Jazz Beat: Greg Meise, at the Ship

When the first incarnation of the Ship opened on 10th Street, the year was 1935 — just after Prohibition had ended. One can only imagine the epic, liver-destroying parties that this Kansas City treasure housed. The Ship operated for nearly 60 years at its original location before being torn down to make room for a park, but the signs, bar and furnishings from this KC jazz landmark were saved. More than a decade later, the Ship was rebuilt as a private club in a West Bottoms warehouse, and last year, it went public — with Thursday designated as jazz night. This week, organist Greg Meise and his blues-drenched swing, on a Hammond B-3, grab hold of your soul and shake it up good. It’s a perfect complement to a bit of nostalgia for the old Kansas City.