Kansas City Jazz History Part 2 | Kansas City Jazz Orchestra | Clint Ashlock

In the second installment in our series on the history of jazz in Kansas City, we spend some time getting to know the figures in the early jazz scene who established the Kansas City sound and paved the way for future development of the genre. Bennie Moten, Julia and George Lee, Andy Kirk, and others set the stage for future icons such as Count Basie, Jay McShann, Joe Turner, and Charlie Parker. Get a taste of the characteristics that made their music unique as we prepare for a deeper dive into the musical traits of Kansas City-style jazz. Check back soon for the third installment to learn just what the phrase "Kansas City jazz" means.

Produced by Clint Ashlock, Artistic Director
Copyright 2020 The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, All Rights Reserved

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the Karen and F.L. (Tom) Thompson KCJO Education Fund for their support of our education initiative, KCJO JazzWorks!

Background tracks:

ONE O'CLOCK JUMP by Count Basie, recorded by KCJO in 2005
ELEPHANT'S WOBBLE by Bennie Moten, recorded by Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, Okeh Records 1923
627 STOMP by Pete Johnson, recorded by Pete Johnson's Band, Decca Records 1940

Photographs used with permission from the LaBudde Special Collections - UMKC Libraries, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Special thanks to Chuck Haddix for his research and inspiration, specifically "Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop"

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