Kaitlynn Long Reporting for the Media Ledger Story #1 Spring Jazz Series

A musical mainstay in Kansas City will ta e center stage at the college this semester for the annual Spring Jazz Series! "he soulful wailing of trumpets# sa$ophones# and pianos with fill the air as the series ic s off in the Recital %all of the Carlsen Center e&ery "uesday at noon through April 'th! "he concerts are not only free to students (ut also open to the pu(lic# on a first)come first)ser&e (asis!

Many artists in the series ha&e grown up and spent many years in the legendary *azz capital of Kansas City# representing the rich history that made its grounds in the 1+th and ,ine district and has flourished throughout the decades!

"he *azz series (rings an array of musicians to the college that displays the many different styles of *azz! Artists li e the -ennis .inslett /uartet and the Ro( .hitsitt /uartet perform the classics from Jazz0s origins in the South! .hile the Mar Lowrey "rio with Shay 1stes represent a more modern twist on some highly popular *azz oldies# and the James .ard "rio representing a country and fol type *azz!

2erformers will include the Mar Lowrey "rio with Shay 1stes# Killer Strayhorn# -a&id 3asse and the City Light 4rchestra# -ennis .inslett /uartet# the James .ard "rio# and the Ro( .hitsitt /uartet!

1&ent organizers said they recei&e plenty of positi&e feed(ac a(out the series! "he acts don0t *ust draw students either 5 parents are a(le to en*oy the music as well! Many parents of the traditional students here at the college ha&e en*oyed the free concerts and at least one has said he wishes the college would pro&ide more opportunities li e this!

67 thoroughly en*oyed the performance# 7 grew up in a household that listened to *azz on a daily (asis#8 9eil :uentez# a parent# said# 63eing a(le to hear the music li&e in such a setting had me lea&ing with great memories!8

As the series (egins to come to close with the last performance (eing ne$t "uesday# many people ha&e e$pressed their thoughts towards the great turnout! 67 ha&e had ;uite a good time listening to all the great musicians and the fact that it0s free is *ust an added (onus!8 Morgan Conrad# a student# said!

6"he college has gotten many in;uiries a(out the free concerts and would li e us to produce more concerts or e&ents that can in&ol&e the community as well# and 7 intend on doing my (est# as and they shall recei&e!8 Ja e A ehurst said# the Campus Acti&ities 3oard -irector at JCCC!

"he series is cosponsored (y the JCCC music and theater departments# Community Ser&ices di&ision and the Richard J! Stern :oundation for the Arts!