Mutual Musicians Foundation International

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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. A National Historic Landmark, the building is also entered in the National Register of Historic Places and the Kansas City Landmarks Commission Register.

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.

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The Art of Kansas City Swing: An International Jazz Education Festival
June 18-20, 2015

This unique jazz education festival explores the origins of what became known as “Swing” music, its architects, the reasons for the development of the style; all within its original incubator neighborhood, 18th and Vine in Kansas City, Missouri!

The Art of Swing brings the participant to the oldest continuously run jazz house in the world, the Mutual Musicians Foundation once known as Local 627 or the “colored” musicians union from 1917 to 1972 and demonstrates through historic tours, jazz master classes, concerts and jam sessions WHY Swing became KING globally!

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Since 1930, musicians have gathered at the Foundation on Friday and Saturday nights after midnight to jam into the early morning hours. Come join us!