Effective period / Period of releases: 1939 - 1991

Members: Eddie Durham, Lester Young, Jo Jones, Buck Clayton, Walter Page, Freddie Green, Bill Coleman (2), Charlie Christian, Joe Bushkin, Dickie Wells, John Simmons

When they had time off from the Count Basie Orchestra in the late 1930s, the Count's rhythm musicians formed a small ensemble called The Kansas City Five, with trumpeter Buck Clayton, drummer Jo Jones, bassist Walter Page, rhythm guitarist Freddie Green and Eddie Durham's electric guitar (as a replacement for Count Basie's piano). When Lester Young joined the band, on clarinet and tenor sax, it became the Kansas City Six.

Line-up (ca. 1938):
Buck Clayton (Trumpet)
Eddie Durham (Guitar)
Freddie Green (Guitar)
Jo Jones (Drums)
Lester Young (Clarinet, Saxophone)
Walter Page (Bass)