Remembering Kansas City Jazz Musician Eddie Saunders

Suzanne Hogan — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:55:02 +0000

Kansas City saxophone player and jazz singer Eddie Saunders passed away on December 30, 2012. The late Lucky Wesley of The Scamps came up with Saunders and had described him as nice--naughty but nice. Saunders loved to sing and he loved to play, and he was proud of his Kansas City jazz heritage.

Mutual Musicians Foundation's Spirit Won't Stop

Susan B. Wilson — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 22:00:10 +0000

For more than eighty years, the small two-story building at 1823 Highland Avenue has been the heart of Kansas City jazz. Today it’s the Mutual Musician’s Foundation, but in 1917, the building became the headquarters for the Local 627 Colored Musician’s Union. Over the decades, nearly every jazz great in the country has jammed here, and the all-night weekend jam sessions have also served as training grounds for jazz students. Susan Wilson spent a late night there to find out what draws audiences and keeps them until the 6 a.m. closing time.