The Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz play 39Rainbow Saturday afternoon

Sunday nights at the Green Lady Lounge, you can hear the 2016 version of the 627 Big Band. It’s named for the group once based out of the Mutual Musicians Foundation, when that building was home to Kansas City’s black musicians union and jazz was this city’s voice. But a couple members of the original 627 Big Band are still kicking around as part of the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz. Trumpeter Godfrey Powell and drummer Wallace Jones were around when Count Basie and Jay McShann brought blues-based swing to the world. And Powell and Jones can still play. Saturday afternoon, as the 14th annual Jazz Appreciation Month wraps up, they’re joined by Lee Edward Brown on baritone sax and Reginald Watkins on piano on the east side of the building outside of the Subway at 39Rainbow.

The Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz
Saturday, April 30, 4-6 p.m.
39Rainbow
3934 Rainbow Boulevard
Free admission