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ABOUT US

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OUR HISTORY

Disney and Pixar’s “Soul,” takes visitors on a tour as they discover the rich and surprising history of jazz.

PERMANENT EXHIBIT

Listening stations, touch screen interactives, custom mixing boards, and the John H. Baker Film Collection compliment a year-round display of artifacts, graphics, and commissioned artwork. Some highlights include Charlie Parker’s Grafton saxophone, a sequined gown worn by Ella Fitzgerald, and two rotating gallery spaces: the Ida McBeth Changing Gallery & the Ron Chaney Gallery.

THE CHANGING GALLERY

Since the museum's inception in 1997, The Changing Gallery near the front of the museum's entrance displays work centered around jazz, baseball, and the history of the 18th & Vine District. Local gallery partnerships, museum anniversaries, & Smithsonian traveling exhibits are a handful of the high quality educational experiences offered to visitors. Great for both locals and out of town patrons.

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OUR
MISSION

The mission of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City is to celebrate and exhibit the experience of jazz as an original American art form through performance, exhibition, education, and research at one of the country's jazz crossroads – 18th & Vine.

OUR
VISION

As the only museum in the world solely focused on the preservation, exhibition and advancement of jazz music, the American Jazz Museum is dedicated to public service and collaborative efforts to expand the influence, awareness and appreciation of jazz among the widest demographic of people across the Kansas City region, as well as among those based in various locations worldwide.

Since the birth of America’s only indigenous art form and its journey across the globe, certain cities have put distinctive stamps in its sound, history and development. Kansas City is one of the greatest purveyors of jazz – and it continues to offer fertile ground for the music to thrive.

Our Staff - Our Staff - Our Staff - Our Staff -
Our Staff - Our Staff - Our Staff - Our Staff -

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
HUMAN RESOURCES

Brandy Williams

Director of Human Resources
816.474.1719
FINANCE, OPERATIONS & IT

Jenny Vaupel

Director of Finance & Operations
816.474.0393
VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Clarence Smith

Manager of Kansas City Jazz Academy

Quez Beasley

External Events, Programming, & Partnerships Associate
816.474.5284

James McGee

Senior Manager of Visitor & Virtual Experience
816.474.0320

Gerald Dunn

​Senior Manager of Entertainment
816.474.0891 ​
External Affairs & Communications

Andrea Watts

Membership & Donor Relations Associate
816.474.0954

Lisa Alpert

Director of External Affairs & Communications
816.895.8470
Blue Room
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Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
Development and Communications Committee

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
Exhibits and Collections Committee

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
Finance Committee

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
Finance Committee

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
Governance and By-Laws Committee

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director
Performance and Entertainment Committee

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director

Rashida Phillips

Executive Director

CAREERS

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