The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

jazz orchestra based in the Kansas City metropolitan area and part of the

Kansas City jazz Kansas City jazz is a style of jazz that developed in Kansas City, Missouri during the 1920s and 1930s, which marked the transition from the structured big band style to the much more improvisational style of bebop. The hard-swinging, bluesy tra ...

music scene.

History

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra was founded by Jim Mair and Gene Hall in Kansas City in May 2003 after being inspired by similar jazz orchestras across the United States, though it was primarily modeled after the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Jim's wife, Mary Mair, was also integral in getting the orchestra started. Mary Mair took the helm as the first executive director. The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra had their debut performance was in 2003. They began with theme-based concerts and a two-concert subscription season. In the beginning of the orchestra's performing schedule, they regularly drew audiences of up to 1,000 people. "Our vision for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is to be on the same cultural plane as the symphony, the

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

, and the Lyric opera," said Mair when elaborating on a strategy to grow the Orchestra and attract young audiences and musicians," said Mair. To that end, the orchestra incorporated youth outreach and education into their strategy, an initiative entitled JazzWorks! They co-sponsored the third annual Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Camp and held clinics at Kansas City schools. By 2008, the orchestra was an 18-piece band. They connected with audiences through their tributes to Duke Ellington,

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé,

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, and even

great

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

. They had played at Unity Temple on the Kansas City Plaza for most of their concerts, but after 5 years they grew to the

Folly Theater The Standard Theatre, now known as the Folly Theater and also known as the Century Theater and Shubert's Missouri, is a former vaudeville hall in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Built in 1900, it was designed by Kansas City architect Louis Curti ...

as well. As of 2018, the concert season is held at the large

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, at 16th and Broadway, near the Power & Light District, the T-Mobile Center and the Crossroads Arts District. Its construction was a m ...

. Since spring of 2013 the orchestra is directed by Clint Ashlock, who succeeded Kerry Strayer. The orchestra embarked on its first international tour in May 2018, performing at the Swinging Hannover festival in Germany and other concerts in Poland.

Discography

* ''Take One'' 2005 * ''Live on the Plaza'' 2007 * ''Rhapsody'' 2016

Critical reviews

Rhapsody
by ''Jazz Ambassador Magazine''
KCJO swings hard in season opener
by KCMETROPOLIS.org
A swinging cover band
by KCMETROPOLIS.org
''The Kansas City Star''

KCJO sizzles with Wycliffe Gordon
by KCMETROPOLIS.org
Trombonist Gordon takes stylish charge
by ''The Kansas City Star''

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://www.kcjo.org/
Interview with Clint Ashlock on KCUR
Big bands American jazz ensembles from Missouri Kansas City metropolitan area