Hardly anyone gets rich off this jazz business.

Embracing it often means a lifetime of worrying about steady income.

And when that lifetime's over, there's often worry about scraping together the money for a dignified funeral and burial.

So the Coda Jazz Fund was created to provide that final dignity to Kansas City's jazz musicians. And this week is your chance to help.

On Saturday Coda's benefit concert will take care of this serious business while also grooving like crazy. Keyboardist Joe Sample's trio, singer Queen Bey and Bobby Watson and his University of Missouri-Kansas City student musicians will provide the grooves.

The event is Coda's fifth annual benefit concert. With Sample, a longtime member of the Crusaders, and Watson and Bey, who represent the best of Kansas City musical styles today, it's bound to be a memorable evening. And the money you give by buying a ticket will help Coda keep the dignity alive.

To reach Joe Klopus with comments or news of jazz events, call (816) 234-4751; send e-mail to jklopus@kcstar.com; or write 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64108.

Saturday
The Coda Jazz Fund benefit concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Gem Theater, 1615 E. 18th St. Tickets cost $50 to $125 through ticketmaster.com (816-931-3330; 816-474-6262).

Noteworthy
North Kansas City's Saturday in the Square jazz jams are back. With pianist Mike Ning and singer Sherry Jones and leaders, the free sessions take place every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Kansas City Town Square, 321 Armour Road.

Singer Megan Birdsall is this month's guest on Joe Cartwright's "Best of Kansas City Jazz" series. The show's at 8 tonight at Jardine's, 4536 Main St. A Sunday highlight at Jardine's is a performance by the Kansas City Bass Quartet, with bassists Bob Bowman, Gerald Spaits, James Albright and Craig Akin, from 3 to 5 p.m.

The Blue Room, 1600 E. 18th St., features the Sons of Brasil at 7 tonight; it's free. Singer Lisa Henry performs at 8:30 p.m. Friday; cover is $5. The singing, tap-dancing, horn-playing McFadden Brothers (Lonnie with the trumpet, Ronald with the saxophone) perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday; tickets are $15. The Jazz Disciples are in charge of the Monday jam session at 7 p.m.; that's free.

 

 

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR