Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New leaders take reins at Mutual Musicians Foundation
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by David Martin on
Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 11:00 AM
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The Mutual Musicians Foundation, a legacy of the union of black musicians who made Kansas City a jazz capital, has new leadership.
Bitter feelings and mistrust marked the transfer of power, which is described in this week's feature story. The new president, Will Matthews, asked for productive and respectful dialogue after the votes were cast in early December.
Matthews thinks of the foundation as an arts organization. In a letter sent to the membership at the end of the year, Matthews says the foundation needs "to change significantly in order remain vibrant, relevant and competitive in this new economy." He attached a form asking the members for their recommendations.
In an interview, Matthews said he was encouraged to run -- an idea he rejected at first. "But as I kept thinking about, I thought it was time for my generation to step up and take the reins," he said.
Matthews brings to the position the credibility that comes from being a working jazz musician. He plays guitar in the Count Basie Orchestra when the group records and tours. He released a CD, Solo, in 2000 and has regular bookings around town.
The other new officers are:
- Clarence Smith, chairman. Smith is the music coordinator at the Penn Valley campus of Metropolitan Community College. He is also associate director of bands for Kansas City Youth Jazz. As a drummer, he's performed with Claude Williams, Jay McShann, the Chris Burnett Quintet and the Uptown Players, among others.
- Leigh Jayne McShann-Lewis, vice president. The daughter of the late bandleader Jay McShann, McShann-Lewis leads the summer jazz camp, a four-week program the foundation offers urban youth. Her older sister Linda served on the previous board.
- Joyce Johnson, treasurer. Johnson is an accountant and has been active with Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, a volunteer group that has promoted jazz in KC since 1984.
- Pam Hider Johnson, secretary. Johnson and her husband, Sam, a drummer, are involved with the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz, a nonprofit organization which assists aging musicians. Sam Johnson was elected as an at-large member of the Mutual Musicians Foundation board.
- Tyrone Clark, sergeant at arms. Clark plays bass and has performed with Luqman Hamza, Ahmad Alaadeen and others. On weekends, Clark can often be found onstage at the foundation. He is part of the cast of 12 O'Clock Jump and is a regular at the late-night jam sessions.
Tags: Clarence Smith, jazz, Joyce Johnson, Kansas City, Leigh Jayne McShann-Lewis, Missouri, Mutual Musicians Founation, Pam Hider Johnson, Tyrone Clark, Will Matthews
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