Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

9/05/07
Story by Peggy Graham

Andrea Pharr Puts Jazz in the Piano

Andrea Pharr, jazz pianist, will perform at noon Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the free Jazz Series featuring Kansas City artists.

Pharr showed her talents for the piano at a young age and auditioned for the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, at age 11, when she received a conservatory scholarship. Since the mid-1970s, Pharr has had a career as a professional pianist. She played with road bands in the early 1980s and performed solo, duo and trio jazz gigs through the ’90s in restaurants, hotels and country clubs with such notables as Franz Bruce, Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Eddie Sanders and Noble Samuels. In the late ’80s-early ’90s, she also took a turn with a Dixieland group at the Levee and on riverboats like the Missouri River Queen. Now she solos at the Raphael Hotel and other Plaza venues. Pharr has a solo CD, Don’t Explain. Her husband is Ed Pharr, also a jazz pianist.

The fall Jazz Series continues at noon in the Recital Hall on the following dates:
• Oct. 9    Everette DeVan Trio with Christy Meinhardt
• Oct. 16    The Scamps
• Oct. 23    Rod Fleeman Trio
* Oct. 30    Greg Richter Trio

The 50-minute  concerts are cosponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 34-627. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605