“Oh, I’ve been to Kansas City, and boy, I’m gonna tell ya, everythin’s alright. Oh, yes, the boys have been swingin’ into the broad daylight.”

Kansas City — home of the Royals, barbeque and…Jazz music.

Sunday, Aug. 23rd, I attended the concert of Vine Street 7.

Who is Vine Street 7, you ask? Let’s look back to 1930’s Kansas City — a developing town with a melting pot of culture and influence.

New Orleans, Chicago and New York are all major names when it comes to the startup of Jazz music.

However, our own Kansas City was a major contributor to the Jazz industry, all thanks to 18th and Vine Street.

Around 1940, musicians flocked to this particular part of town because of 18th and Vine Street’s 24-hour clubs, high gambling rates and lack of liquor and alcoholic laws.

This mix of culture inspired major artists like Charlie Parker, Benny Moten and Pete Johnson to produce the slow-swinging, deep blues jazz style we still hear today.

Fast forward to present time.

More than 300 people gathered at Ironwoods park to celebrate and reminisce Kansas City’s rich jazz history as Vine Street 7 rocked the concert that was a major throwback to the ‘30s.

Couples were slow dancing and children were laughing as the seven members of Vine Street 7 performed melodious, smooth jazz.

Instruments used included the saxophone, trombone, piano, clarinet and cello, and the obvious crowd favorites were the songs “Piny Brown Blues” by jazz artist Pete Johnson and “Moten Swing” by jazz pianist Count Basie.

Although not your typical teenage pop concert and majorly attended by adults over age 70, this concert gave all a feel for Kansas City pride and was truly a hidden gem.