Kansas City jazz Kansas City jazz Kansas City jazz is a style of jazz that developed in Kansas City during the 1920s and 1930s, which marked the transition from the structured big band style to the musical improvisation style of Bebop. The hard-swinging, bluesy transition style is bracketed by Count Basie who in 1929 signed with the Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra and Kansas City native Charlie Parker who ushered in the Bebop style in America. "While New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz, America's music grew up in Kansas City". Kansas City is known as one of the most popular "cradles of
Dixieland Jass Band One-Step Edwards (trombone), Henry Ragas (piano), and Tony Sbarbaro (drums). The ODJB initially auditioned for Columbia Records. A month after the audition, the band began recording for Victor. They made recordings on February 26, 1917. The first jazz record released was Victor 18255, which featured "Dixieland Jass Band One-Step" as the A side, "Composed and played by Original Dixieland 'Jass' Band", backed by "Livery Stable Blues". The "one-step" designation on one label was changed to "fox trot" on another label. The phrase "For Dancing" appeared to the right of the spindle hole on both sides of the disc. Following lawsuits, Victor