This Weekend at the Blue Room: Bob Bowman's Bowdog + Louis Neal Big Band and more
A Grammy-winning bassist who toured with Carmen McRae on Saturday, a veteran KC vocalist on Friday, and a 17-piece big band taking over Monday Night Jam — April 24-27
This Weekend at the Blue Room
Friday, April 24 – Monday, April 27
A bassist who played on a Grammy-winning Thad Jones/Mel Lewis record and toured with Carmen McRae. A veteran Kansas City vocalist whose phrasing carries decades of the city’s jazz tradition. A 17-piece big band that captures the Basie-and-Ellington sound that put 18th & Vine on the map. And don’t forget Indigo Hour on Friday!
The Lineup
Friday, April 24
Encore -- Indigo Hour, 5:30 pm (FREE)
Lester “Duck” Warner -- 8:30 pm & 10 pm
Saturday, April 25
Bob Bowman & Bowdog -- 8:30 pm & 10 pm
Monday, April 27
Louis Neal Big Band -- Monday Night Jam, 7 pm – 10:30 pm (FREE)
Friday Indigo Hour — Encore (5:30 pm)
Kick off your weekend with live music and good vibes at the Blue Room’s signature happy hour. Encore takes the stage to set the tone for the night. Drink specials, free admission, and the warm energy that makes the Blue Room one of Kansas City’s most beloved live music spots.
Get Indigo Hour Tickets (FREE)
Friday Headliner — Lester “Duck” Warner (8:30 pm & 10 pm)
Lester “Duck” Warner is a veteran Kansas City vocalist whose rich, soulful voice and decades of live performance have made him a respected presence on the city’s jazz scene. A regular at the Blue Room’s Jazz @ Noon series and a familiar face at 18th & Vine, Duck brings the warmth, phrasing, and musical wisdom that only come from a lifetime dedicated to the craft. His performances connect audiences to the deep vocal tradition that has always been central to Kansas City jazz. Two sets.
Saturday — Bob Bowman & Bowdog (8:30 pm & 10 pm)
Bob Bowman is a bassist whose career reads like a chapter from the American jazz songbook. A Kansas native, he picked up the bass at 12, earned a scholarship to the Stan Kenton Jazz Clinic as a high school freshman, and went on to study at North Texas State. In 1976 he joined the legendary Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, touring and recording several albums — including the Grammy Award-winning Live in Munich. He followed that by joining the Toshiko Akiyoshi–Lew Tabakin Big Band in Los Angeles and has toured and recorded with Carmen McRae, Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank, and Karrin Allyson.
Since moving to Kansas City in 1988, Bob has been a pillar of the city’s jazz community, with faculty appointments at the University of Missouri and Ottawa University. With Bowdog, he brings jazz, funk, and groove together with the kind of musical depth that only comes from a lifetime of playing at the highest level. Two sets.
Monday Night Jam — Louis Neal Big Band (7 pm – 10:30 pm)
A 17-piece big band in an intimate jazz club. The Louis Neal Big Band is Kansas City big band jazz done right — founded in the mid-1990s by bandleader, composer, and arranger Louis Neal, this hard-swinging ensemble captures the Basie-and-Ellington sound that put 18th & Vine on the map.
Five saxes. Four trumpets. Four trombones. A rhythm section. The band features some of Kansas City’s finest jazz musicians, playing traditional big band repertoire alongside Louis’s own compositions and arrangements. A 45-minute featured set followed by an open jam session. Bring your instrument or come feel the full power of a 17-piece ensemble up close. FREE admission.
Visit the Blue Room
The Blue Room is located at 1600 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108, inside the American Jazz Museum at the historic 18th & Vine district.
See the full schedule and get tickets at americanjazzmuseum.org/blue-room.