Pianist Jay McShann is one of the great personalities of jazz and the embodiment of the Kansas City style of jazz and blues. The Muskogee native came to prominence in the late 30s with the last of the Kansas City big bands.
Beginning as a soloist, McShann later formed an orchestra that toured extensively and recorded for the Decca label. The band performed and recorded many modern compositions which bridged traditional Kansas City jazz and bebop.
From 1969 to present, McShann has toured extensively in Europe, appearing at music festivals worldwide. He is the subject of a documentary film, “Hootie Blues”, and a TV documentary “Last of the Blue Devils”.