Tim Whitmer's Second July Jazz Jam Features The Kansas City All-Star Keyboard Kings

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- The year's July Jazz Jam follows up on the standing-room-only inaugural concert in 2011. The acclaimed concert event will be Sunday, July 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will support music programs of Community Christian Church.

Special guests will be the "Big Voice" herself, Millie Edwards and three-time Kansas Music Hall of Fame inductee Janet Jameson.

Featured headliners of the concert will be a trio of celebrated All-Star Keyboard Kings: Tim Whitmer, Everette DeVan and Joe Cartwright. Also returning this year is the highly acclaimed July Jazz Jam House band, which includes saxophonist Jim Mair, bassist James Albright and drummer Jurge Welge.

"July Jazz Jam Two is going to be THE fun, toe-tapping, good time concert of the summer. Guaranteed to make you smile!" Whitmer said.

The July Jazz Jam is at Community Christian Church, located at 4601 Main. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now: $10 in advance online at the church website (payments accepted through PayPal), or at the church Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door the day of the concert (cash or check). Visit http://www.community-christian.org or visit the Community Christian Church Facebook Event page ( http://www.facebook.com/events/227042480739165/ ) for ticket information or call 816-561-6531.

About The Kansas City All-Star Keyboard Kings

Joe Cartwright has lived, performed and taught in the Kansas City area for the last thirty years.  He is a graduate of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and is currently the musical director for the critically acclaimed NPR radio show '12th Street Jump.'  Joe has performed on and produced numerous recordings.  Some of his credits include work with internationally recognized artists Eddie Harris, Sheila Jordan, Bill Watrous, Jerry Hahn, Jeff Hamilton, Rob McConnell, Carl Fontana, Red Holloway, John Clayton, Karrin Allyson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Kevin Mahogany and Mel Torme.  He has been a featured performer with the Kansas City Symphony and the Independence Symphony, and his trio was featured in performance at the 1992 World's Fair in Seville, Spain as representatives of Kansas City Jazz.  In the fall of 1998, he toured Africa as part of the USIA/Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador Touring Program. In the spring of 2000, Cartwright toured the Middle East, Africa, India and Southeast Asia as a USIA Jazz Ambassador.  When not performing and giving clinics, Joe composes, arranges and teaches jazz piano and theory.

Everette DeVan and his Hammond B-3 organ has been a mainstay on the KC Jazz scene for many years. He's also well known nationally and internationally for his longstanding contribution to the Jazz traditions. This is his second appearance at the July Jazz Jam.

Leading the band is Tim Whitmer, the prodigal son of Kansas City Jazz. He cut his "key" teeth on the likes of Jay McShann, Mary Lou Williams and Count Basie. Under the tutelage of George Salisbury he honed his own unique style and has treated audiences from all over the world to a taste of Kansas City swing jazz. When Whitmer played New York jazz clubs, the Village Voice called him "the best swing band to come out of Kansas City since Jay McShann." Whitmer has performed internationally at both the Lugano Jazz Festival in Italy and the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and graced the stage of numerous national festivals. His classical training is the basis of his broad performance skills and music writing abilities.

About the Featured Vocal Performers

Millie Edwards is known around Kansas City as the tiny woman with the BIG voice.  Her “big” voice and wide range, as well as her outgoing personality, endear her to every audience. She’s one of “those crazy little women here,” The Wild Women of Kansas City, and performs regularly on the Kansas City Jazz scene with artists such as Everette DeVan, Greg Meise, Tim Whitmer and Michael Pagan. Edwards also does studio work for radio and television spots. A graduate of Ottawa University, she earned a Masters of Education degree from Rockhurst College and had a 25-year career with AT&T. Edwards currently teaches at Penn Valley Community College.

Rock, Blues and Jazz violinist Janet Jameson’s love of performing, passionate vocal delivery and uniquely edgy improvisational style has earned her the honor of being a three-time inductee to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. In the 2012 ceremony, she’ll be inducted along with Cole Tuckey and Morningstar. Jameson was featured in the documentary film Cowtown Ballroom, Sweet Jesus as one of the few female musicians who performed in that legendary concert venue.  She plays regularly with a wide variety of top musicians in the region, including the bands Rock Paper Scissors, Shooting Star and Monsters Ink. Jameson is also a music writer and accomplished ceramic artist.