18th & Vine Jazz And Blues Festival Features Kelley Hunt
Roots and R&B singer/songwriter Kelley Hunt says when she first started singing, her grandmother, a gospel singer, gave her this advice: "Don’t sing it, if you don’t mean it."Hunt was born in...
View ArticleFrom Musician To Community Advocate, The Lupe Gonzalez Orchestra
An exhibit opens this weekend at the Kansas City Museum about Lupe Gonzalez, a local musician who became an icon in the Latino community. His name may not be recognizable, and that’s likely because...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Katy Guillen and The Girls
Katy Guillen and The Girls have only been together for about a year, but it hasn’t taken them long to get noticed: next January they will be representing Kansas City in the International Blues...
View ArticleThe Many Talents Of Kansas City Musician Mike Stover
There is something that strings all these different local bands together… Mr. Marco’s V7, The Grisly Hand, Ernest James Zydeco, Dead Voices. Or rather, someone.Musician Mike Stover plays in all of...
View ArticleLocal Listen: The Jorge Arana Trio
The Jorge Arana Trio offers an energetic and eclectic fusion of jazz, rock and funk that has gotten the attention of music lovers throughout Kansas City as a result of their take-no-prisoners live...
View ArticleThe Worst Gigs In Rock 'N' Roll
It's hard to imagine Def Leppard, John Mayer, or any other rock musician having a bad day, but Jon Niccum begs to differ.
View ArticleLocal Listen: The Silver Maggies
The music of The Silver Maggies is a unique blend of gothic country and high desert noir, resulting in a sound that’s dark and lonely... and maybe a little dangerous. In this week’s local listen, we...
View ArticleHaunting Soundtrack For Silent Classic 'The Phantom Of The Opera'
The Phantom of the Opera, a 1925 silent film, tells the story of an organist who lurks beneath an opera house. This Halloween night, organist Aaron David Miller will be in plain sight at the Kauffman...
View ArticleLocal Listen: The Latenight Callers
Band The Latenight Callers describe their sultry, film-noir sound as that of “the house band at a David Lynch pool party.” Their latest album is called Songs for Stolen Moments.In Friday's Local...
View ArticleAlexander Majors House Shows Off Restored Piano
The Alexander Majors House, a two-story white antebellum home, is a relic from the 1850's, and still stands at 82nd and State Line. It was built by one of the founders of the Pony Express, and it's...
View ArticleTim Whitmer On Learning From Jazz Greats
Jazz pianist and bandleader Tim Whitmer has gained a reputation for building on jazz traditions, as well as performing original compositions. Whitmer is a mainstay at jazz clubs, but he also plays in...
View ArticleUsing Music As Therapy
Music therapy has been a growing form of complementary medicine for the past 50 years. Studies have shown music therapy can help with everything from Alzheimer’s to depression to developmental...
View ArticlePartners In Music: Ben Sayevich And Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich
It’s late morning and a dim light filters in through the stained glass windows at the chapel at Park University. Lithuanian-Israeli violinist Ben Sayevich, and his wife Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Akkilles
With the Kansas City area getting a dose of winter weather over the past couple days, perhaps it's time for some music that has a summertime feel. The band Akkilles offers a sound that conjures up an...
View ArticleKelley Hunt Brings Her Sound To Kansas City
Kelley Hunt sings across many genres. Part of her heart may be in R&B but it's the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra she'll partner with this week for a Christmas-themed concert.In the second part of...
View ArticleBen Sidran: Musician, Composer And 'Space Cowboy'
Ben Sidran is one of those guys who makes your knees buckle.Piano player. Singer. Author. Composer. Host of the NPR jazz series “Jazz Alive.” Host of the VH-1 television’s “New Visions” series. Peabody...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Victor And Penny
Jeff Freeling and Erin McGrane make up the duo Victor and Penny, who have been touring all across America with a sound that they like to call “antique pop.”In this week's Local Listen, we hear the song...
View ArticleGetting Jazzy With Bobby Watson
Even if you don't know what jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson looks like or own one of his albums, you know his sound, because his music greets you each day on Up to Date.In the first part of Thursday's Up...
View ArticleThe 10 Best Songs From Kansas City Area Bands In 2013
It is that time of year. Lists. And we couldn't let it pass by without doing a best of Kansas City area music (which of course, includes Lawrence, Kan.).The list is made up of contributions from Bill...
View ArticleNot Your Parents' Christmas Music
If you celebrate Christmas, chances are you know all the classic names that go along with it. Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Elvis are synonymous with Yuletide cheer, but what about new...
View ArticleRemembering Kansas Mariachi Pioneer, Teresa Cuevas
Mariachi musician and founder of a groundbreaking all-female mariachi band, Teresa Cuevas, died late last year at the age of 93.Cuevas founded Mariachi Estrella with seven other women from her church...
View ArticleFolk Alliance Relocation Will Bring Kansas City Music, Money
Kansas City, Mo., will take on a folksy note next month when Folk Alliance International holds its annual conference at Crown Center.A celebration of all types of folk culture, the event is perhaps a...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Sundiver
In December, Kansas City band Sundiver released their debut full-length effort, “The Pull.”The group's sound combines space-rock arrangements with edgy, heavy guitar tones, and as our music coordinator...
View ArticleSaxophonist Kenny G: Still Smooth
His big, curly hair and smooth jazz are iconic. Some play him for laughs, but many enjoy the mellow tones of Kenny G. Others have been critical: jazz superstar Pat Metheny is known to be critical of...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Phantoms Of The Opry
The band Phantoms of the Opry consider themselves “born 60 years too late,” and when you hear their musical blend of traditional country and Western swing, you’ll understand the meaning behind that...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Freight Train Rabbit Killer
Freight Train Rabbit Killer is a collaboration between Christopher Brooders of Cadillac Flambe’ and Mark Smeltzer from Rural Grit. Their combined backgrounds in delta blues and Americana make for a...
View ArticleGreg Brown: Midwestern Folk Staple
Critic Josh Kun once called singer-songwriter Greg Brown, "A Midwestern existentialist hobo with a quick-draw heart, a bloodied heart, and bourbon on his breath." If there's one thing Kun left out,...
View ArticleThe Beatles' 12 Greatest Hits
Last week’s Grammy Awards featured a reunion of Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The former Beatles received a lifetime achievement award …and on this edition of Cyprus Avenue an encore of the...
View ArticleLocal Listen: Drew Black And Dirty Electric
Drew Black and Dirty Electric is a Kansas City four-piece that takes glam rock to a very dark and edgy place - and yet it’s a sound that’s loaded with hooks and easy to dance to as well.In this week’s...
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