Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop--A History

by Frank Driggs, Chuck Haddix

There were but four major galaxies in the early jazz universe, and three of them--New Orleans, Chicago, and New York--have been well documented in print. But there has never been a serious history of the fourth, Kansas City, until now.
In this colorful history, Frank Driggs and Chuck Haddix range from ragtime to bebop and from Bennie Moten to Charlie Parker to capture the golden age of Kansas City jazz. Readers will find a colorful portrait of old Kaycee itself, back then a neon riot of bars, gambling dens and taxi dance
halls, all ruled over by Boss Tom Pendergast, who had transformed a dusty cowtown into the Paris of the Plains. We see how this wide-open, gin-soaked town gave birth to a music that was more basic and more viscerally exciting than other styles of jazz, its singers belting out a rough-and-tumble
urban style of blues, its piano players pounding out a style later known as "boogie-woogie." We visit the great landmarks, like the Reno Club, the "Biggest Little Club in the World," where Lester Young and Count Basie made jazz history, and Charlie Parker began his musical education in the alley out
back. And of course the authors illuminate the lives of the great musicians who made Kansas City swing, with colorful profiles of jazz figures such as Mary Lou Williams, Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing, and Andy Kirk and his "Clouds of Joy."
Here is the definitive account of the raw, hard-driving style that put Kansas City on the musical map. It is a must read for everyone who loves jazz or American music history.

Genres: Music, History, Jazz, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jerry Rabushka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well five stars for the wealth of information, and three stars for the writing style, but on the whole I felt I learned a few things about the topic that will help me as someone who gives music history presentations. What's amazing, in some ways, is just the wealth of information that does exist, probably from newspapers, but you can find out who played what, for how long, and when. I'm not sure the average reader cares so much about a band leader replacing the third trombone player and who came and who went, but if you do want to know, that's in there.

Sometimes it's like COOL this is great stuff and sometimes it's like wow, I've been on this page for three hours. I am, however, glad I read it, and didn't realize how many famous folks came from KC.
It might have been better following the major personalities all the way though, vs. weaving around.

[Jonathan Karp · Rating 5 out of 5]

an outstanding jazz history

Detailed, informative, and highly readable, this is one of the best books on a local music scene, and a vital chapter in American history, that I’ve ever read.

[Katie Hilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of jazz in Kansas City, one of the nation's incubation spots for a truly American music form. A good read, especially for people more familiar with the players than I am.

[Nick H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book so tediously researched to get the time-line and facts straight, that it misses the opportunity to spin some great stories into a yarn that they are worthy of. Focusing more on the technical prowess of the folks who make up the history of Kansas City's jazz scene, and less on the trials and tribulations which they all faced at one time of another fighting their way from local stardom, to attempting to achieve national fame. That being said, I swell with pride reading about the unmatched well of talent that came from my hometown less than a century ago, and enjoyed reading how the environment of the political machine coupled with this talent created the perfect storm at the perfect time to earn a spot on the map with the other big three original jazz scenes (New Orleans, Chicago & NYC.) From Bennie Moten to Bill "Count" Basie to Mary Lou Williams, from Coleman Hawkins to Lester Young to Charlie Parker. They're all here and they're all from "Kaycee", the Paris of the Plains. At the very least, I recommend this book to anybody who questions Kansas City's place in the ranks as one of the great american cities of yesterday and today.

[Hoagie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Jazz history is detailed and interesting both as an in depth view of the music scene in Kansas City from 1910 until the late Fifties, and as an insight into the political climate that allowed the music to flourish there. There are quite a few excellent photos of Kansas City during those years from the Driggs collection.

[Carol Keefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was glad to learn of other African American musicians besides Scott Joplin and some Kansas City history also. In the 1980s, I worked in Boone County, MO and no white people I asked knew who John Boone was although there are lots of historical signs about his birth place and residence near where I was.

[Ladonna Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed, which adds interest to those who are familiar with Kansas City. I really got a feel for the era and the industry at that time.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about jazz and the different styles

[Sam Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

great information about the history of kansas city, but a bit brick-like