JAZZ ME NEWS FOR OCTOBER 2001

http://www.riverwalk.org http://www.landing.com

THE NEWS:

Jim Cullum's Landing in San Antonio is open for business! We believe that it is our duty as civilized people to continue on with our lives--perhaps not as before September 11, but with a new appreciation of those precious things that make us uniquely American...and enjoying live classic jazz music in the company of friends and family is among these.

Jim Cullum says, "At the Landing, we've been playing the "Star-Spangled Banner" every evening. We play it "straight" like a small military band, and I'm pleased to say that it sounds thrilling and is very well received by our crowds.

"In this small way we wish to show our love for the country, and our support of our military and our President."

For the month of October, all recipients of the Jazz Me News will receive FREE ADMISSION for your entire party for one evening's performance at the Landing. Please print this copy and present to your server.

Also for October, all active-duty military personnel will receive FREE ADMISSION for your entire party for one evening's performance at the Landing. Please present your military ID to your server.

For reservations, please call the Landing during normal business hours, Central Time, Monday through Friday, at 210-223-7266 or 210-602-0967. Reservations are suggested only on weekend nights or for large parties.

SUMMIT JAZZ EVENT

The JCJB has just returned from last weekend's Summit Jazz Event at the Hyatt Tech Center in Denver. The JCJB has appeared regularly at this classic jazz party since 1983. This year, the other featured bands were the Alan Frederickson Jazz Ensemble, the Titan Hot Seven, and the Summit Jazz All-Stars including former Riverwalk guests: guitarist Howard Alden, pianist Ralph Sutton, and cornetist Bob Barnard.

There were minimal problems with airline travel--minor inconveniences and delays related to security checkpoints. Unfortunately, attendance at Summit Jazz was significantly down from previous years. Since September 11, all of us in the entertainment and leisure/travel industries face daunting obstacles.

Summit Jazz Foundation President Juanita Greenwood (SUMMITJAZZ@compuserve.com) says, "Summit Jazz was presented for its 23rd year this past weekend in spite of the recent horrific events that have plagued our country. Our audiences were much less in number than years past but still a good and appreciative crowd. Many folks told us that the healing effect of our music was much appreciated after the emotional and terrifying events of the past few weeks. Thanks to all who attended this year. We look forward to next year with a country that has recovered from such agonizing times."

OCTOBER 16 CONCERT AND RIVERWALK TAPING

*Where: First United Methodist Church of Houston, 1320 Main St. at Clay, Houston, TX *When: October 16, 2001. Two programs: 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM *Tickets: $10.00. Available at the door. Advance sales via mail to: Riverwalk Jazz Concert, First United Methodist Church of Houston, 1320 Main St., Houston TX 77002. Make check payable to: First United Methodist Church (FUMC). Tickets will be held at the Will Call table to claim Tuesday evening, Oct 16. Call 713-652-2999 for more information.

The First United Methodist Church of Houston is pleased to present two live radio broadcast recordings of Texas Public Radio's jazz series, Riverwalk, Live From The Landing, starring San Antonio's Jim Cullum Jazz Band and Grammy Award-winning host David Holt.

Special guest, piano legend Dick Hyman, will join the Jim Cullum Jazz Band for the recordings. Among his many on-going projects, Mr. Hyman has served as Music Director for many of Woody Allen's films and, this year, appears in Allen's latest release, "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion." Also this year, Mr. Hyman completed his 17th season as Music Director of the Jazz in July series at the 92nd St. Y in New York City.

The evening will consist of two taped performances. The first taping at 7:00 PM will be "Amazing Grace: A Program of Spirituals and Hymns," in a jazz-band style. Mr. Hyman and the band will be joined by the 60-voice First United Methodist Church choir in three hymns: "Steal Away," "Lord What a Mournin,'" and "Wheel in a Wheel."

The second taping at 8:30 PM will be "Peck's Bad Boys: East Texas Jazz in the '20s," a two-piano extravaganza featuring Dick Hyman and Jim Cullum Jazz Band piano wizard, John Sheridan. The show will feature the music of Peck Kelley, an extraordinary jazz pianist and composer who was in demand on a national level but his heart truly belonged to Texas--Galveston Bay to be exact.

This special event is made possible by the Loyal Friends of the Church.

CLASSIC JAZZ ARRANGER BILLY MAXTED DEAD AT 84

Maxted, a Big Band era jazz musician who wrote for Benny Goodman and played with Glenn Miller, died Thursday at the Fort Lauderdale, FL Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was 84.

Born in Racine, WI in 1917, Maxted lived in Long Island, NY for much of his life until he moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1961. While living in New York, Maxted was a fixture at Nick's in Greenwich Village.

Florida musician Will Connelly mentions "Billy's heroic [WWII] service as a carrier-based Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific. Billy will be forever memorialized by the legacy of the great--and still played [arrangements] he wrote for Goodman, Bob Crosby and other leaders."

Don Ingle writes: "My friend, teacher, and mentor Red Nichols told me several times that Billy Maxted was the finest piano man and arranger that ever worked for him...Billy's playing was fine, but it was his arranging skills for a small band that made him stand out. Today I would compare him to John Sheridan with [Jim] Cullum's band as one who could write BIG for small groups."

UPCOMING ON "RIVERWALK, LIVE FROM THE LANDING"

Note: dates given are for the weekly (Thursday) satellite feed only. To find out when your local station airs Riverwalk, go to:

http://www.riverwalk.org/carriage/carriage.htm

10/4 I Wish I Were Twins: The Fats Waller Bluebird Sessions A celebration of Fats Waller best-sellers and little-known gems on the Bluebird label. Piano legend Dick Hyman and vocalist Rebecca Kilgore join The Jim Cullum Jazz Band.

10/11 Milt Gabler and The Commodore Records Story The Jim Cullum Jazz Band pays tribute to Commodore Records with hot performances of tunes like "Breeze (That Blew My Gal Away)" and "Oh, Sister Ain't That Hot!" Also included are excerpts from an oral history by Milt Gabler, founder of Commodore, who passed away this summer.

10/18 Jelly Roll Blues Vernel Bagneris performs excerpts from his critically acclaimed show, "Jelly Roll." The Jim Cullum Jazz Band, with Mr. Bagneris on vocals, performs Jelly Roll Morton classics "Jelly Roll Blues" and "Sweet Substitute."

10/25 Relaxin' at the Touro: Muggsy Spanier and His Ragtime Band The Jim Cullum Jazz Band honors the musical legacy of Chicago cornetist, Muggsy Spanier, and his remarkable recordings known as the "Great 16."

More on upcoming Riverwalk programs here: http://www.riverwalk.org/proglist/proglist2001.htm

More on Riverwalk guest artists here: http://www.riverwalk.org/profiles/rwgalery.htm

ON THE ROAD

October 14 JCJB Jazz Communion Service and Concert: First United Methodist Church of Houston, TX. 713-652-2999 x752. http://www.riverwalk.org/events/1st_united_houston.htm. Schedule: *5:00-6:15 PM Service *Break *7:00-8:15 PM Concert

October 16 Riverwalk Concert and Taping in Houston (see above).

October 17 The JCJB plays at a private party for the Wall Street Journal in New York City.

October 21 JCJB Jazz Mass: Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, San Antonio, TX, 210-826-4440. http://covenantbaptist.org/index.html

October 28 JCJB Jazz Mass: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Austin, TX, 512-336-7370. http://www.stbarnabas-austin.org/

More about the Landing schedule and JCJB Touring Itinerary here:

http://www.riverwalk.org/events/calendar/itinery.htm

NEW ON OUR WEBSITES:

You can now use the power of Google(tm) to search the Riverwalk and Landing websites. On our home pages, just scroll down to near the bottom. It's fun and easy to do!

JAZZ ME NEWS ARCHIVE NOW AVAILABLE AS USENET NEWSGROUP

Just point your browser to:

news://lists.landing.com/jazzmenews

This is a read-only archive of JMN issues from March 2000. The archive is also available on the web at:

http://lists.landing.com/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?sub=17101&id=157844301

STREAMING RIVERWALK ON THE WEB Can't hear Riverwalk over the air on your local public radio station? Or, are you located outside the United States? Listen to us on the Web in streaming format, from anywhere on the planet:

http://www.riverwalk.org/audionet.htm You can always keep up with the latest news about the JCJB, the Riverwalk Jazz public radio series, and Jim Cullum's Landing in San Antonio by periodically checking in with us at:

http://www.riverwalk.org/new.htm

The Riverwalk public radio series is sponsored by See's Candies, Inc. Visit the See's site at

http://www.sees.com

See you next month!

--Don Mopsick, Bassist and Web Guy

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