The Late Show

For a taste of what KC jazz is all about, head to the Mutual Musicians Foundation — where, every Friday and Saturday night, the party doesn’t start until midnight.

It’s 4am and folks are still making their way up to the dimly lit second floor — most of them clearly still buzzing from some previous engagement — where a lovely chanteuse has just stepped off the stage after a few songs with the resident guitar/bass/ drums trio. The band, after three hours of playing with only a few short breaks, is showing no signs of slowing down as more local musicians join in. It’s Saturday night at the Mutual Musicians Foundation — which is as rich in cultural history as it is in first-rate musicianship.

You see, few places in the US can claim to have birthed their own signature styles of jazz; cities like New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago and New York immediately come to mind. And then there’s Kansas City, which, with its swinging, bluesy, riff-based tunes usually featuring 4/4 time signatures, is firmly imprinted in the annals of jazz history. Charlie “Bird” Parker was the city’s most famous musical export, and Bennie Moten and Count Basie helped shape the sound during the scene’s heyday.

But the biggest influencer of the KC sound wasn’t so much a who as a what: The local jazz clubs known for hosting all-night jam sessions, allowing for extended solos and requiring solid riffs to keep them going. That’s why, when I asked a friend where to get a real taste of jazz in Kansas City, he pointed me to the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

The Foundation has hosted jazz since 1930, back when it was still the home of Local 627 — one of the African-American musicians’ unions affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians. Today, the performances stay true to the raucous all-night jam sessions of the past. (What’s more, it’s the only spot in Missouri to get a drink after 3am.)

It’s the way jazz was meant to be played, and the way KC jazz came into its own. I think the Bird would be pleased. I know I was.

Mutual Musicians Foundation
1823 Highland Ave, 816-471-5212 www.thefoundationjamson.org

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PRIMETIME PERFORMANCES

Don’t want to stay up all night? Not to worry. Here are some spots where the music gets started long before midnight.

The Blue Room
Part of the American Jazz Museum by day and a jazz club by night, this place books top acts and was included in DownBeat magazine’s Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the world. 1616 E 18th St; 816-474-2929; www.americanjazzmuseum.com

The Majestic Restaurant
Formerly a saloon, bordello and speakeasy, this spot is known these days for its dryaged steaks and live jazz all week long. 931 Broadway; 816-221-1888; www.majestickc.com

Jardine’s Restaurant and Jazz Club Many local musicians cite this small, elegant eatery/club as one of their favorite places to play in town, so last year’s Best Intimate Live Music Venue award from KC Magazine should come as no surprise. 4536 Main St; 816-561-6480; www.jardines4jazz.com