antonio reyes

As a fourth generation musician Antonio “Tony” Reyes was influenced by many genres of music at a young age. He follows in the footsteps of his great-grandfather one of the first mariachis in Kansas City, his grandfather, a conservatory trained saxophonist, both his dad and uncle, entertainers in their own right, and his older brother, a jazz pianist. Tony received his first adult drum set at the age of 5 and was gigging with his brother Andre’ by the time he was 8. Singing and playing drums, his curiosity began to rise again. He spotted a 1965 Fender Jazz Bass that belonged to his great-grandfather. At 13, Antonio picked up that bass and learned to play in his high school jazz band under the direction of Paul White at Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kansas. Throughout high school, opportunities arose to play with musicians that inspired his playing to soar. That included learning the guitarrón to play with Mariachi Aguila. Eventually learning the double bass his senior year, he was honored with the Louis Armstrong Award for outstanding performance.

Antonio attended Kansas City Kansas Community College playing with jazz instrumental and vocal ensembles under professors Jim Mair, John Stafford and Dr. Justin Binek. He is fluent on both drums and bass and can swing has hard as those classic Kansas City jazz records. For drums and percussion Tony studied under multi award winner Go-Go Ray, Jurgen Weldge, and Pablo Sanhueza. Bram Wijnands and Andrew Stinson for bass.

He continues playing drums with groups around the Kansas City metro area that include: Stranded in the City a fresh funk and R&B band, the multiple groups featured nights at the Green Lady Lounge and Black Dolphin, and bass with Pablo Sanhueza and the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra. Tony has taken his talents with Stranded in the City to Colorado, through New Mexico with the KCLJO, and Southern California with his family. He has played with the KCKCC jazz ensembles at Jazz Education Network conferences, Kansas Music Educators Association Exhibition and National Association for Music Education 2019 in Dallas, Texas.

In 2020, as a 21 year old Antonio plans to compete in the International Blues Challenge with Stranded in the City and travel to Switzerland to play the Montreux Jazz Festival with the KCKCC New Century Jazz Orchestra. No matter where his journey leads him, he always keeps the history of his music and culture in his mind and his playing.

Find his band Stranded in the City HERE

Jason Emmond

Jason Emmond is an upright and electric bass player and composer residing in Kansas City. After growing up in New Hampshire and obtaining his bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire, Jason made the move to Kansas City to play jazz.

Jason keeps busy playing with a variety of talented musicians from Kansas City and beyond. You can find him playing often with artist Eddie Moore and his band, We the People, who have backed up notable artists such as Andre Hayward, Chantae Cann and Andrew Bailie.

With more exciting shows on the horizon and his first original album in the works, expect to hear more from Jason in the coming months.

Check out some of his music here:

Soundcloud EP Demo:

https://soundcloud.com/jason-emmond/sets/moonluminescence-demos

Website coming soon: