Mary Lou Williams in City of Kansas City - the 1930's

from Hear Me Talkin' To Ya: The Classic Story of Jazz as Told by the Men Who Made It, pages 293-294:

Yes, Kaycee [Kansas City] was a place to be enjoyed[. …]

There was the best food to be had--the finest barbecue, crawdads, and other seafood. There were the races, and swimming, and the beautiful Swope Park and zoo to amuse you. There were jam sessions all the time, and big dances such as the union dance given every year by our local.

As many as ten or twelve bands participated in this event, and you were sure to hear at least eight original styles there, as well as one or two outfits trying to imitate Duke.

cite as

Nat Hentoff and Nat Shapiro, Hear Me Talkin' To Ya: The Classic Story of Jazz as Told by the Men Who Made It (London, 1992), p. 293-294. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1435761095088 accessed: 29 March, 2024

location of experience: City of Kansas City

Listeners

Mary Lou Williams
jazz pianist, Composer, Pianist
1910-1981

Listening to

hide composers
dance band music

Experience Information

Date/Time the 1930's
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, in public

Originally submitted by 5011Henning on Wed, 01 Jul 2015 15:31:35 +0100
Approved on Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:24:27 +0100