Kansas City Brass Works kicks of concert series

Overland Park — The Kansas City Brass Works will perform at noon Monday in the recital hall of the Carlsen Center as the first of the spring Ruel Joyce Recital Series at Johnson County Community College.

Its members are Phil Clark, trumpet; Stan Smith, trumpet; Kelly Cornell, horn; Bill Drybread, trombone; and Scott Watson, tuba.

The series is named for Ruel Joyce, a longtime jazz bassist who headed the local musicians federation from 1977 until his death in 1989. The concerts are sponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 34-627.

K.C. Symphony offers romantic lineup

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Symphony’s Valentine’s Weekend Concert will feature romantic favorites like the Overture to “Romeo and Juliet.”

Performances will be Friday through Feb. 16 at the Lyric Theatre, 11th Street and Central Avenue. The Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m.; the Sunday show is at 2 p.m.

The program will open with Tchaikovsky’s Overture for “Romeo and Juliet” and conclude with Schumann’s Fourth Symphony, dedicated to his wife, Clara. The concert also will feature mezzo-soprano Kristine Jepson singing Mahler’s “Ruckert Lieder.”

For tickets, call (816) 471-0400.

Literary group wants KC voices to be heard

Liberty, Mo. — Whispering Prairie Press, a local nonprofit literary organization, is planning to launch a new magazine, “Kansas City Voices” in November 2003.

The magazine is issuing a call for manuscripts and artwork.

Subject areas include articles on local points of interest; true, personal stories that take place in Kansas City; quality fiction with a local twist; poetry; and exceptional artwork.

Any author 18 or older in the following counties may submit: Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and Clay, Cass, Jackson and Platte in Missouri.

Submission guidelines are available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Whispering Prairie Press, P.O. Box 428, Liberty, Mo., 64069-4028.

Famed folk musician to play K.C. concert

Kansas City, Mo. — Folk musician John McCutcheon will be featured in a Saturday concert at Community Christian Church, 4601 Main St.

Raised in Wisconsin, McCutcheon hitchhiked the Appalachians armed with a backpack and a banjo and learned at the knees of some of the great traditional masters. He mastered the banjo, guitar, fiddle, autoharp, mountain dulcimer and jaw harp. He is widely recognized as a world master of the hammer dulcimer.

McCutcheon has recorded 26 albums.

His 8 p.m. appearance at the church is sponsored by Cross Currents and West Side Folk. Tickets are $19 in advance, $22 at the door, $7 for children. Tickets are available at Mass Street Music, 1347 Mass., or by calling (816) 960-4636.

Valentine’s Day show to feature jazz trio

Kansas City, Mo. — The John Pizzarelli Trio will perform a special Valentine’s Day concert Friday at the Folly Theater.

Pizzarelli is known for his stylish vocals and brilliant guitar work. Since 1992, the trio with Ray Kennedy on piano and brother Martin Pizzarelli on bass has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe.

A preconcert discussion will begin at 7 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $30 and are available by calling (816) 474-4444 or visiting www.follytheater.com.