Mazel tov to a musical benefactor

Column: STEVE PENN
Date: 05/09/03
Credit: The Kansas City Star
Byline: STEVE PENN

Sophie Unterman wants to show her love of jazz music in a very special way.

Sophie, of Mission Hills, turns 13 on May 31. The Indian Hills Middle School student could have selected any charity to receive a portion of her bat mitzvah gifts - but Sophie really enjoys playing jazz piano.

She's fascinated with the musicians who play the music. And she's read the stories about jazz musicians who have died without money to cover their funerals and burials.

Those stories inspired Sophie so much that the young woman is donating a percentage of her bat mitzvah gifts to the Coda Jazz Fund, which pays funeral and burial expenses of impoverished local jazz musicians.

"I want to help the local jazz musicians," Sophie said. "I think they give a lot to this community. I don't think they get enough back."
Giving something back is the reason the Coda Jazz Fund came together. The fund now stands at $43,000. In its one-year existence, six families have been helped.

Sophie, who has been studying the piano since she was 4, was inspired to help the fund after watching a recent taping of the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver's radio show, "Under the Clock," on KCUR-FM.

"She came up with the idea on her own," said Sophie's mother, Ellen Murphy. "She sees the bat mitzvah as a way to help. It bothers her that some of these musicians are in this plight."

The idea was reinforced when her family attended an event where a trio of jazz musicians was playing. The band split $400 for a three-hour gig.

"The musicians sometimes don't get a lot of money playing," Sophie said. "I wanted to do something that benefits them."

Murphy isn't sure how much money her daughter's gesture will raise. It really doesn't matter. A much more important lesson is in play - instilling an appreciation for jazz in the next generation.

"KC is known for jazz ," Murphy said. "I really would like jazz to be a part of Sophie's life. This town is proud of its jazz heritage. It would be a shame for it ever to disappear."

The young woman's act of benevolence is not isolated.

Last week, Larry Bridges, president of Executive Hills, purchased 60 $50 tickets for the second annual Coda Jazz Fund concert, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 17 at the Gem Theater. Bridges is donating the tickets to Cleaver's church to be distributed to young people who want to attend the concert.

Since the tickets cost $50 and $100, the price may have kept some young people from attending.

"If it rubs off on one of those 60 kids and it inspires one to go on to greatness, then it's worth all the money 10 times over," Bridges said. "Maybe there's one kid who doesn't sleep that night thinking about how he shook hands with one of the giants."

When Bridges started in business, someone took an interest in him.

"Nobody out there has achieved success without someone reaching back and giving them a hand," Bridges said. "If you know somebody who didn't, I'd like to meet that person."

Performers at the concert will include trumpeter Clark Terry, singer Karrin Allyson, local jazz legends Claude "Fiddler" Williams and pianist Jay McShann, the Scamps and saxophonist Bobby Watson.

Tickets can be purchased at the American Jazz Museum by calling (816) 474-6262 or by calling Ticketmaster at (816) 931-3330.

Contributions can be sent to the Coda Jazz Fund, P.O. Box 412116, Kansas City, MO 64141-2116.

By the way, today Cleaver's radio show on KCUR will feature a discussion on the importance of the fund. The show begins at noon at City Stage Theater in Union Station and will feature McShann and Williams.

- To reach Steve Penn, call (816) 234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR