Results for "Kansas City"

Brett Jackson

Born: March 18, 1986

From www.brettjacksonmusic.com Kansas City-based saxophonist and educator Brett Jackson was born and raised in Kansas, having spent most of his formative years in the bustling metropolis of North Newton, KS. Since relocating in 2009, Jackson has been joining the ranks of a Kansas City music scene that is bursting with talent, performing with many of Kansas City’s premier jazz ensembles including The Project H (2014 Pitch Award Winner - Best Jazz Ensemble), Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7, The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Vine Street Rumble, and Clint Ashlock’s New Jazz Order. At home on all of the saxophones as well as flute and clarinet, Jackson is able to adapt to any musical situation

Jeff Shirley

Born: July 9, 1979

Originally hailing from Liberty, Missouri, Jeff Shirley began his musical journey on piano at the age of 7 before taking up the guitar at 13. His early years were marked by a passion for fingerstyle guitar, which soon expanded into a deep dive into artists ranging from Steve Vai to Pat Metheny. His love of jazz developed early, perhaps fittingly, since his first word was “Bird.”

Jeff specializes in composing, performing jazz guitar across a variety of ensembles, and teaching. After beginning his studies at Central Missouri State University, where he studied with the great trumpet player and arranger David Aaberg, he graduated with a degree in jazz performance from the University of North Texas, one of the country’s most respected jazz programs. Since then, he has become an active figure in Kansas City’s vibrant jazz scene, blending traditional and modern elements while continually pushing the boundaries of the genre. In 2021 and 2023, JAM Magazine readers nominated Jeff as one of Kansas City’s top four jazz guitarists.

Ida McBeth

There’s a quiet storm in Kansas City. And it swirls around the captivating, elegant, mystifying and delightful music of singer Ida McBeth. Ida’s musical style is so unique that it is hard to classify. Over the years, her repertoire has included pop-style ballads, jazz and blues, show tunes, funk, R&B, gospel and well known standards. Critics have described her as “a jazz singer,” “a blues singer,” “a pop singer” and “a cabaret singer.” Still others have referred to her as “a story teller,” “a professor emeritus of body language,” “a consummate actress” and “the complete entertainer.” A song stylist is the title Ida prefers. By the age of five, Ida McBeth knew she wanted to be a singer

Logan Richardson

Born and, raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Logan Richardson was mentored by some of the finest figures in the history of improvised music, including Jay McShann, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, and Queen Bey, in addition to having artists such as Max Roach, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Kenny Burrell, Marcus Belgrave, Richard Davis as artists in residence between the ages of 15 to 19 years old. At 19 years old he moved to Boston, Massachusetts to study at the Berklee College of Music, and after one year Logan left Boston to move to New York to complete his studies at The New School University on a full scholarship

Betty Bryant

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Betty Bryant is a revered pianist/singer who brings a solid piano technique, a light, swinging touch and a skilled vocal approach to her music. Whether she is playing the blues on “He May Be Your Man (But He Comes To See Me Sometime)”, or delivering obscure cabaret gems like Mort Lindsey’s humorous “Scratch”, or romping through serious jazz compositions like Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare”, Betty always connects with the material and with her audience. Dubbed “Cool Miss B” by her fellow musicians, Betty’s career started in her hometown of Kansas City, where she was mentored by the great Jay McShann

River Cow Cosmic Orchestra

Born: June 1, 2008

River Cow Orchestra takes a Zen approach to creating music. Creating spontaneous music that will never be heard again, anywhere. River Cow Orchestra sets the music free. [email protected]

Alan Voss

Alan Voss performs with groups ranging in size from solo to quintet and beyond.

Shawn Strickland

Herschel McWilliams

Born: October 17, 1978

Herschel McWiliams is a native of Kansas City. Growing up the son of musicians, he was introduced to many musical influences at an early age. He started learning piano at 8 years old and alto saxophone at 10 years old. Herschel has had the instruction of some of the most established musicians and educators in the Kansas City area such as Kerry Strayer, Doug Talley, Wayne Hawkins, Marlin Cooper, and Penny Snead and countless other influences.

Lester Young

Born: August 27, 1909

Lester "Prez" Young was one of the giants of the tenor saxophone. He was the greatest improviser between Coleman Hawkins and Louis Armstrong of the 1920s and Charlie Parker in the 1940s. From the beginning, he set out to be different: He had his own lingo; In the Forties, he grew his hair out. The other tenor players held their saxophones upright in front of them, so Young held his out to the side, kind of like a flute (see picture above). Then, there was the way he played: Hawkins played around harmonic runs. He played flurries of notes and had a HUGE tone that the other tenor players of the day emulated. Young used a softer tone that resulted In a soft, light sound (if you didn't know better, you would think the two were playing different instruments). Young used less notes and slurred notes together, creating more melodic solos. He played the ordinary in an extraordinary way, using a lot of subtleties to produce music that Billie Holiday said flips you out of your seat with surprise.