Not many people are even aware of it: The guitarist with the Count Basie Orchestra is a lifelong resident of Kansas City. </p><p>Will Matthews has been a member of the band for 13 years. He was hired to fill the chair of the late legendary guitarist Freddie Green, who played with the band for more than 50 years. </p><p>Whenever and wherever there&rsquo;s a gig around the world, Matthew flies out of Kansas City and catches up with his fellow band members. He left Friday for a gig in Singapore. </p><p>Like most musicians, Matthews also does his own thing. He released a CD in August titled &ldquo;Count on Swingin&rsquo;.&rdquo; The CD features local saxophonist Bobby Watson on two songs. </p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very pleased with the way it turned out,&rdquo; Matthews said. &ldquo;We had a lot of fun recording it. This is my life&rsquo;s work. I just continue to keep working at it. And I hope I&rsquo;m pleasing some people along the way.&rdquo; </p><p>When he&rsquo;s not traveling, Matthews performs around town. He&rsquo;ll perform Nov. 13 in The Blue Room at 18th and Vine. </p><p>&bull;&bull;&bull; </p><p>The Johnson County Community Housing Resource Board next month will hold a public educational forum on issues facing landlords in the county.</p><p>Attorney Leland Cox will focus on the overview of the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and tenants rights under foreclosure. Jeff Fendorf, an attorney for El Centro Inc., will discuss fair housing and immigrant rights. Robert Brand from the Kansas City office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development will discuss fair housing issues in Johnson County. Forum members will answer questions.</p><p>The forum will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Oak Park Library, 9500 Bluejacket St., Overland Park. </p><p>&bull;&bull;&bull; </p><p>Shane Evans, an award-winning illustrator, is receiving a favorable response across the country for his new children&rsquo;s book, &ldquo;Olu&rsquo;s Dream.&rdquo;</p><p>Evans, whose office is in midtown, recently participated in a multicultural book festival in Washington, signing books at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. </p><p>He also made a presentation at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, where President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, send their daughters. Earlier this month, he presented the new book at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.</p><p>The 32-page &ldquo;Olu&rsquo;s Dream&rdquo; is the story of a mischievous child with a limitless imagination who discovers a dream world that he can turn into reality. The book embraces the multicultural world we live in. </p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s where we are in the world right now,&rdquo; Evans said. &ldquo;If it would have been released five years ago, I don&rsquo;t think it would have been the right time.&rdquo;