The American Jazz Museum kicks off three days of events to mark its first decade.
By Lee Ingalls
The American Jazz Museum kicks off a three-day celebration of it 10th anniversary today. The museum first opened to public in 1997. Events include a symposium tonight on the history of the 18th and Vine historic district and series of performances by local and national acts. on Friday the museum holds its annual gala fundraiser at the Gem Theater.
The sold-out concert is headlined by singer Patti LaBelle and the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band.
This year's celebration also includes an all-day street festival on Saturday. Gregory Carroll is the Museum's new Executive Director. He says the plan is to appeal to more than just jazz fans.
Carroll: We wanted to have a street festival that has a little bit of everything for everyone, in terms of jazz, blues, funk, neo-soul, dancin', dominoes, storytellin' and so on and so forth.
Performances by the ReBirth Brass Band of New Orleans will underscore the recent formation of a Jazz Sister City partnership between Kansas City and New Orleans. This weekend admission to both the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum will be free.
More information is available on the American Jazz Museum website: americanjazzmuseum.com.