“I tried to recruit her but she went to Wichita State,” Cooper remembered.Īndres Reyes, who played drums when Cooper took the KCKCC Jazz Band to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1985, has two sons play in the hand – Andre Jr. Trombonist Karita Carter, the sister-in-law of KCKCC grad and Kansas City jazz legend Bobby Watson, could have been an alum. His father (Sonny) also played in Cooper’s band starting in 1974.
KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE PROFESSIONAL
Herschel McWilliams IV, lead tenor saxophonist, a Shawnee Mission North graduate and local professional musician (founder of ) who played for Cooper in the late 1990s, is the oldest alum. Of the 21 members of the band, four are current students at KCKCC five are or will be incoming freshmen and six KCKCC alums. Saxophonist Herschel McWilliams was one of a half-dozen KCKCC alums helping give direction and motivation to current and future KCKCC musicians as members of the New Century Jazz Band. It encourages everyone to get better and a great motivation for our incoming freshmen.” We’re trying to work out the logistics for two bands. “We have a waiting list we started in June and have enough people for two bands. “With Mandy starting college at KCKCC where she’ll be singing with John Stafford’s choral groups and Jameson playing trumpet and drum set at Olathe Northwest, we figured it was time to start a community band, one that plays at the highest level possible, not one that plays just for fun,” Mair said. His first community band organized shortly after his hiring at KCKCC in 1999 eventually evolved into the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, an elite orchestra he and his wife Mary headed until 2010 when they stepped aside to devote more time to their two children, Mandy and Jameson. Mair is a veteran at organizing instrumental groups. “We chose the name New Century in preparation of KCKCC’s 100th birthday in 2023 and we’re featuring Marlin Cooper to honor his legacy as one of the very first educators at the college level teaching jazz education in Kansas City,” Mair said. The debut featured guest soloist and co-director Marlin Cooper, KCKCC’s instrumental band director for 27 years (1972-1999).ĭirector of Instrumental Studies at KCKCC Jim Mair has founded and directed the New Century Big Band, so named in preparation for KCKCC’s 100th birthday in 2023. Organized and directed by Jim Mair, KCKCC director of instrumental music, the band made its public debut Thursday night at the Mason Jar Restaurant at 94th just south of State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.
KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE SERIES
Held by well-known jazz icon Tim Whitmer, it’s the longest running jazz series featuring local jazz musicians. In many cases, such as the New Century Big Band, they also give direction, experience and motivation to a new wave of up-and-coming jazz musicians at Kansas City Kansas Community College.Īn elite group of musicians made up of KCKCC alumni, music educators and graduates and present and future students, the New Century Jazz Band will make its formal debut in “Spirituality and All That Jazz” series Wednesday at 7 p.m. Old musicians don’t fade away, they just keep playing. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)īy Alan Hoskins, KCKCC (originally posted at Aug 2nd, 2019) The band is honoring Cooper for his legacy as one of the very first to teach jazz education at the college level in Kansas City. Former KCKCC Director of Bands Marlin Cooper was guest soloist at the first performance of the New Century Big Band at the Mason Jar Wednesday.
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