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It Was a Jammin' Day for Jazz
By Steve Penn, The Kansas City Star
 here's nothing like a true jazz jam session. The kind where musicians of different styles and backgrounds come together to improvise. And believe me, there's nothing like one held for 24 hours.
In hosting the Penn- Coda 24-hour jam session earlier this week, I had pledged to camp out in the 18th and Vine district for 24 hours, from noon Wednesday until noon Thursday. The goal was to draw attention to the Coda Jazz Fund Benefit concert, to be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Gem Theater.
Well, I made it. But I couldn't have done it without support from musicians and the American Jazz Museum .
Ray Reed, a local jazz singer, helped me big time, summoning musicians across the city to accompany me as I played the trumpet on the corner of and 18th Street and the Paseo.
Threatening skies couldn't prevent musicians from flowing in and out all day.
At noon , pianist Murray Fields pulled up with his pickup and a PA system. He tipped his hat to the Coda Jazz Fund, which pays burial expenses for indigent jazz musicians.
"Who knows," Fields said. "I might die impoverished. Hopefully the fund will be around to buy me a headstone."
Tracy Neely, a guitarist, and Chris Clarke, a pianist, teamed up with Dave Luvin, a bass player who was on his lunch break. Clarke played for almost five hours.
"I'm just glad the Coda Fund is here to recognize all those who don't get recognized," said Clarke, who studied at The Juilliard School.
Around 3 p.m. , Monica Nightengale, who delivers the news on Magic 107.3, dropped by for an on-air update. She even sang "My Funny Valentine."
"Many musicians play for the love of the music and not the love of the money," Nightengale said. "Many musicians aren't thinking about insurance. They're too busy sharing their art."
Guitarist Andy Masters and flute player Lori Lacy showed up a little later.
Saxophonist Chris Burnett played for four hours.
"I've been aware of what the Coda Jazz Fund is," Burnett said. "So I came out and had a great time today."
When an electrical outlet was needed, Ronnie Medlock, a tenant in the apartments above us, obliged.
"Hey baby," he yelled from his third-floor window as the cord was thrown up. "The show must go on."
At 7 p.m. , saxophonist Bobby Watson teamed up with singers Luqman Hamza and Arika Brazil , Theo Wilson on bass, and others.
Around 9 p.m. we moved to the nearby Mutual Musicians Foundation, which had cooked up a late-night jam session for us.
The early morning session featured 20-somethings Mike Herrera, saxophonist; Brad Williams, drummer; Adam Kabak on bass; Kevin Cerovich on trombone; and pianist Oscar Williams.
By 4:30 a.m. I couldn't keep my eyes open. But a guy named Matthias from Belgium who had stopped by asked me to explain the concept of a jam session.
"I never thought that I would drop into a jam session like tonight," Matthias said. "Never."
By noon Thursday, I was fatigued but satisfied.
For a day we brought musicians together. We showed that the jazz district is safe. And we drew attention to a worthy cause, the Coda Jazz Fund Benefit concert. That's what I call a good day.
For ticket information, call Ticketmaster (816) 931-3330 or the Gem Theater box office at (816) 474-8463.
To reach Steve Penn, call (816)234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.
REPRINTED WITH
PERMISSION FROM
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
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