© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

KC Jazz Photographer Dan White

Bassist Milt Abel
Photo: Dan White
Bassist Milt Abel

Dan White has documented the jazz scene in Kansas City for more than two decades. A new exhibit in the Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum displays 50 of White's black and white photographs, along with anecdotes from interviews.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – For more than two decades photographer Dan White has been creating portraits of musicians like Jay McShann, Milt Abel, Art Jackson, Myra Taylor and Queen Bey. White says he fell in love with jazz during a trip to New Orleans while in college. And when he moved to Kansas City in the early 80s, he met a number of older musicians going to jazz clubs and the Mutual Musicians Foundation. White says taking photographs became his contribution to preserving Kansas City?s jazz heritage.
A new exhibit in the Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum displays 50 of White?s black and white photographs, along with anecdotes from interviews. Dan White talks to Laura Spencer about some of the musicians he?s met and his approach to the work.

 

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.