KCKCC Jazz Cabaret to be April 12

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

There is still time left to purchase tickets for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s annual Jazz Cabaret.

The Jazz Cabaret is at 6 p.m. April 12 in Upper Jewell on the KCKCC main campus, 7250 State Ave. Tickets are $25 and $15 for children. Tickets are $10 after 7:30 p.m. Children 10 years old and under are free.

The cabaret will feature the KCKCC Blue Devil Jazz Ensemble (directed by Jim Mair), the KCKCC Latin Jazz Ensemble (directed by Justin Binek), the college’s three vocal jazz ensembles (Vocal Lab, Fusion and The Standard, all directed by John Stafford) and the KC Latin All-Stars, who will be playing around 7:30 p.m.

“The Jazz Cabaret is one of our traditional music concerts at KCKCC (over 20 years now),” said John Stafford, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at KCKCC. “Patrons will enjoy a very wide variety of music performed by our music groups including Latin, swing, blues, R&B, funk, pop and a cappella.”

The first half of the show will feature the student ensembles in performance with a catered taco dinner and drink options of beer, wine or non-alcoholic cocktails. The second half of the production will feature the KC Latin All-Stars who will provide music for everyone to dance.

The event is sponsored by the KCKCC Music Club, with help from the KCKCC Intercultural Center, the Art Department, the Tech-Theatre Department, Media Services, Building and Grounds and the Division of Art and Humanities.

“For the ticket price, attendees get a catered meal, beer/wine, and they’ll get to practice their salsa dancing. We’ll even have two salsa dancing instructors at the show,” Stafford said. “Proceeds go towards both our ACDA – Music Club Student Organization and the Music Department travel fund for next year. Members of our choirs will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in the fall 2018 semester.”

For information or to purchase tickets, contact John Stafford at 913-288-7137 or by email at [email protected].

Injury-accident reported on I-70

An injury-accident was reported at 4:44 p.m. April 1 on westbound I-70 near the Park Drive exit, according to a Kansas Turnpike Authority trooper’s report.

A Mercury utility vehicle was westbound on I-70 in the center lane when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the slick roadway, the trooper’s report stated. The Mercury left the road, struck a guardrail, and overturned, the report stated.

An 18-year-old Topeka, Kansas, woman passenger in the Mercury was injured, according to the report.

The driver, a 20-year-old Topeka, Kansas, woman, was not injured, the report stated.

T-Bones add pitcher and fielder

The Kansas City T-Bones have signed left-handed pitcher Cody Dickson and infielder-outfielder Cal Towey for the 2018 season.

Cody Dickson comes to the T-Bones after spending five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. In 2017 the lefty reached AAA Indianapolis, going 4-3 with a 4.72 ERA in 40 innings and posting a 2-4 mark at AA Altoona in 32.1 innings and a 5.85 ERA.

He made the climb from short season A to AAA in five seasons with Pittsburgh, starting in 106 games and adding another 28 appearances out of the bull pen. Dickson has a career record of 37-28 with a 3.91 ERA in 540.1 minor league innings.

Dickson was the Pirates fourth round selection in the 2013 draft out of Sam Houston State University after he went 17-11 with a 3.94 ERA over three seasons for the Bearkats. A native of Mansfield, Texas, Dickson compiled a 15-6 record as a junior and senior in high school, where he set the school record for career wins.

Cal Towey is a left-handed batter, drafted in the 17th round out of Baylor University by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2017 Towey played in 76 games at AAA New Orleans for Miami, hitting .237 with four home runs and 24 RBI and seeing action in another 26 games at AA Jacksonville in the Southern League, hitting .177.

Towey began his career with Orem in the Pioneer League with the Angels organization in 2013 and would reach AAA Salt Lake City in 2016. His last season in the “halos” system, Towey spent 57 games at AA Arkansas in the Texas League, hitting .292 with four home runs and 17 RBI and adding another nine long balls at AAA, where he hit .244 with 32 RBI in 78 games. The Marlins claimed Towey off AAA waivers on Dec. 8, 2016.

Towey hails from the Seattle, Washington, area, having earned four letters at Eastside Catholic High School in Bellevue, Washington. At Baylor, Towey originally was a walk on, but after a red shirt season in 2009, he started 28 games and played in 41 for the Bears.

He started all 55 games as a senior and was a unanimous 2013 All-Big 12 First Team member and was second on the team with a .291 average in his final season. Towey finished his four year career with a .287 average in 211 games with 17 homers and 131 RBI, all at third base.

Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Box Office at T-Bones Stadium. For more information, call the Box Office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Home opening night is May 22 when the T-Bones play host to Gary SouthShore at T-Bones Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

– Story from T-Bones