Jazz Town: July Jazz Jam among big contributions of Tim Whitmer; Dave Koz, David Sanborn at Kauffman

Pianist Tim Whitmer, a steady presence on the Kansas City scene since the 1980s, deserves credit for making things happen. And it’s especially clear this week, when some of the biggest events on the jazz calendar are his creations.

First up is his annual July Jazz Jam, to be held Sunday, July 31, at the Community Christian Church. For this one, Whitmer and a core group of loyal friends — you can’t make things happen like Whitmer does without loyal friends — will mix it up with some guests. His core trio, with bassist James Albright and drummer Ray DeMarchi, will interact with the group A La Mode, singer Kathleen Holeman and guitarist Rod Fleeman. That’s a serious list of jam talent.

The July Jazz Jam is at 7 p.m. at the church, 4601 Main St. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door; the proceeds benefit the church’s music programs. Call 816-561-6531 or check community-christian.org.

Then, the first Wednesday of a new month almost always brings one of Whitmer’s Spirituality and All That Jazz shows, a recurring thing since 1994. The show this Wednesday, Aug. 3, is a good one, with singer Sharon Thompson providing the soulful and bluesy sounds alongside Whitmer’s “consort band.” Also, the Kansas City Kansas Community College Summer Jazz Choir will appear.

This all-ages show is at 7 p.m. at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St. Tickets are $7.

And there’s one other thing. Whitmer and Green Lady Lounge honcho John Scott are working to put together a radio show, with Whitmer as host. They’re recording another program for that series at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Green Lady, 1809 Grand Blvd. This one features drummer Todd Strait’s trio with guitarist Danny Embrey and bassist Gerald Spaits, playing original material by all three members.

People say you have to make your own luck in life, and the arts offer good examples of individuals who do just that. In Kansas City music, Whitmer, with his knack for making good ideas into good events, is a prime example. And we, in turn, are lucky to have him.

Noteworthy

▪ Fans of smooth jazz, fusion or just plain fun won’t want to miss a concert by two saxophone giants of the field, Dave Koz and David Sanborn. They’ll appear at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $29 to $89; check kauffmancenter.org or call 816-994-7222.

▪ The Blue Room, 1600 E. 18th St., has bassist Dominique Sanders running the Monday jam at 7 p.m. Aug. 1. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Lester “Duck” Warner performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. Singer David Basse and pianist Joe Cartwright present their band at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5. The Bosman Twins, Dwight and Dwayne — sax and flute virtuosi from St. Louis who have been performing together for half a century — appear at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6.

▪ The Green Lady Lounge has guitarist Joe Schoonover’s group at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 31, followed by drummer Brian Steever’s quartet at 9:30 p.m.; the group B Vibe at 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1; organist Chris Hazelton’s trio at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, followed by bassist Gerald Spaits’ trio at 9:30 p.m.; drummer Natalie Bates’ trio at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, followed by organist Ken Lovern’s OJT at 9 p.m.; percussionist John Kizilarmut’s trio at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, followed by drummer Kevin Frazee’s trio at 9 p.m.; a guy named Tim Whitmer at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, followed by vibraphonist Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks at 9 p.m. and Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7 at 10 p.m.; and OJT again at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, followed by Hazelton at 9 p.m.

▪ The Westport CoffeeHouse Theatre, 4010 Pennsylvania Ave., presents the quartet of tenor saxophonist Michael Eaton, a former KC area resident now working in New York, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2. (Eaton is preparing his second album, featuring guitar star Lionel Loueke.) Bassist Ben Leifer’s Plus Minus group performs at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Jazz Town: July Jazz Jam among big contributions of Tim Whitmer; Dave Koz, David Sanborn at Kauffman."