Michael Daugherty’s Musical Tour of Kansas City Jazz
L-R: Branford Marsalis, saxophone; Liz Ames, piano; Timothy McAllister, saxophone
Kansas City, Missouri is rich with a vibrant culture that is unlike any other place in the country…
It is also home to artists like the legendary Count Basie Orchestra and is considered “The Home of the Sax,” referring to great saxophonists Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and Lester Young. Kansas City has served as a hub for many Jazz artists, especially during the Great Depression, when the public relied on accessible speakeasies and nightclubs to bring their city back to life.
On February 21, 2025, members of the University of Michigan musical community and legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis will revisit this illustrious space and time in the world premiere of Kansas City Confidential, commissioned by UMS and written by six-time Grammy-winning composer Michael Daugherty. The work is written for two saxophone voices and piano, and Marsalis will be joined by distinguished classical saxophonist and U-M professor Timothy McAllister, alongside collaborative pianist Liz Ames.
L-R: Photos of Timothy McAllister and Branford Marsalis rehearsing Michael Daugherty’s Kansas City Confidential; Liz Ames rehearsing on piano and harmonica
Painting by Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Portrait of a Musician, 1949
From University of Missouri: Museum of Art and Archaeology
“For many years, Kansas City was also the residence of regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton, whose colorful, provocative wall murals depicted jazz musicians, dancers, and gamblers in American nightclubs and speakeasies during Prohibition.
In addition, Benton was a skilled harmonica player who often hosted folk music gatherings on Saturday nights at his home.
My composition is in five movements, each named after a musical venue in Kansas City from the 1920s and 1930s and echoes a time when musicians from all walks of life gathered for legendary jam sessions.”
– Michael Daugherty
These venues have major historical significance, comparable to those in other major Jazz cities like New Orleans, New York, and Detroit.
In addition to Thomas Hart Benton’s house, Daugherty will take us on a musical tour of Kansas City’s Pla-mor Ballroom, Gem Theater, The Blue Room, and Dante’s Inferno Speakeasy, pictured below.
Clockwise from left: Pla-mor Ballroom, Gem Theater, Dante’s Inferno Speakeasy & The Blue Room
We hope you can join us and hear Branford Marsalis, Timothy McAllister, and Liz Ames give a virtuosic tour of historic Kansas City through Michael Daugherty’s unique musical storytelling!
