Description
In the years between World Wars, Kansas City became an important waystation during the migration of blacks from the rural south to northern cities. As such, it develops an increasingly large middle-class black community. A robust nightlife makes Kansas City the perfect hotbed for jazz. This class will explore the elements of the “Kansas City sound,” typified by Count Basie and his many musicians, culminating in the father of bebop, Charlie Parker. Recordings, video, and performances from the instructor will make this class as lively as the music itself.
