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Kansas City Jazz Festival

 Organization

Biography

The Kansas City Jazz Festival was an annual concert staged at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. The event was staged during Kansas City Jazz Week, a celebration of the city’s rich jazz heritage. Produced by Kansas City Jazz, Inc., a committee composed of civic and business leaders, the festival enjoyed enthusiastic community support. The all-day festival featured local jazz groups and leading national acts including Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderley, Bob Brookmeyer, Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Al Cohn, Lou Rawls, Urbie Green, June Christy, Charlie Byrd, Lou Donaldson, Gene Harris and the Three Sounds, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing and Buddy Rich. The local groups featured top Kansas City musicians such as Jay McShann, Carmel Jones, Warren Durrett, Marilyn Maye, Bettye Miller and Milt Abel, Willie Rice Big Band, Pete Eye, Eddie Baker, George Salisbury, Frank Smith, Steve Miller and many others.