Kansas City Kansas Community College

Members of Kansas City Kansas Community College multi-award winning Jazz Band and Jazz Combo got even better this week.

Jeff Hamilton, considered by some to be the world’s greatest drummer, and bassist Christoph Luty spent an hour working with each of the two groups in the KCKCC Band Room Wednesday. Both are members of the Jeff Hamilton trio which performed Wednesday and Thursday at Jardine’s. “The pianist was not able to get here in time from Los Angeles,” said KCKCC Jazz Director Jim Mair. Ten members of the Turner High School band also sat in on the clinics.

Following the clinics, 16 students and music department members attended the trio’s performance at Jardine’s. “It was one of those performances that can be a life-changing moment,” said Mair. “The level of musicianship is just so high. One of the things we try to teach is the details, focus and concentration required to perform at the highest level and to see that kind of precision and musicality can be a light bulb moment.”

Mair frequently has top musicians in for clinics, especially those appearing with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra which he directs and are under contract to conduct clinics.

“Our students need to see the best and to get someone the caliber of Jeff Hamilton is a great opportunity that we don’t want to pass up,” said Mair. The drummer for Lionel Hampton at age 20 and later a member of the Woody Herman Band, Hamilton currently tours with Diana Krall, has his own big band and his trio is featured as the backup on Barbra Streisand’s latest album. “Not many can play with a big band and a trio with such artistry and finesse.”

Mair said the timing if Hamilton and Luty’s clinic was exceptional because both the Jazz Band and Jazz Combo will be featured in the annual Fall Jazz Concert in the Performing Arts Center Tuesday.

“The things I wanted to get across were playing in the pocket and the groove and length between the bass player, drummer and band,” said Mair. “We program music with a high concentration on swing, which is the hardest part of the jazz language and something a lot of bands shy away from because it is difficult. The answers are not in the books. It’s a feeling and intuitiveness. What we want is the same spirit and freedom that Count Basie had, not the kind of sound associated with academic groups.”

Mair said improvement in the performances of the band and combo was immediate. “Jeff was impressed with the group and especially the drummer, Rex Hancock (a freshman from Tonganoxie) and how he was able to adjust to Jeff’s suggestions, which is so critical as a musician,” said Mair.