Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series, featuring Kansas City jazz advocate, local historian, and leader of the “90 Years of Count Basie’s Swing” events, Anita Dixon-Brown.

In this exclusive interview, we discuss her role in preserving KC’s jazz Legacy, her contributions as a UNESCO Creative Cities Network member, and Kansas City’s distinction as the first and only UNESCO Creative City of Music since 2017.

This International Jazz Day 2025, Anita is at the helm of America’s biggest jazz celebration, the 90 Years of Count Basie’s Swing event on April 30 at The Music Hall in Downtown Kansas City. Experience an unforgettable night featuring:

🎶 The world-renowned Count Basie Orchestra – Showtime at 7 PM

🎟️ VIP Reception (5–7 PM) – Meet jazz legends & honorees

🎷 After-Party Jam Session (10 PM–1 AM) – At the iconic Lonny’s Reno Club (Ambassador Hotel)

We dive deep into the significance of UNESCO’s recognition, Kansas City’s place on the international jazz stage, Count Basie’s enduring influence, and much more.

🎟️ Get tickets and event details here: kccreativecity.com/count-basie 

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Joe Dimino Podcaster/Artist

Joe Dimino has been writing & creating in a variety of capacities since his college days at the University of Missouri-Kansas City somewhere around 1993. If you are keeping score, that would be about 29 years+. It all began at UMKCs University News as a Sports Writer & turned into a myriad of expressive avenues. Inventing poems, art, video & audio has always been in the proverbial cards.