Join Us June 12th

Jazz was born in New Orleans, moved to Chicago in the early 1920s, and came of age in New York and Kansas City during the 1930s and 1940s. Kansas City jazz evolved from ragtime to bebop, with James Scott’s “Don’t Jazz Me Rag” (1921) and Charlie Parker’s “Yardbird Suite” (1941) marking the shift. Known as the “Paris of the Plains” for its wild nightlife, Kansas City thrived under political boss Tom Pendergast, whose control allowed the city’s clubs, gambling, and red-light district to operate around the clock—even during Prohibition. This vibrant scene drew musicians from across the region, making Kansas City a jazz hotspot. Mary Lou Williams called it a “heavenly place.” Today, the tradition lives on in clubs and late-night jam sessions at the Mutual Musicians Foundation in the 18th and Vine district—proof that in many ways, Kansas City is still Tom’s Town.