Federal Grant Earmarked for Kansas City Jazz Club
A jazz club located in the heart of Kansas City’s 18th and Vine Jazz District will be receiving $143,000 worth of federal grant money to help pay for repairs, according to a report in the KC Tribune. The money is part of a large spending package for the Department of Health and Human Services Department, and the earmark was sponsored by U.S. Congressman and former Kansas City mayor Emanuel Cleaver.
The club, the Mutual Musicians Foundation, was originally the segregated black musician’s union building. In 1970 the two segregated unions of Kansas City merged, and we both housed in the building at 1823 Highland St. The building now boasts a jazz club and live recording studio.
From the article:
A sign that reads “Kansas City Jazz–The Tradition Jams On” beckons visitors from the ground-floor entry up the narrow, steep staircase to the club’s bar and main attraction, its small stage. Photos of two of the many jazz greats who’ve played the tiny club stare out from the back of the stage–great such as Charlie Parker and Jay McShann.
Red marquis lights flash around a nearly life-size image of jazz legend Big Joe Turner. The black-painted walls and dark curtains mix with the cool tunes resonating from the bass, vocals and piano on the stage. Luqman Hamza, a member of the world-renowned ’30s and ’40s group the Ink Spots, played piano and sang at the Foundation recently, while Lucky Wesley, of the renowned local group the Scamps, added his bass and vocals to the mix.
Read the full story: Federal Grant Will Help Keep Musicians Foundation Swinging
About the author
where to find funds for a new keyboard & amp.then for a recording and to put on a series of concerts ? /
9/2/2009
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