Kansas City is famous for it's history and heritage in Jazz Music.  Countless jazz artists got their roots right here in good old KC.  Here we will discuss Kansas City Jazz and Jazz artists that made a name for themselves both in the past and the present.

Charlie Parker (The Bird)

Charles Parker, Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955) was a renown trendsetter in the history of jazz and the inventor of the style of jazz known as bebop.  Charlie was known as "The Bird" after a nickname "Yardbird" that was given to him in his early days in Kansas City.

Charlie "The Bird" Parker is the most famous jazz musician that has ever come out of Kansas City.  But, like other musicians who became famous, Charlie had to leave Kansas City to do it.  Kansas City does not support it's jazz artists in the same manner that other cities do like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Seattle.  Jazz venues in Kansas City, much like any other live music venue in Kansas City treat the musicians like they were bus boys and pay them the bare minimum to perform.  It was well known that Charlie Parker never wanted to return to Kansas City.

The Scamps

A Kansas City and Phoenix staple, The Scamps continued to perform at The Phoenix well into the 2000's and Kansas City named the street that leads to The Phoenix "Scamps Alley".

The Scamps echo much of what jazz was all about back in the 30's and 40's.

Members include(d) James Whitcomb, Earl Robinson, Arthur Jackson and Rudy Massingale among other members who came and went through the years.

Harry Jenks (June)

In 1991, renown New York author Terry Teachout recounted his discovery of local Kansas City piano jazz legend Harry Jenks in his book City Limits.  Teachouts best selling account of his early life in Kansas City told of Harry's prowess behind the piano "as soon as [Harry] returned from his service in WWII he headed straight for Fifty-second Street [New York] and sat in at the Three Dueces, one of the hottest jazz clubs in town.  Art Tatum was sitting at the bar.  After Harry finished playing, Tatum strolled up to him and said "Boy, you play just like me, only you're white!"

Harry Jenks was the original organist for the Kansas City Athletics and also The Kansas City Royals until his retirement in the early 80's.  Harry was a local Kansas City jazz legend, one of the last great stride pianists in the country.