The Jazz Voyager

This week the Jazz Voyager is on his way to landing in Kansas City, Missouri and going to Liberty, Missouri to experience the ambience of Johnnie’s Jazz Bar and Grille. Named after the owner’s daughter, who wanted a son, she was always the life of the party, selling tickets at the theater they owned and loved playing bridge.

The venue offers pub eats, ample bourbons and live music in a cozy club setting named for a female piano player. Johnnie, so named, by the way, since her father had selected Johnny as a boy’s name, was playing at The Lyric Theater in Salisbury, Missouri when Elmer Bills bought the location in 1924. Smitten by her natural charm, love of life, and youthful exuberance, Elmer fell in love and the two married a few years later.  Their son Elmer Bills, Jr. would join forces with Sterling Bagby to formally create B&B Theatres.

This week I’ll be listening to a talented saxophonist by the name Herschel McWilliams who grew up and is a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Kansas. The son of musicians, a drummer father and pianist mother, he was introduced to many musical influences at an early age. He started learning piano at 8 and alto saxophone when he was ten years old. He serves on the Board of Directors for Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors as well as running his own jazz website LiveJazzKC.com.

The club is located at 1903 Victory Drive, Liberty, MO 64068 and the number is 816-792-2675. For more info visit notoriousjazz.com/event/herschel-mcwilliams-trio.

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