"Jackie Myers is a jazz pianist, composer, and singer. She is a transplant from Austin Texas, where she performed in the indie touring circuit for almost a decade. She has been playing in Kansas City since December of 2017 with shows that feature a mix of jazz standards and original compositions. Since then she has held residencies at several notable jazz venues in Kansas City, including but not limited to, Corvino Supper Club, Chaz on the Plaza, and Green Lady Lounge. She also held the position of Music Director and piano player for the nationally syndicated radio show - 12th Street Jump - taped live in Kansas City until 2020, when the show ended.

During the pandemic, Jackie was able to continue performing through live streaming from her home and she produced a series of 9 concerts called "Kansas City Drive-ins" that featured artists including Bobby Watson, The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Eddie Moore, and Beau Bledsoe. The series was well attended and brought jazz back to its audience in a time when the venues could not host. Myers boasts a catalog of 7 albums and is currently working on her 8th. At her live shows, audiences are treated to Myers' innovative and fluid keyboard work, punctuated by her bluesy vocals. At other times, Myers' shows feature a purely instrumental dose. Performing as part of a duo, trio, quartet, or quintet, Myers is typically joined by some of the best musicians offered by a locale, typically combining a crisp rhythm section with top artists on horns or guitar. In 2018, Myers added Hammond organ to her repertoire, adding to the diversity of her performances. She currently plays the Hammond B3 for one of Kansas City's most decorated Blues Artists - Nick Schnebelen.

As for Myers' vocals, Louisiana musical writer Dominick Cross said about an earlier recording: "My initial reaction to the recording was that in some ways its Michelle Shocked meets Amy Winehouse. And several listens later, I'd say the same thing with more emphasis on Winehouse." Bill Brownlee, jazz critic for The Plastic Sax and several other Kansas City publications said, "Her vocals on Ain't No Sunshine and Stars Fall on Alabama demonstrated that Myers ... brings a singular talent to the scene." Myers debuted her first straight ahead jazz album in 2018 - The Instrumental One, which was recorded live at the prestigious Green Lady Lounge in Kansas City. Made up of eight tracks, including six original compositions, Jackie's keyboard stylings groove what one critic called "jazz from a solid R&B point of view." Critics compared The Instrumental One to works by Ahmad Jamal and Les McCann. Kansas City's Roger Atkinson wrote: "I still like that soul-jazz genre . . . plus, Jackie Myers has a new fan: me." Myers has also done some impressive work in musical production. In 2017, she produced the musical production Silent Films Out Loud: A Tribute to Buster Keaton. This event featured a nine-piece ensemble playing newly-written compositions to four Buster Keaton silent film classics, including a score by Myers to Buster Keaton's 1922 Cops. This event, sponsored in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department, filled Austin's premier theater - The Stateside at the Paramount. Lastly, she has recently plied her craft with local production startup - FMK Music as a producer and composer for the group. Jackie holds a certificate in music from Berklee School of Music, a BA in music from Grinnell College, and a Master of Arts in Music with a jazz concentration from UMKC."

"Bobby Watson sits among the pantheon of present-day jazz greats. Born in Lawrence, Kan., his career now spans more than four decades. A multi-GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist, composer, bandleader, educator and producer, Watson trained formally at the University of Miami and then, from 1977-1981, earned his "doctorate" as musical director of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. During his four-plus years with the legendary drummer, the saxophonist contributed to 14 Jazz Messengers recordings - more than anyone else in the group's 35-year (1955-1990) storied history.

Early on, in addition to Blakey, the saxophonist also worked with notable jazz icons and elder statesmen such as Max Roach, Louis Hayes, George Coleman and Sam Rivers, as well as sharing music experiences with innumerable noteworthy peers and colleagues as well as legendary vocalists such as Joe Williams, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter, Dianne Reeves and Carmen Lundy.

An association with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis led Watson to launch the first iteration of Horizon, the highly acclaimed acoustic quintet, modeled in many ways after the Jazz Messengers, but produced with its own distinct and more modern twist. Horizon, now considered one of the preeminent small groups of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, released several now-classic titles for the Blue Note and Columbia record labels.

Virtually simultaneously, Watson also issued several other titles such as Love Remains (Red), the saxophonist's now-classic 1986 release. The recording, recognized by the Penguin Guide to Jazz (Penguin; 7 th Ed.), received the publication's highest rating, cited in the edition as a part of its "core collection" joining other entries as a title any jazz aficionado should own. Year of the Rabbit, a musical tribute to Johnny Hodges, followed in 1989; Tailor Made, the Watson-led GRAMMY®-nominated all-star big band in 1993; he also released multiple titles by the four-horn 29th Street Saxophone Quartet and composed music for the Robert De Niro-directed film, A Bronx Tale (1993).

From 2005-2008, Watson issued a trio of recordings on the Palmetto label: Live & Learn (2005), Horizon Reassembled (2006), which brought him back together with Lewis, Terell Stafford, Edward Simon and Essiet Okon Essiet, and From the Heart (2008), on which he unveiled yet another project, again sharing the spotlight with bassist Lundy.

After spending 25 years in New York where Watson was omnipresent on the jazz scene, the saxophonist and his wife, vocalist-composer Pamela Baskin-Watson, returned to Kansas City, invited to do so at the behest of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he was named the first William D. and Mary Grant/Missouri, Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies at the school's Conservatory of Music & Dance. In May 2020, after 20 years, the saxophonist retired from the post, transitioning into emeritus status while serving as an unofficial ambassador for the university's Jazz Studies Department. During Watson's tenure, the UMKC program developed and evolved substantially to the point where it is now considered one of the country's finer jazz programs.

In 2010, the saxophonist self-produced The Gates BBQ Suite, what he calls "a labor of love." The recording celebrates his hometown's most famous food product with the music and track titles referencing the one-time family business. At the time of its release Gates became the perfect vehicle for his University of Missouri-Kansas City jazz students. Noted the All About Jazz review: "Bobby Watson serves up some 'down to the bone' goodness in The Gates BBQ Suite. The seven-part suite for large ensemble features the UMKC Conservatory of Music & Dance Concert Jazz Orchestra, and is a heartfelt tribute to Watson's hometown..., which includes the area's landmark Gates Barbecue restaurant."

Watson took the orchestra to Europe and Japan, where it performed at a number of summer festivals. Watson's self-produced Check Cashing Day followed; released in 2013 it centers on and honor the 50 th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech.

In 2017 Watson began a relationship with Smoke Sessions records, an outgrowth of the Upper West Side venue where he mostly plays when returning to New York City. His initial release for the label, Made in America, another well-conceived project, reflects upon a singular theme; on this occasion Watson turned his attention toward identifying lesser known, but important African Americans; each composition pays homage to a different person.

In November 2019, he participated as one-third of Bird At 100's front line, sharing the spotlight with fellow altoists Vincent Herring and Gary Bartz. In many ways the recording brought Watson full circle on a number of fronts. Most obviously: August 29, 2020, is the centennial of Charlie Parker's birth; that Watson hails from the Kansas City metro area, and made his way to New York, serves as a clear reminder of Bird's path. And, of course, Parker and Watson both play the alto saxophone.

Watson's latest Smoke Sessions project is the just-released (June 26, 2020) Keepin' It Real." The recording's personnel represent a blend of long-standing and relatively recent musical associations. Joining Watson, who dubbed the group "New Horizon," is his long-time musical ally, bassist Lundy; also on the session: veteran drummer Victor Jones along with a trio of younger players - trumpeters Josh Evans and Giveton Gelin, who share their duties and pianist Victor Gould. All told, the saxophonist has issued well over 40 recordings under his own name, while appearing on well over 100 other titles. His next, but yet untitled release for the label, is scheduled for Fall 2022 release.

Not surprisingly, Watson has received a number of well-deserved awards that in various ways recognize his musical contributions throughout his career. In 2011 the saxophonist was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of fame. In 2013 he received the prestigious Benny Golson Jazz Masters Award from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Simultaneously, the Black National Caucus officially recognized his work in the Congressional Record. On August 23, 2014 - serendipitously Watson's 61 st birthday - he was selected as one of the first inductees into the then-newly established 18th and Vine "Jazz Walk of Fame." Joining him was Pat Metheny as the only other living selection; four of the city's jazz cornerstones also received recognition: Count Basie, Jay McShann, Parker and Mary Lou Williams.

The sun may have set on Watson's formal position as Director of Jazz Studies at UMKC and as a most-respected jazz educator, but for Professor Emeritus Watson, the work continues. As energetic as ever, Watson says he's looking forward to the post-COVID-19 world, so he can continue his now-life-long journey of performing throughout the United States and internationally."

Rich Wheeler is a Kansas City-based tenor saxophonist known for his versatility across jazz and world music genres. He has performed with ensembles such as Alaturka, the Marcus Lewis Big Band, and The New Vintage Big Band. Wheeler's style blends traditional jazz with modern improvisation, and he is a respected figure in the Kansas City jazz scene.

Aryana Nemati is a Kansas City native and accomplished saxophonist proficient in baritone saxophone, flute, and clarinet. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the UMKC Conservatory and a Master's in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Nemati has performed with artists like Harry Connick Jr., Mindi Abair, and Sister Carol, and released a reggae-influenced album titled The Sax in I.

Trent Austin is a celebrated trumpet artist, educator, and entrepreneur. A prodigy who performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival during high school, he has since balanced a dynamic career in performance and education. Austin served as a trumpet professor at the University of Southern Maine for nine years and conducts clinics nationwide. He is also the founder of Austin Custom Brass, a company specializing in custom brass instruments.

Matthew Bennett began his orchestral career at 18 with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with various orchestras across the U.S. and Europe, including in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Bennett is a member of the Fountain City String Quartet and has held teaching positions such as Guest Violin Professor at Pittsburg State University.

Alyssa Bell is a violist and educator dedicated to multi-genre music performance. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Master of Music in Viola Performance from the Peabody Conservatory. Bell co-founded Soundwave Academy, focusing on holistic music education, and serves as the Adjunct Professor of High Strings at William Jewell College.

Sascha Groschang is a progressive cellist and composer based in Kansas City. She has performed extensively across the U.S. and Asia, including appearances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Groschang is co-founder of the alternative string duo "The Wires," exploring non-traditional string techniques and styles.

-Squidco 4/22/2025

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Matt Leifer is a seasoned drummer active in the Kansas City jazz scene. He has collaborated with various ensembles and artists, contributing to both live performances and recordings. Leifer is known for his dynamic playing style and has been a reliable fixture in the local music community.

Seth Lee is a jazz bassist who has performed with numerous ensembles. He is recognized for his solid rhythmic foundation and has contributed to various jazz recordings and live performances.

Blake Shaw is a double/electric bassist, vocalist, composer, and educator based in Iowa City. He serves as a jazz professor at Cornell College and Mt. Mercy University. Shaw leads multiple ensembles, including his own trio and the BIG(ish) Band, and is active in the Iowa music scene.