyrone Clark, and drummer Mike Warren meets educational standards, introduces children ages 2-7 to new music & cultures, and provides opportunities to enhance their social skills in a fun environment. Film Lecture Jazz Then Under the Lens Thursday, April 9, 6 pm John H. Baker Jazz Film Exhibition, Free Hosted by museum CEO Greg Carroll, this session features conversation with Jazz film scholars and screenings of selected films from the John H. Baker Jazz Film collection. Composition Contest Jazz Palette Composition Contest Monday, April 20, 7 pm Blue Room, Free Following a composition contest for high school, college, and professional jazz musicians, a performance led by Hermon Mehari in the Blue Room showcases the winning compositions in all three divisions.