The Coda Jazz Fund

04/25/2016

Coda Jazz Fund says "Thank You" to Mr. Kelsyn Rooks, who hosts Classic Album Sundays at The Tap Room in Waldo Pizza, for the great donation to help us provide financial assistance to pay for costs associated with the burial and funeral expenses of career jazz musicians.

02/09/2016

Very proud to announce that The Coda Jazz Fund has launched its new website! Truly a labor of love. We hope everyone will come and take a look. http://thecodajazzfund.org

mission tributes give board sponsors apply news events links The Fund provides financial assistance to pay for costs associated withthe burial and funeral expenses of career jazz musicians. events remember links gallery P.O. Box 412116 | Kansas City, MO 64141-2116 | (816) 234-4417 | CONT…

01/06/2016

The American Jazz Museum, Office of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, Elder Statesmen of KC Jazz and CODA Jazz Fund will celebrate what would have been Oliver Todd’s 100th birthday this Thursday January 7, 2016 at the Blue Room, 4:00 until 5:30 pm. His wife Mrs. Bernice Todd and niece Carol Gatlin are the hosts.

Oliver C. Todd was born January 7, 1916 and was an American Jazz band leader, organ, piano and trumpeter. Born in Kansas City, Todd was a mentor and befriended Charlie Parker before Parker left Kansas City for New York with the Jay McShann Orchestra. Oliver was one of the city's most famous band leaders and led a band known as the Hottentots.

The Thursday January 7, 2016 Birthday Celebration for Oliver Todd is free and open to the public…Donations are always encouraged. Call 816-842-1774 or 816-810-9233, for any questions or information.

01/06/2016

The Historic Jazz Foundation, the City of Kansas City, Missouri and the American Jazz Museum will host THE JAY McSHANN CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY BASH to celebrate the life and music of James Columbus “Jay” McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7 2006), who was a jump blues, mainstream jazz and swing bandleader, pianist and singer.

KCUR jazz producer and Marr Sound Archives director, Chuck Haddix will provide an overview of Jay McShann’s life that will transport attending guests to the 1940s when McShann was a leader at the forefront of the blues and hard bop music scenes. Haddix will reveal how McShann assembled his own band with musicians who were among the most influential artists of their time, such as Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Haddix will also note how McShann’s style of music became widely known as “the Kansas City sound.”

Additionally, Sonie Joi Thompson-Ruffin, American Jazz Museum Curator will present an new Jay McShann exhibition in the Gem Theater Mezzanine Gallery containing various McShann artifacts.

The celebration event will take place from 7:00pm to 11:00pm on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Gem Theater at 1615 E. 18th Street in the 18th and Vine Historic District.

Master of Ceremonies is Gerald Dunn, American Jazz Museum Entertainment Director.

Special musical guests include: Bobby Watson and his All Stars; Benny Green; and Joe Cartwright and Company, which features Everette Freeman (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass), Rod Fleeman (guitar), Adam Galblum (violin), Todd Strait (drums) along with vocalists – Lisa Henry, Lester “Duck” Warner and David Basse.
- See more at: http://americanjazzmuseum.org/event/happy-birthday-jay-mcshann-centennial/ .E2s37kmU.dpuf

01/02/2015

Great clip of Horace Washington, legendary Jazz Saxaphone and Flute player who left us in October, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEmtk2Wp40

Winner best CinemaJazz short documentary at the 2011 AMC Kansas city FilmFest featuring legendary sax player Horace Washington, Produced by Smoking Monkey Pi...

01/02/2015

Great clip of Tommy playing drums and being interviewed by Mike Shanin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1_1JERx5YY

These days the calendar tells us many things to celebrate and one of them is underway right now. April is Jazz Appreciation Month. The National Endowment for...

01/02/2015

The Jazz Community mourns the passing of legendary drummer, Tommy Ruskin.
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article5322939.html

Tommy Ruskin, a longtime staple of the Kansas City jazz scene known for his sense of humor and jam sessions throughout the region, died Thursday after a yearlong illness. He was 72. “Besides being the best Kansas City drummer of the past 50 years, Tommy was also one of the greatest musicians I have…

05/20/2014

Many thanks to Sam Hughes, who discovered the fact that Bennie Moten had no headstone and brought it to the Coda Jazz Fund board's attention. Sam attended the dedication and spoke.

05/20/2014

The Coda Jazz Fund placed a long needed headstone at the grave of Kansas City Jazz Legend, Bennie Moten. It was discovered last year that this fantastic musician, who died in 1935, never had a headstone for his final resting place. He does now.
Great dedication music was provided by musicians from Vine Street Rumble, and attending the dedication were Coda Jazz Fund Board Members and Pam McKinney, a relative of Bennie Moten.

11/16/2011

08/24/2011

Don't forget this weekend is the Yardbird Jazz and Film Festival celebrating Charlie Parker's musical genius and legend. Starts at noon on August 27 in the American Jazz Museum complex and the Gem Theatre.