Turn Out the Lights

Few things are more illustrative of the reduced role jazz plays in the cultural life of Kansas City than its dramatically diminished presence at the annual Thanksgiving lighting ceremony at the Country Club Plaza.  The featured entertainers at last week’s event were a yacht rock cover band, a cabaret company and an aerialist troupe, sights and sounds that could have been seen or heard in cities from Orlando to Sacramento.  The music associated with Kansas City once received pride of place at the festive ritual.  For 14 years ending in 2009, a jazz ensemble led by the late Kerry Strayer serenaded throngs of holiday revelers.  Event organizers have dismissed jazz like an irrelevant relic of the past ever since.