About Us
Kansas City is, perhaps, best known throughout the world for its unique contribution to music — jazz, which now has become respectable, adopted by symphonies, and taught in conservatories of music. It has taken many forms, but basically it remains the old robust music that reflects the Kansas City spirit.
The Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Inc., Incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 1984, was created as part of the Kansas City Jazz Commission by then mayor Richard L. Berkley, and is the city’s oldest nonprofit governed by an operating board of volunteers.
A majority of the proceeds from our fundraising efforts go directly to our Musician’s Assistance Fund (MAF) and the Tommy Ruskin Memorial Scholarship Fund, with a small portion going to help operate the all volunteer non-profit organization.
The MAF is maintained by KCJA to assist all musicians. It is a confidential resource for financial assistance in paying medical bills, housing/living expenses and funerals.
Members
Platinum
Folly Theater
Mammoth Inc
David Basse
Merle Stalder
Gold
Mark Edelman / 12th Street Jump
Silver
Michael White
Sponsor
Bob and Bridget Bagby
John and Alice Blegen
Carol Blum and Steven Wilson
Mark Edelman and Karin Lichterman
Nelson and Mary Ellen Farney
Mike and Debra Gerken
Dennis Gredell and Lori Wohlschlaeger
Steven and Patty Hargrave
Gayle Hobbs
Eugene and Sarah Lowry
Linda McShann Gerber
Edward Morris
Jerry Moye
Jamie and Alan Myers
Loren and Christine Myers
Penny Oathout
David and Gloria Parsley
Stephen Peters
Kathryn Price Powell and Timothy Powell
Rita Proper
Randell Sedlacek and Mary Ventura
Fred Slough and Patricia Housh
Paul and Sara Smith
Suzanne Spencer
Robert Thompson and Mary Wurtz
Tom and Geri
Musician
T Sharif Abdul-Hakim
Gary Cardile
P J Churn
Kathleen Holeman
Jerry Hooper
Dale Johnson
Herschel McWilliams
Honorary
Mayor Quinton Lucas
J P Makus
Mike Metheny
Kim Parker
Blanche Williams
Maxine Wright
Patron & Family
Chris
Melanie and John T Bailey
Luise Balfanz and John Sluzalis
Dr Beth Bazin and James Buckley
Lou Curtsinger and Chuck Shelton
John Eckardt and Maria Stimach Eckardt
Ann Fitzpatrick and Bob Garcia
Andrew and Michele Friscia
Stephen and Tracie Glasscock
Leonard and Barbara Graham
Jack and Vickie Hanrahan
Bruce and Denise Hedrick
B J Jansen and Jenny Zhao
Ann Johnson
Curtis and Elaine Johnson
Arla Jones and Kim Kreicker
Earl and Karen Knauss
Brett and Joyce Kynard
Jennifer Lash and Mike Garrison
Sidney Malone and Frances Jones
Stephan Mann and Terrell Mann
Richard Martin and Helen Seymour
Don and Jane McClain
Charles and Marada McClintock
Sheilah Philip and Robert Hartley
Dr Donald and Barbara Potts
Bill and Denise Quatman
Russell and Sylvia Riggs
Frank Strada
Dale and Vickie Trott
Julie Turner Ruskin
James and Sarah Weitzel
Amberina Wicker
Richard and Kathryn Wood
Angela and Nick Wookay
Individual
Lynn Abrams
Jim Adamson
Akers Aitch
Don Anderson
Barbara Anderson
Judy Austin
Betty Berry
Teresina Bradley
Cliff Brisbois, Jr
Lynn Burklund
Rick Cagan
Bob Clark
Coby Condrey
Clint Cook
Dr Gwendolyn Cooke
Dean Cox
Rachelle Craig
William DeBauche
Alice Diederich
Tim Dougherty
Walter Draheim
Nathaniel Dubose
Victoria "Fanny" Dunfee
Sandra Eveloff
Reginald Greene
Carole Harris
Darrell Hoffman
Lynn Hoover
Rik Jackson
Marva Johnson
Linda Kline
Chris Klockau
James Kurtz, Jr
Marilyn Lewis
Jefferson Lewis
James Liska
John Lust
Doreen Maronde
Corky McCaffrey
Marjorie Meinheit
Mike Messick
Rosalie Miceli
Janet Miller
Jay Mowbray
William Paprota
Doug Pearson
Richard Schiavi
Nancy Sokol
Ron Stowell
Dan Sturdevant
Yoko Takemura
Nancy Trager
Alton Waller
Byron Webb
Grace West
Linda Whayne
Jared Wittwer
Marilyn York
Executive Board Officers
Mark Edelman: President
MARK EDELMAN founded the Theater League, a not-for-profit performing arts organization, in 1976. Since then, the League has presented more than 4,000 performances of over 500 productions throughout the U.S. and Canada, including every major touring Broadway musical from A CHORUS LINE, ANNIE and CATS to MAMMA MIA, LES MISERABLES, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, DISNEY’S THE LION KING and WICKED. More than 40,000 season members and 350,000 patrons attended Theater League presentations each year, making the organization one of the oldest and largest touring Broadway presenters in the nation.
Theater League presented annual Broadway musical theater series in eleven communities around the country. An integral part of each of each series was the organization’s Theater ROcKs (Reach Out to Kids) outreach program, which provided educational opportunities for young people. As part of that program, the League supports the Folly Children’s Series in Kansas City. Though the League is no longer involved in the Broadway series presentations, it continues to provide educational outreach in these communities, as well as direct grants to local theater companies from the Coterie and Mesner Puppet Theatre to the Unicorn, KC Actors Theatre and Spinning Tree Theatre, to name a few.
Edelman created and serves as Executive Producer of 12th STREET JUMP, public radio’s weekly jazz, blues and comedy jam, which is heard on fort stations around the country including KCUR, Kansas City Public Media. He is a member of the board of directors of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, MO. Edelman is a Life Member of the Broadway League and one of the 850 American theater professionals who vote for the Tony awards each year.
A graduate of Washington University in St Louis (B.A. in performing arts, 1972), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (J.D., 1975) and the University of Kansas (Masters in Journalism/Integrated Marketing Communications, 2002), Edelman was a member of A. F. of M. Local 34-627 in his younger days. He studied jazz guitar with the late Don Wensel and played in the Shawnee Mission East big band The Blue Knights with Doug Auwarter. Mark had the honor of playing bass at the 1968 Charlie Parker Festival at old Municipal Stadium, 23rd and Brooklyn, with KC jazz veterans Tony Swisher, Jack Lightfoot and Gary Cardile.
Stephan Mann: Vice-President
Stephan T Mann, retired Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Census Bureau in 2005 after 35 years of federal service. He trained, managed, coordinated, and supervised staff in Washington DC, the continental US plus Alaska and Hawaii in data collection procedures and operations.
A graduate from the University of Minnesota with BS in Business/Accounting. While attending the University of Minnesota , he served on the Student Board of Governors after becoming an export on Roberts Rule of Order and received a student leadership scholarship award.
While living in Kirkland Washington, he helped develop the by-laws for the Kingsgate Condo Association after the developer turned the voting rights over to the owners and served on its first Board of Directors. His carrier with the Census Bureau resulted in six relocations. A transfer to Upper Marlboro, MD (outside of DC) again resulted in a move to a new housing area that was establishing a Homeowner’s Association. Once again Stephan, was elected to serve on the new board of directors.
The Federal Government relocations helped strengthened his parliamentarian skills. His current residence in Shawnee, KS, Hillcrest Farms development, only had 25 completed homes when he moved in. The salesperson found out he had experience with new Homeowners association. So shortly after moving in he was elected as treasurer for the new HOA. The development now has 335 homes and Stephan served on the HOA board for six years.
Stephan currently serves as a Trustee for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. He was re-elected for a second three-year term last October. In addition, he is the treasurer for St Luke’s Episcopal Church Endowment Fund. He helped develop policy guidelines and by-laws in 2011 working with the National Episcopal Church, New York.
Stephan is a member of the Jazz Friends, founded in 2000 to encourage the creative artistry and talent of UMKC Conservatory students and faculty, heighten the eminence of the Conservatory’s Jazz Studies Program and celebrate the legacy of Kansas City jazz. He has been a Jazz Ambassadors member in good standing for more than six years. In addition, he has been a Folly Jazz theater season ticket holder and supporter for more than eight years.
He married Terrell Ellene Nash 44 years ago and has one son and two granddaughters. Stephan enjoys golf and serves as a volunteer at Shawnee Community Center one Saturday a month.
Email Stephan at: stephan@kcjazzambassadors.org
David Basse: Director JAM Magazine
More than a well-known Kansas City jazz vocalist, David Basse has hosted The Jazz Scene on Kansas Public Radio since 2001. In 2010, he became a founding member of the weekly public radio show 12th Street Jump. His latest venture is his own syndicated radio show, Jazz with David Basse.
For the past 25 years, David Basse has been at the forefront of the music scene in Kansas City, taking the torch from such legends as KC Jazz pioneers Charlie Parker, Count Basie and Jay McShann. HIs singing has been compared to Mel Torme, Jon Hendricks and Al Jarreau. Other reviewers have noted elements of Ray Charles and Dr. John in Basse's vocal stylings.
David and his band, The City Light Orchestra, appeared on “Wolf Trap and All That Jazz” and played at the 1997 Inaugural Gala for President Clinton. His rendition of “Strike When the Iron Is Hot” has been featured at Kansas City Chiefs home games.
David has won a Kansas Association of Broadcasters award and KPR’s jazz department won an award from JAZZWEEK for “Best Jazz Station - Small Market.”
Herschel McWilliams: Director of Digital & Social Media Strategy
Not only serving KCJA as Director of Digital and Social Media, as well as founder and creator or www.LiveJazzKC.com a, a local website showcasing daily live jazz in Kansas City. Herschel is also a working saxophonist in the Kansas City area, leading his own groups at several local venues and events while also managing his own jazz organization at www.livejazzkc.com , Herschel is a life-long resident of the Kansas City area, born in Kansas City, KS. and eventually settling in Johnson County as a child. He currently resides in Shawnee with his wife Rebecca and their 4 children (Harrison, Benjamin, Vivian, and Christian). Herschel works as Director of Business Development for a local automotive group with many years experience in automotive retail management and marketing.
His earliest influence in jazz music was listening to albums of his parents, whom are both musicians (Weather Report, Return to Forever, and some big bands etc..) before joining his middle school jazz band. He credits his love for jazz to the incredible educators he encountered along the way such as Doug Talley, Kerry Strayer, Marlin Cooper, Chuck Jarrett and most of all Penny Snead (at Shawnee Mission North High School). Herschel looks forward to being involved with the growth of KCJA and progressing their agenda through increased awareness and building strategic relationships in the community.
Email Herschel at: hmcwilliams@kcjazzambassadors.org
Lynn Abrams: Director of Membership
Lynn was born & raised in suburban Kansas City. She grew up listening to jazz greats like Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Thelonius Monk, and so many more, thanks to her mom's choice jazz record collection. Besides being an avid jazz fan, her mom was also a piano teacher with 2 pianos, who often invited local jazz musicians over to jam. One of those local musicians was Lynn's childhood piano teacher at the UMKC Conservatory of Music, George Salisbury. Others were Pete Eye, Mike Ning, Bettye and Milt Abel, and many more.
Lynn recently retired from a 40 year career at Hallmark, the last 15 of which were spent working to connect diverse suppliers to business opportunities with Hallmark. She’s also been promoting live music since the 90s, including several shows with internationally famous reggae bands. Between her day job & promoting she’s honed her networking skills and discovered that her superpower is connecting people.
A graduate of KU, proud mother of one daughter, grandmother of three grandsons and professional schmoozer, Lynn lives in Lawrence and continues to use her passion for live music by promoting live shows. Being the Membership Director for the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors is a perfect way for Lynn to connect jazz fans to each other to the wealth of talented local jazz musicians and the venues that support them.
Staff Members