Mutual Musicians Foundation
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A National Historic Landmark, the building is also entered in the National Register of Historic Places and the Kansas City Landmarks Commission Register.
The Oldest Jazz House in the World!
150,000 Notes One Historic Mission: https://www.themutualmusiciansfoundation.com/notes
BLUE DEVIL REVIVAL: https://www.themutualmusiciansfoundation.com/music Kansas City’s Local 627, African-American Musicians Union, founded in 1917, and known as the Mutual Musicians Foundation, still stands in Kansas City, Missouri’s historic 18th and Vine district at 1823 Highland Avenue. Today, the tradition jams on at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, located on the former site of Local 627 at 1823 Highland Avenue, in the heart of the historic 18th and Vine District. The Mutual Musicians Foundation, Inc., originally incorporated to manage the building and assets of Local 627, continued operating the building as a social club for musicians and fans after the merger with Local 34 in 1970. In 1979, the Foundation was prominently featured in Bruce Ricker’s film, “The Last of the Blue Devils.” As we have since 1930, musicians gather at the Foundation Friday and Saturday nights after midnight to jam into the early morning hours. The Foundation also serves as a rehearsal space for members, a classroom for visiting students and a place for private parties. A living museum, the Foundation preserves and develops Kansas City’s rich musical heritage. The Mutual Musicians Foundation International (MMFI) is dedicated to presenting the MMFI as an international hub utilizing the city’s most recognized international product; jazz solely for the benefit of its most treasured resource; musicians past, present and future. The MMFI will increase the participation of ethnic, cultural/heritage based businesses and organizations within the overall marketing efforts of the cultural communities of Kansas City, create and maintain an international visitors center in the historic 18th & Vine jazz district of Kansas City.
Live from the Historic Mutual Musicians Foundation
It’s the Mid Week Matinee!
Join us every Wednesday in person 1-3pm
And online 1-2pm
🎶 EVERY DOLLAR IS A NOTE. EVERY DONOR BECOMES PART OF THE SONG. 🎶
This fall, we're launching 150,000 NOTES FOR THE FUTURE — a special initiative of our 1 Million Notes Capital Campaign — and we're inviting YOU to help us write the next chapter of Kansas City jazz history. 🎷🖤
Inside 1823 Highland Ave — the longest continuously running jazz house in the country — the music that changed America has played on for nearly a century.
Charlie Parker. Count Basie. Jay McShann. And today? The tradition is alive with our Midweek Matinee (live jazz every Wednesday, 1–3 PM), the legendary late-night jam sessions, and youth programs training the next generation of KC musicians.
Now we need 150,000 notes to keep the song going:
🏛️ 75,000 Notes — Building preservation & equipment for our historic home
🎷 55,000 Notes — Youth music education & workforce development
🤝 20,000 Notes — Staff support & campaign infrastructure
ADD YOUR NOTE TO THE SONG:
🎵 Quarter Note — 25 notes ($25)
🎵 Half Note — 50 notes ($50)
🎵 Whole Note — 100 notes ($100)
🎵 Full Measure Sponsor — 250+ notes
🎵 Maestro Sponsor — 1,000+ notes (businesses & community leaders — your spotlight awaits!)
Or simply purchase as many notes as you can. $5. $20. $500. No note is too small when 150,000 of them build a future. 💛
Your gift protects a historic landmark, keeps musicians working, expands youth education, and invests in the artists, educators, and leaders of tomorrow.
🔗 LINK IN BIO — join the campaign TODAY
📍 1823 Highland Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
📲 Mutual Musicians Foundation on IG, TikTok & Facebook
Share this. Tag a jazz lover. Play your part. 🎼
Introducing MIDWEEK MATINEE 🎹
Live jazz in the middle of your week, inside the walls where Kansas City jazz history was MADE. Tenor sax, upright bass, and that iconic white baby grand… yeah, it's giving legendary. 🎹🎶
This is the SAME room where Charlie Parker and Count Basie once played — the oldest continuously running jazz house in the country — and we're keeping that energy alive with daytime live music every single week.
📍 1823 Highland Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
🗓️ Every Wednesday
🕐 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🎟️ Bring a friend. Bring your lunch break. Bring your whole crew.
And while you're vibing with us — we're on a mission. 💛 Our 150,000 Notes capital campaign is raising funds to preserve this historic landmark and power ALL of our programs, from traditional jam sessions to new series like this one. Every note counts. Every dollar keeps the music playing. Tap the link in our bio to learn more and donate. 🙌🏾
Save this post, share it with your KC crew, and we'll see YOU Wednesdays 🖤
📲 Follow Mutual Musicians Foundation on IG, TikTok & Facebook for more live jazz, history, and events.
Live from the Legendary Mutual Musicians Foundation it’s the Wednesday Jazz matinee!
When Art became Jazz and Jazz became Art!
Being a part of the ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council installation of Improv: Jazz as resistance, memory as power was an incredible partnership.
Together as a community preserving Jazz in KC!
This is a great time to help us continue to partner and community and keep jazz alive in Kansas City with our MMFI fundraiser.
This fall, MMFI is launching 150,000 Notes for the Future, a special initiative of the 1 Million Notes
Capital Campaign, to raise $150,000 for:
🏛️ $75,000 — Building preservation and equipment
🎷 $55,000 — Youth programs, music education, and workforce development
🤝 $20,000 — Staff support and capital campaign infrastructure
Your gift will help protect our historic home at 1823 Highland Avenue, expand youth music education and workforce development, strengthen community programming and cultural tourism, and invest in the next generation of artists, educators, and leaders.
Every dollar is a note. Every donor becomes part of the song.
Head to the link in our bio to help preserve Jazz in KC!
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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1823 Highland Avenue
Kansas City, MO
64108
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