<Li> A preference for a 4 feel (walking) over the 2 beat feel found in other jazz styles of the time . As a result, Kansas city jazz had a more relaxed, fluid sound than other jazz styles . </Li> <Li> Extended soloing . Fueled by the non-stop nightlife under political boss Tom Pendergast, Kansas City jam sessions went on well past sunrise, fostering a highly competitive atmosphere and a unique jazz culture in which the goal was to "say something" with one's instrument, rather than simply show off one's technique . It was not uncommon for one "song" to be performed for several hours, with the best musicians often soloing for dozens of choruses at a time . </Li> <Li> So - called "head arrangements". The KC big bands often played by memory, composing and arranging the music collectively, rather than sight - reading as other big bands of the time did . This further contributed to the loose, spontaneous Kansas City sound . </Li> <Li> A heavy blues influence, with KC songs often based around a 12 - bar blues structure, rather than the 32 bar AABA standard, although Moten Swing is in this AABA format . </Li>

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