Located in the heart of the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, Kansas City’s Mutual Musicians Foundation is one of the country’s principal cradles of jazz along with New York, New Orleans and Chicago.

The Foundation bred numerous nationally significant big bands and a legion of talented soloists who revolutionized American jazz. Among these jazz artists are such luminaries as Count Basie, Jay McShann, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Andy Kirk, Jimmy Rushing, Big Joe Turner, Hot Lips Page, Mary Lou Williams, Buck Clayton … (continued)

These musicians belonged to Local 627, one of the African-American musicians unions affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians. Established in 1917, Local 627, then known as the “Colored Musicians Union” operated as a social center, engagement clearinghouse and as a vehicle for grievances against unfair practices by booking agents and band leaders.

The jazz style pioneered and fostered by Local 627 members developed along original lines influenced by, yet unique from, the traditions of New Orleans, Chicago and New York. The Mutual Musicians Foundation, Inc., originally incorporated to manage the building and Local 627′s assets, continued operating the building after the 1970 merger with Local 34. Jazz has been played continuously here since 1930 when Local 627 moved into the building, making it the longest running Jazz place in the United States and in the world.

SEPTEMBER ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

HAROLD O'NEAL | miasodesign.com

Harold O’Neal is an American Jazz Pianist, Actor, Producer, Martial Artist, Bboy, Composer, and Magician. He was born on March 27th, 1981 in Arusha, Tanzania and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the nephew of Pete O’Neal and son of Brian and Mafutari O’Neal. Harold has studied at the Paseo Academy of Performing Arts, Berklee College of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with jazz master Kenny Baron.

Harold’s career took off when he started touring with Jazz Saxophonist Bobby Watson in 2001. After arriving in New York City, Harold began to establish a name for himself in the international jazz scene having performed with many jazz greats such as Elvin Jones, Kenny Garrett, Richard Davis, Nicholas Payton, Joe Chambers, Paquito D’Rivera, Roy Hargrove, Ahmad Alaadeen, Jeff tain Watts, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Marvin Smitty Smith, and many others. In 2002, Harold was introduced to Greg Osby by jazz legend Andrew Hill which led to his major label recording debut on Greg Osby’s 2003 release “St. Louis Shoes” for Blue Note Records. Harold received high critical praise for his contributions to the recording and later the same year performed for a private event for Bill Cosby. In 2004, O’Neal debuted the Harold O’Neal Project which consisted of Greg Osby, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Matt Brewer.

Diverse | “Diverse” Origin 82540

In winning the 2008 Origin Records / Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition, Diverse proved to be a creative and dynamic musical powerhouse. Beating out 10 other very original groups from across the country, the quintet opened for Roy Haynes’ “Birds of a Feather” band at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and were awarded a deal to record this album of original music. Mentored by the great Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, saxophonist William Sanders, pianist John Brewer, bassist Ben Leifer, and drummer Ryan Lee possess a fearless approach to creating and performing and aspire to expand the jazz demographic, garnering increased appreciation from younger audiences for the music.

—
Also See: MMF PRESS RELEASES

Jazz and heritage are traditionally celebrated during the month of August in Kansas City primarily due to the fact that three major historic figures have birthdays this month: Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971); William “Count” Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984); and, Charles Parker, Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955).

August 28 – 29, 2010

SATURDAY AUGUST 28:

2010 Charlie Parker Celebration

VENUE | GiGi’s Jazz Inn & Art Gallery

KC legend Pearl Thuston Brown at the piano. (Photo courtesy of The Pitch)

COURTESY FYI – 8:00 PM on Saturday evening (August 28), the celebration begins at GiGi’s Jazz Inn & Art Gallery, which is located at 3226 Troost Avenue in Kansas City, MO. More information is available by calling 816-352-4501.

SUNDAY AUGUST 29:

Musical Tribute to Parker w/tribute to Alaadeen

VENUE | Charlie Parker Burial Place at Lincoln Cemetery

2007 CHARLIE PARKER TRIBUTE | 21-SAX SALUTE - Horace Washington, David Basse, Stanton Kessler, Dan Jaffe, Bobby Watson, Kevin Greg, Loren Pickford, Chris Burnett, Alaadeen, and Mike Corrigan (yes, bagpipes!). Photo by Fanny Dunfee.

COURTESY FYI – All musician skill levels and instrument types are welcome. Please report at 12:30 PM. (Location) 8604 East Truman Road in Jackson County, Charlie “Bird” Parker’s Gravesite is located in Blue Summit, Missouri – just outside Kansas City, Missouri. (Directions) Lincoln Cemetery is north of the intersection of 40-Highway and Blue Ridge Cutoff (on Blue Ridge Road). Proceed North on Blue Ridge Cutoff from that intersection, staying Left on any forks in the road (which will put you on Blue Ridge Road). When passing a cemetery on the Right (East side of the road), begin looking for it within a mile or so, on the Left (West side of the road). It will clearly state Lincoln Cemetery and it is Charlie Parker’s final resting place.

SUNDAY AUGUST 29:

2010 Parker Festival and tribute to Eddie Baker

VENUE | Mutual Musicians Foundation

At 2:30 PM on Sunday (August 29), the historic Mutual Musicians Foundation at 1823 Highland Avenue in Kansas City, MO will be the site of the 2010 Charlie Parker Festival and Tribute to Eddie Baker – the founder and director of the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation.

COURTESY FYI - The 2010 Charlie Parker Festival and Memorial Tribute to Eddie Baker is sponsored by the Elder Statesmen of KC Jazz… Call 816 810-9233, or 913 342-4233, for more information.

—
Also See: MMF PRESS RELEASES

A jam session to honor jazz icon Ahmad Alaadeen was conducted on Tuesday, August 17, at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.  Alaadeen died on Sunday at the age of 76 of bladder cancer.  The Kansas City-born Alaadeen was a master of tenor and soprano saxophones and could play a variety of other instruments.  In addition to performing with his jazz ensembles, Alaadeen continued to work as a significant jazz educator. Recently, he had been inducted into the RT Coles/Lincoln High School “Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame”.

(l-r) Kua, playing the soprano saxophone, Godfrey Powell, holding his trumpet, and Dewey Rucker, playing his alto saxophone, participate in a jam session to honor jazz icon Ahmad Alaadeen on Tuesday, August 17, at the Mutual Musicians Foundation in Kansas City. PHOTO BY: ALLISON LONG/KANSAS CITY STAR 081710

HISTORIC FACT: Alaadeen was also a past Chairman of the Mutual Musicians Foundation, holding the office with distinction for 6 years. (source: MMF archives)

Lee Brown, plays his baritone saxophone during a jam session to honor jazz icon Ahmad Alaadeen. PHOTO BY: ALLISON LONG/KANSAS CITY STAR 081710

Godfrey Powell plays the trumpet during a jam session to honor jazz icon Ahmad Alaadeen. PHOTO BY: ALLISON LONG/KANSAS CITY STAR 081710

See more photographs at: Kansas City Star | kansascity.com

—
Also See: MMF PRESS RELEASES

Playboy Unveils List of America’s Greatest Bars
A Coast-to-Coast Roundup of the Nation’s Best Drinking Establishments, Best Dive Bars, and Best Late-Night Eats
CHICAGO, July 15, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ – Looking for a great place to have a drink? Look no further than “Playboy’s Guide to America’s Greatest Bars” in the magazine’s August 2010 issue (available on newsstands and online on Friday, July 16).

From NYC to LA to all points in between, writer at large and nightlife aficionado Steve Garbarino, along with the Playboy staff, list the nation’s best watering holes and explain why it’s worth taking a seat at a bar stool in these must-see establishments.

Guide to America's Greatest Bars - Playboy Magazine FEATURE

In addition, the article also lists the country’s “Best Dive Bars” and “Best Late-Night Eats,” two uniquely American staples of nightlife culture. Following is an alphabetical listing of Playboy’s top spots in the nation. A complete round-up will be available online.

PLAYBOY’S BEST BARS

Austin: The Continental Club
Chicago: The Map Room
Dallas: The French Room and Rodeo Bar & Grill at the Hotel Adolphus
Detroit: Cliff Bell’s
Kansas City: The Mutual Musicians Foundation
Las Vegas: The Bootlegger Bistro
Los Angeles: Dan Tana’s
Los Angeles: The Roger Room
Miami Beach: Mac’s Club Deuce
Miami Beach: The Raleigh Martini Bar
New Orleans: Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
New Orleans: The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel
New York City: King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel
New York City: Jane Ballroom at the Jane Hotel
Palm Springs: Starlite Lounge at the Riviera Resort & Spa
San Francisco: Top of the Mark at the InterContinental Hotel
Savannah: Planters Tavern in the Olde Pink House
Seattle: King’s Hardware

PLAYBOY’S BEST DIVE BARS

Austin: Mean-Eyed Cat
Boston: Lucky’s Lounge
Chicago: Cal’s
Dallas: Lee Harvey’s
Lompoc, California: Jasper’s
Memphis: Ernestine and Hazel’s
Miami South Beach: Ted’s Hideaway
Nashville: Springwater Supper Club
New Orleans: The Saint
New Orleans: Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge
New York City: Milano’s
New York City: Subway Inn
San Francisco: Specs
Washington, D.C.: The Big Hunt
Wichita: Kirby’s Beer Store

PLAYBOY’S BEST LATE-NIGHT EATS

Baltimore: Deep-fried Cheesesteak at Hot Tomatoes
Chicago: Led Zeppelin Burger at Kuma’s Corner
Hollywood: 101 Coffee Shop
Las Vegas: Pho Kim Long
New Orleans’s French Market: Beignets at Cafe Du Monde
New York City: Burgers at Daddy-O
Seattle: Poutine at Smith

—

SOURCE Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

URGENT: JULY 25 MEETING IS CANCELLED

At the request of our President, Will Matthews, I am sending this email to cancel tomorrow’s special meeting. Due to a family emergency, Mr. Matthews wishes to convey his apologies and will re-schedule as soon as possible.

Thank you I request you send this to all concerned on the membership list.

Respectfully submitted on Saturday, July 24, 2010 10:25 AM,
Anita J. Dixon
Vice-President

—–

ORIGINAL MESSAGE

To The Board of Directors/General Membership

From President Will Matthews

RE: Special Board Meeting

Dear All,

I regret to have to inform you that Clarence Smith has resigned his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

I am sure that I can say for all of us that he will be missed and was an asset for the organization in the short period he served as Chairman.

As a result of his resignation I am calling for a Special Board Meeting to promptly appoint a new Chairperson as the By-Laws prescribe in Article V Section 4.

It has been expressed to me in the past by various members that if a position became available it be filled by a musician, and we hope to see the nominations reflect our main reason for conducting this meeting.

Nominations will be taken from the floor and each nominee will have 5 minutes to make their presentation. Your attendance is highly important in this matter.

( Dinner will be served )

In Addition: Please see the attachment for MMF office procedures, effective immediately.

Thank you,

Will Matthews
President
MMF

Piano-Thon Fundraiser Features Kansas City’s Finest Musicians

The Historic Mutual Musicians Foundation (MMF) is presenting a unique fundraiser that brings over a dozen of Kansas City’s jazz musicians for a 24 hour “gig” organizers are calling the “Piano-Thon“, Thursday through Friday 6am to 6am,  July 15^th and 16^th at 1823 Highland, located within the heart of the Jazz District.

MMF Late Night | Photography by Ryan Waggoner

“The Piano-Thon is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of our newest addition to our performance hall located upstairs, an Essex Steinway.  This fundraiser brings together musicians and supporters from across the city and showcases the vast talent that is also an historic legacy we share in the district.” said Clarence Smith, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Local jazz pianist, Chris Clarke, an at-large board member of the MMF, believes that this is just one of many opportunities for the Mutual Musicians Foundation to enhance the MMF’s outreach in their international activities.

“This Piano-Thon is just the beginning of letting numerous people know of the significance of our historic landmark building and the caliber of artists we employ throughout KC.  We will have refreshments and the entire 24 hours will be a huge historic gathering itself” said Clarke.

MMF Late Night | Photography by Ryan Waggoner

The Piano-Thon will feature Chris Clarke, Roger Wilder, Charles Williams, Everette Freeman, Rich Hill, Luqman Hamza, Murray Fields, Don Cox, James Hathaway, Karriem Sayles, TJ Martley and Michael Pagan.

BOSTON GRAND PIANO BY STEINWAY

The Steinway designed Boston Piano — long unrivaled in its class and unmatched in value — has been significantly enhanced with the introduction of the new Performance Edition. The Boston Performance Edition features improvements in materials, specifications, and performance never before seen in the mid-price range.

A maple inner rim, found in only the finest pianos, increases structural integrity and improves the tone by isolating the soundboard. The patented Octagrip™ Pinblock provides a smoother pin turn and more consistent pin torque, leading to a more precise tuning.

To donate to the Piano-Thon, call the MMF at (816) 471-5212 for a pledge sheet or direct donations.  For the entire 24 hour line up of artists and their times, go to www.thefoundationjamson.org.