Kansas City Jazz

Description

Kansas City Jazz is characterized by its blues influences, a strong emphasis on improvisation, and a more relaxed, swinging rhythm. It often features a prominent rhythm section and riff-based arrangements.

History

Kansas City Jazz emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, during a time when Kansas City was a hub for musicians due to its vibrant nightlife and lax enforcement of Prohibition laws. The genre was heavily influenced by the blues and developed a distinct style that emphasized improvisation and a more relaxed, swinging rhythm. Key figures in the development of Kansas City Jazz include Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and Bennie Moten.