Count Basie
Basie is the king, and the man who most clearly took the KC sound to the world. His recordings from 1936-40 are the most representative of the KC sound.

Lester Young
Worked with Moten and Basie at the pinnacle of KC's heyday. Redefined the way the sax was played.

Jay McShann
Somewhat unsung hero of swing and blues. Pianist who fronted a big band for 5 years, which featured a young Charlie Parker. McShann swings hard.

Bennie Moten
Ran what many consider the best "territory band" from 1923 until his accidental death in 1935, after which Basie toook over the band. Moten's session from 1932 is where the KC revolution first appeared most clearly on record, and ranks as one of the greatest sessons in jazz history.

Mary Lou Williams
Hugely talented pianist and arranger who worked with Andy Kirk's band. To hear her in her fullest glory, check out the 1940 versions of "Baby Dear" and "Harmony Blues". Kirk's sessions from 1936-37 are good KC recordings, and, though Kirk often preferred to cater to the white market, Williams manages to slip in some seriously good grooves on "Mess-A-Stomp," "Wednesday Night Hop," Froggy Bottom" and "A Mellow Bit of Rhythm," among others.

Bennie Moten - Band Box Shuffle
The last ten tracks here were a huge break from the Moten band's previous sound, and to me really represent the emergence of the KC sound. The very first version of Moten Swing is here, a song that went on to become a jazz classic and quintessential Kaycee song; its solid, fluid 4/4 beat was five years ahead of its time. Many of the other tracks sport KC-style double riffs galore, and great solos by Hot Lips Page, Ben Webster and Basie. You can find these tracks on many discs, but "Band Box Shuffle" easily has the best sound quality.

Charlie Parker - A Studio Chronicle 1940-41
This is really a Jay McShann big band album, but it features a very young Charlie Parker trying to come to grips with what would later become bebop.

Various Artists - Kansas City: Swing, Blues, Jive, Boogie
Two CDs available at emusic.com. Great introduction to the Kaycee sound.

Count Basie - (Any recordings from 1936-40)
Sessions recorded just after Basie had been discovered by NY producer John Hammond. This is Basie at his most Kaycee. The 1936 session was recorded as "Jones-Smith, Inc". The 1937 version of "Honeysuckle Rose" rather cleverly deconstructs the old 2/4 jazz beat into a new KC 4/4. "One O'Clock Jump" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside" are possibly his most famous songs, and are the epitome of the hard-swinging, riff-based Kaycee sound. All feature the great Lester Young on sax as well.

Kansas City Band - Soundtrack to "Kansas City"
Both this and the even better second album ("Kansas City After Dark") were recorded in the 90s, and offer an updated take on the Kaycee sound, while remaining faithful to its spirit.

Club Kaycee
Info on Kaycee's jazz heyday from the University of Missouri at Kansas City

The Mutual Musicians Foundation
The musicians union, a gathering place for KC jazz for nearly a century. Still in operation today.

Book: "Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop"
Recent book on KC jazz. Presented in storytelling style with a dramatic flair. Fun physical descriptions of the protagonists.

Book: "Jazz Style in Kansas City and the Southwest
Older, but excellent book about jazz in the "territories", as the southwest was known then, with a heavy focus on Kansas City as the region's musical capital.

12 O'Clock Jump
Radio show currently performed every Saturday night at the Mutual Musicians Foundation. Fun and free!