Historic Boutique Hotel Houses One of Top Kansas City Jazz Clubs

KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire - Feb 27, 2012) - Jazz enthusiasts have been "goin' to Kansas City" for its famous jazz since the 1920s. Back in the day they came to hear modern riffs on the original New Orleans jazz by legends like Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Charlie "Bird" Parker in smoky clubs and speakeasies. Today they come to hear the idiom articulated by current legends like smooth jazz pioneer Max Groove, Angela Hagenbach, and Lonnie McFadden at one of the premier Kansas City jazz clubs, located in the historic Raphael hotel on the posh Country Club Plaza.

Chaz on the Plaza, the hotel's signature restaurant and lounge, is where jazz's history continues to unfold. Stylings range from bebop, blues and swing to Brazilian, fusion and smooth. One of the most vibrant music venues in Kansas City, Chaz showcases a diverse variety of regional composers and performers Tuesday through Sunday evenings. In addition to jazz, other music genres presented include blues, classical, rock and pop. The variety allows for travelers to experience a larger body of Kansas City sound -- music that is real, being created and performed by local artists. Travelers will find the hotel's blog-style entertainment calendar with performer bios helpful in planning their visit to Kansas City music venues.

The Raphael is noted for distinctive Kansas City hotel deals and specials within its portfolio of destination-rich packages that can be booked online. A favorite for culture travelers is the Kansas City Heritage package. It includes tickets to six of the city's unique cultural attractions, including the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

About The Raphael Hotel: The Raphael is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel that combines the charm and intimacy of a locally significant landmark with highly individualized service. The original boutique concept among historic Kansas City hotels, it was named to Travel+Leisure magazine's 2012 T+L500 World's Best Hotels. The nine-story, Italian Renaissance Revival structure is a member of National Trust Historic Hotels of America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Raphael and its signature restaurant, Chaz on the Plaza, are affiliated as an iconic historic hotel with the Autograph Collection, a portfolio of independent hotels selected by Marriott International for their distinctiveness. More information is available at www.autographcollectionhotels.com.