The Phoenix has always held it’s own in part because they consistently feature great Kansas City musicians on a nightly basis. While other bars in Kansas City skimp on the music budget and present boring twenty something year old accustic guitar playing “granola” new age hippies, The Phoenix keeps it real and brings in the big jazz artists.

The corner of downtown Kansas City where the Phoenix now sits used to be known as part of the Burgeoning Garment District in 1888. The Phoenix was there from the beginning, a somewhat shady hotel that was rumored to be more of a bordello than a hotel. On the first floor there was a speak-easy type saloon owned and operated by bartender Frank Valerius, and on the second floor was a “hotel” owned by Mrs. Linna Laws.

The main competition for The Phoenix were the hotels Metropolitan and The Savoy. The Exchange Hotel, which went belly up long ago, still sits dejected across the street from the thriving Phoenix much like a dead soldier from a war fought long ago.

Review:

“The Phoenix rises again. The new owners have spiffed up the place
a bit and reworked the menu. Among the new dishes: Black and Tan Onion
Rings, Red Canyon Chili With Cheddar, Three Cheese Melt Sandwich and
Chicken Salad Sliders. One thing has stayed the same: There will be live
music Tuesday through Saturday.”
- The Kansas City Star

Details:

Hours:
Mon-Sat. (11:00 am – 1:30 am)

Live Jazz:
Tuesday-Saturday

Location:
The Phoenix
302 W Eighth St.
Kansas City, MO 64112
(816) 221-JAZZ
http://thephoenixkansascity.com

Related posts:

1. “Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen”: Great food and jazz in Kansas City
2. The Blue Room In Kansas City: Museum & Jazz Club
3. Kitano Hotel In Manhattan: Great Jazz four nights a week

Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen is located in the heart of the Entertainment District of Legends, just North of the Kansas City Speedway. Jazz is thick with Mardi Gras souvenirs and postcards. The atmosphere is gritty and festive (countless customers have scrawled their names on the walls), and you can fill up on great Big Easy grub. The jambalaya and gumbo are perfectly spicy; the shrimp comes by the pound, oysters by the dozen. You can eat your etoufee to the sounds of Kansas City’s jazz and blues.

According to the reviews, most people recommend stopping by on Wednesday or Thursday to hear the live jazz music. You can also get appetizers for $2.99 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

Reviews:

“Went on a Friday night was seated immediately. Live band was
gritty and sounded like it was straight out of New Orleans. I had
the coonass chicken. I ordered the half order (half assed) which
was a very large portion. The food was amazing. Other people at
my table had the crab cakes and the po boy which they all enjoyed.
Would suggest it to everyone!”

“Good solid Cajun food with lots of choices. You’can’t go wrong if
you here if you want some good cajun food.”

Upcoming Events:

For a list of upcoming events, check out their Calendar.

Details:

Specials:
-CRAWFISH SPECIALS EVERY WEDNESDAY
-Enjoy 2lbs and 2 Pints for $9.99
-OYSTERS SPECIALS EVERY THURSDAY
-$.50 Oysters on the Half Shell and $1.75 Boulevard Beer (excludes Smokestack Series)

Location:
Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen
1859 Village West Parkway, Suite 102
Kansas City, KS 66111
(913) 328-0003
www.jazzkitchens.com

Related posts:

1. The Blue Room In Kansas City: Museum & Jazz Club
2. The Phoenix: Great Jazz Nightclub in Kansas City
3. Jazz At The Mecca Supper Club In Chicago

Awards & Accolades:
# Recognized three times by DownBeat Magazine as one of the Top 100 jazz clubs in the world – the only club in Kansas City to be recognized
# Two recognitions as the top Kansas City jazz club by AOL City Guide
# Two-time winner of Top Jazz Venue in Kansas City in the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association Visitors Choice Awards
# Two-time Bronze Award Winner, Best Jazz Club, Ingram’s

Designed to resemble a nightclub from the 1930s, the Blue Room is a multifaceted exhibit focusing on the Kansas City connection to the evolution of jazz, featuring a wall of fame exhibiting the images of those local musicians that made the Kansas City style swing.

Each of the nine tables on the floor level are display cases of rare artifacts from Kansas City’s musical heyday when scores of nightclubs were swinging with sounds of live music. Additional shadow boxes on the top level display guitars, saxophones, clarinets, records, sheet music, programs and other artifacts of the era. The Massenburg Mural celebrates the history of jazz and the African-American experience through compelling interpretations of jazz legends and inspiring words.

Although smoking is prohibited in an effort to preserve the artifacts, alcoholic beverages are available at the bar and an appetizer buffet is available during Indigo Hour Friday evenings. Since its opening in September 1997, the Blue Room has provided a distinctive platform to present dynamic performances from the best local and national jazz talent in an intimate setting, playing a key part in sustaining Kansas City’s strong jazz heritage at one of jazz’s greatest crossroads, 18th & Vine.

Upcoming Events:

For a performance schedule, please check out their Calendar.

Information:

Hours:
Monday & Thursday (5:00 pm – 11:00 pm) – music starts at 7:00 pm
Friday (5:00 pm – 1:00 am) – headlining act starts at 8:30 pm
Saturday (7:00 pm – 1:00 am) – music starts at 8:30 pm

Indigo Hour in the Blue Room
Friday (5:00 pm – 7:30 pm) featuring:

-Blue Room Martinis ($5)
-Drink Specials: Beer, Wine & Wells ($3)
-Live Entertainment
-Appetizer Buffet ($3/round)
-Door Prizes

Admission:
Friday, Saturday: $10
Monday, Thursday: FREE, unless otherwise noted on Calendar.

Minors are allowed in the Blue Room when accompanied
by an adult. Reservations for events are not accepted
except as advertised for special events.

Location:
The Blue Room
1616 E. 18th St.
Kansa City, MO 64108
(816) 474-8463
www.americanjazzmuseum.com

Related posts:

1. “Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen”: Great food and jazz in Kansas City
2. The Phoenix: Great Jazz Nightclub in Kansas City
3. Don’t Miss The James Ward Band At The Blue Room