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Up To Date

Playing Kansas City Jazz With The Symphony, And Making Money As A 'JUST' Business

Luke X. Martin
/
KCUR 89.3
KCUR's Chuck Haddix, who is leading pre-performance discussions, says his role at the Kansas City Symphony's 'Tribute to Kansas City Jazz' as "hit, git and split."

Your might think combining jazz and a symphony would like trying to mix oil and water — they don't just go together. Yet jazz artists, including Kansas City's own Charlie Parker, have combined their playing with those of an orchestra to great results. Today, current-day Kansas City performers Deborah Brown and Bobby Watson, and music historian Chuck Haddix, explain what having an orchestra as your backup band brings to a jazz tune.

Then, we learn about the non-profit JUST Capital, which is ranking America's most just companies, and spreading the message that businesses can treat workers fairly, align themselves with the issues their customers care about, and still make a profit.

The Kansas City Symphony hosts 'A Tribute to Kansas City Jazz: From Basie to Bebop' at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on February 9, 10 and 11.  Times and ticket information can be found at KansasCitySymphony.org.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.