Kansas City's Jazz Scene

Filed in archive Hidden Gems on October 9, 2007

Kansas City was the epicenter of the 1930s jazz revolution. The standard big band styles of The Roaring Twenties gave way to the more improvisational sounds of Bebop.
How did this non-descript, mid-sized American city become a mecca for musicians who were among the most forward thinking in their day? The city's leaders ignored liquor laws and did not enforce any sort of restrictions on closing times. Jazz artists came because they could jam all night. Greats like Count Basie and Charlie Parker could be found at some of the better-known venues.

What am I talking about? That was nearly 80 years ago.

There is a bit of a pining for the past in today's KC jazz scene. The American Jazz Museum has some very illuminating exhibits showing who the area's jazz greats were and where they played. There are also live performances, some of which take place outside.

In certain areas, jazz is still thriving in KC. The Drum Room is a venue for both jazz and blues acts, as are spots like Phoenix Piano Bar & Grill. There are many more venues offering a smattering of jazz and blues on weekends, if not nightly.

These days, Kansas City's jazz scene might not be tops in the Midwest, but it still is one of the city's major attractions, and a cant miss for jazz aficionados.