Resources about Kansas City Jazz
Kansas City Jazz is the subject of several major books and movies - not surprising given its significance in popular culture. Here’s a partial list.
Websites
The Pendergast Years: Kansas City in the Jazz Age & Great Depression
This award winning website organizes lots of documents, images and original articles about this formative time in Kansas City and jazz. There is a whole section devoted to Kansas City jazz.
Musicians Local 627 and the Mutual Musicians Foundation: The Cradle of Kansas City Jazz
This 2003 website provides a basic history of the influential union hall including photographs and documents. Housed at the LaBudde Special Collection and Marr Sound Archives - University of Missouri- Kansas City.
Books
Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop - A History | Frank Driggs and Chuck Haddix (2005)
Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker | Chuck Haddix (2013)
Prohibition in Kansas City Missouri: Highballs, Spooners & Crooked Dice | John Simonson (2018)
Jazz Style in the Kansas City and the Southwest | Ross Russell (1983)
Movies
“Last of the Blue Devils” Bruce Ricker (1979) - Documentary film
“Kansas City” Robert Altman (1996) - Fictional film by the legendary filmmaker who grew up in Kansas City
Kansas City Jazz Organizations