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Playing with the Count Basie Orchestra

Kansas City guitarist Will Matthews has toured and recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra for nearly 15 years, but he's also found time to develop a solo career.

By Alex Smith

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-897031.mp3

Kansas City, MO – In the 1930's, Kansas City may have served as the jazz capital of the world, but today, you rarely hear the swing music of groups like the Count Basie Orchestra. Count Basie died in 1984, but his band continues to play around the world to audiences craving the classic Basie sound.

Guitarist Will Matthews talked to KCUR's Alex Smith about performing with the Basie band and his new solo CD, Count on Swingin'.

His next Kansas City performance is at the Blue Room on Friday, May 7th.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

As a health care reporter, I aim to empower my audience to take steps to improve health care and make informed decisions as consumers and voters. I tell human stories augmented with research and data to explain how our health care system works and sometimes fails us. Email me at alexs@kcur.org.
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