![]() In an informal conversation with reporters early Saturday evening as the day's worrisome thunderstorms gave way to gorgeous evening, Kositany-Buckner said she expected the festival to break even this year, and that organizers would debrief afterwards. Kositany-Buckner knew there would be lessons learned from this first, ambitious effort, one that had a rocky rollout. So it was disappointing to see the talented artists playing for non-existent crowds in front of the KC Showcase Stage stage at 18th and Highland (especially on Sunday afternoon, when 18th Street was inexplicably empty of all the arts, crafts and snack vendors who'd filled the space between the American Jazz Museum and the Gem Theater on Friday and Saturday). Throughout the weekend, however, it was those national acts who drew the most lawn chairs. KCUR 89.3 Carlitos Del Puerto, bass player for pianist Chick Corea, appeared to be enjoying their headlining set on Friday evening. Kositany-Buckner was also adamant about giving Kansas City talent equal billing to national acts like Chick Corea, Lalah Hathaway, and Brandy. Putting the main stages on Paseo was the idea of Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner, who took over as director of the American Jazz Museum last year. Watching Bobby Watson's brilliant improvisations with his band Horizon while the sun set behind the colonnaded brick Guadalupe Center's High School, it was easy to have a renewed sense of the neighborhood's promise (especially with Major League Baseball's new Urban Youth Academy under construction on the other side of the street). Vendors sold adult beverages out of another tent, while (most of the) food trucks parked on Paseo did a steady business. ![]() Tall trees made picturesque backdrops, and the grassy lawn more than accommodated everyone's folding chairs and blankets, along with tents for the sound guys. ![]() The genius of this festival was to put its two main stages outside at both ends of a large median in Paseo Boulevard just north of 18th Street. KCUR 89.3 Kansas City jazz singer Queen Bey thanked people for coming out to hear music she said was 'almost dead.' ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |