IN THE KEY OF KC

KCJO's fourth studio presents, for the first time, an album of arrangements by current members of the ensemble, with all but one track an original composition. This approach allows the band to pay homage to the architects of the Kansas City sound from years past, while concurrently introducing new sonorities informed by the evolution of big band jazz in the 21st century.

 

 "At times, jazz is a measured balance of tradition and innovation. The former carries a lot of weight in the Kansas City jazz community, but with In The Key of KC, the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (KCJO) is paying homage to the past through the creation of new big band works. With “Moten Swing” as the only song from yesteryear, KCJO’s family of artists penned tunes that are steeped in the riffy, bluesy regional language and also reflective of the creative energy of today. As we move beyond the first twenty years of KCJO’s existence and into the next, the future is bright with possibilities of how Kansas City’s jazz tradition will continue to grow,” says Ashlock.