ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS

May 2021

LOGAN RICHARDSON

Logan Richardson, is a native son of Kansas City, Missouri born, and raised (b1980), Logan Richardson is considered by top critics as a breath of fresh air for the future of music. A young star pushing the boundaries of modern improvised music, carrying the torch of vitality for improvised music as a premier alto saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator.

Kansas City, Missouri: A deep vein in the river of improvisational music runs up from the gulf and breeds a style that keeps close to the blues. It is here that Logan Richardson grew up,  saxophone in hand as he hung out in the historic 18th and Vine district. Here the greats performed, respecting the legacy and pushing the art forward: Max Roach, Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Heath, Richard Davis, Shirley Scott, and many more. They paid homage to the past legends - Jay Mc Shann, Claude ‘Fiddler’ Williams, Ahmad Alaadeen, Sonny Kenner, Eddie Saunders, and more as they mentored the young players on the scene.

By the age of 16 Logan had become skilled in both classical and improvised music, with opportunies coming from The Kansas City Symphony and performing with Jimmy Heath. At 19 Logan hit the Berklee campus and his horizons began to expand. His new community noticed his style was distinctly Kansas City, while he noticed that everyone had a style that began with their home spot. Philly, New York, New Orleans, each was unique just as verbal language and accents can reveal your roots. At 21 Logan continued on the path, recloating to Manhattan to attend The New School. Work came quickly, with recording dates and touring gigs with Nasheet Waits, Stefan Harris, Greg Tardy, Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, Jason Moran, Butch Morris, NEXT Collective, Michelle Rosewoman, Gerald Clayton, World Saxophone Quartet and more.

DANNY EMBREY

Kansas City-based Danny Embrey has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading jazz guitarists. In addition to recording and playing concerts, festivals and club dates, Embrey is in demand as an arranger, composer and producer.

Danny Embrey toured and performed during the 1980s with Sergio Mendes and Clare Fischer’s Latin Band. With the Sergio Mendes Band, he traveled the globe. “My first trip with Sergio was seven weeks in Europe; then, we went to South Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, and Australia.” He recalls playing for King Hussein in Jordan and the Reagans in the East Room of the White House. There were also television appearances on Solid Gold, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Johnny Carson Show.

While in the Los Angeles area he also toured and/or recorded with such notables as Gary Foster, Steve Houghton, Alan Broadbent, Gene Harris, Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Sheppard, Barry White, Shelly Manne, Monty Budwig, Annie Ross, Sam Most, and Leroy Vinnegar.

When Embrey left the Sergio Mendes group, he moved to Seattle, WA where he would spend the next two years. Living in the Seattle area gave him the opportunity to work the local area, continue to work the west coast, and to begin a new phase in his career. Chuck Israels asked Embrey to join him as a guitar instructor at Western Washington University. He became a member of the IAJE and did clinics in Seattle, Interlochen, Mi, and in Canada.

Upon returning to Kansas City area Embrey recorded and toured with jazz artist, Karrin Allyson, Interstring, Frank Mantooth, Sons of Brasil and numerous others world-class jazz groups. Embrey appears on 8 of Allyson’s recordings and has toured worldwide as her musical director and he was co-producer on 2 of her albums: “I Didn’t Know About You,” and “Azure-Te.”

The Interstring connection resulted in two more highly acclaimed albums: “Odahoda” and Winter Song.” Embrey also recorded during this time with Mike Metheny, PBT Trio, the Blvd Big Band, Angela Hagenbach. Pat Wilson, Margaret Carlson, Ed Pharr, Charlie Gatshet and numerous others.

nate nall

Trumpeter Nate Nall has performed at Kansas City's most prominent jazz venues, including the Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. He was a featured soloist with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and Deborah Brown on a 2018 tour to Germany and Poland. He has been featured on the nationally syndicated "12th st jump" jazz radio program. And a residency participant in "Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead" performing original music at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center. In 2016, Nall won 2nd place in the distinguished National Trumpet Competition Jazz Division. Nate holds a B.M. Jazz Studies from University of Missouri-Kansas City where he studied with Jazz Messenger and saxophonist Bobby Watson.

In 2021, Nall perfomed for JEN (Jazz Education Network) with the Marcus Lewis Big Band/Brass and Boujee as a featured soloist in the ensemble. 

Other highlights include performing with The Temptations, Michael Feinstein, Bobby Watson’s 18th and Vine Big Band with Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi and KU All Star Big Band, The New York Voices and Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, and Paducah Symphony Orchestra w/ trumpeter Allen Vizzutti. Nate performs regularly around Kansas City with

The Project H, Marcus Lewis Big Band (Brass and Boujee), Chris Hazelton, Louis Neal Big Band, the David Basse/Joe Cartwright Septet, Clint Ashlock's New Jazz Order Big Band, Patrick Lentz Band/KC FLO, Musical Theater Heritage,

David George Band, Brass Rewind, Joey Panella Trio and his own group,

the Nate Nall Quintet, performing original compositions and arrangements.

Nate is a BAC Custom Trumpet Performing Artist.