Quick, name three jazz artists from Newport, Rhode Island. Now name three from Kansas City. So why the hell is the Newport Jazz Festival celebrating its fiftieth anniversary when we don't even have a jazz festival anymore? It's embarrassing. A town that pimps its rep as a jazz and blues crossroads generally can't pack the Blue Room on a Friday night to see a no-cover local bill. At least we're still a stop for most national jazz artists. When the bus unloads in front of the Gem this week for the Newport anniversary tour, some big names will be stepping off -- including Terence Blanchard, James Moody, Randy Brecker and James Carter. And when they pack their instruments away to move on to the next town, maybe -- just maybe -- it'll leave some people in KC wondering if what once was could be again.
