Kansas City style

noun

1. a style of jazz developed in Kansas City, Mo., in the early 1930s, marked by a strong blues influence, the use of riffs as a characteristic formal device, and a less pronounced beat than that of the New Orleans or Chicago style of jazz.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kansas City style¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Our tasters detected less sweetness and more vinegar than in many others, setting it apart from the sweet-and-smoky Kansas City style that seems to dominate the biggest brands.

From Washington Post

Get the party started with smoky ribs smothered in BBQ sauce, like these Kansas City style ribs.

From Fox News

This is basically how things stay civil in the European Union, where there are strict limits to prevent, say, Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden, from getting into some Kansas City–style shenanigans.

From Slate

They’re not totally Kansas City style, however, just as the brisket isn’t quite Texan and the pulled pork isn’t quite Carolina.

From Washington Post

Unlike the present crop of blues singers, most of whom indulge in manic-depressive moans, Julia sings her blues with an exuberant bounce which she calls "Kansas City style with a terrific rhythm."

From Time Magazine Archive