This Weekend at the Blue Room: James Ward, J Love, Robert 'Imtume' Owens & Marcus J
Two nights of soul, R&B, and jazz at 18th & Vine — Feb 20-21
Friday, February 20 & Saturday, February 21
Four acts. Two nights. The Blue Room keeps the music rolling at 18th & Vine -- starting with a special Jazz at Noon.
This Weekend’s Lineup
Friday, February 20
The Ward Family Band -- Jazz at Noon, 12 pm (free)
J Love -- Indigo Hour, 5:30 pm (free)
Robert “Imtume” Owens -- 8:30 pm & 10 pm
Saturday, February 21
Marcus J -- 8:30 pm & 10 pm
Special Jazz at Noon — The Ward Family Band (12 pm, Free)
Kick off your Friday early with a very special Jazz at Noon featuring The Ward Family Band. Bassist James Ward Sr., keyboardist Angela Ward, and drummer Jaylen Ward have been part of the Blue Room since the 18th & Vine district reopened in the late 1990s. James got the call to fill in with the house band in January 1998. Angela found the Blue Room even earlier, sitting down at the club’s piano during the district’s opening festivities. Their son Jaylen first performed with them at age six -- and just returned from performing internationally in China and Chile with Bobby Watson and Charles Williams.
Bring your lunch. The music starts at noon. Admission is free.
Friday Indigo Hour — J Love (5:30 pm)
Start your weekend right with J Love at the Blue Room’s Indigo Hour. Known across Kansas City for her gritty, confident vocals and magnetic energy, J Love (Jaime Chase) has been captivating audiences for years with a sound rooted in the greats -- Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Etta James -- delivered with a style all her own.
Originally from Kennett, Missouri, J Love grew up surrounded by music. Her grandfather was a gospel singer, her cousin an R&B artist, and the church was her first stage. As the frontwoman of the J Love Band, she brings a party every time she takes the stage. Expect sing-alongs, dancing, and the kind of energy that turns a Friday happy hour into a full-blown celebration.
Friday Headliner — Robert “Imtume” Owens (8:30 pm & 10 pm)
The Blue Room welcomes Robert “Imtume” Owens for an evening of sophisticated R&B and jazz. With a career spanning four decades, Owens is one of those rare vocalists who can move effortlessly between genres -- R&B, jazz, gospel, classical -- while making every note feel deeply personal.
His musical journey began at age seven on the streets of South Central LA. By eight, he was performing in the California state choir under the legendary Andre Crouch. He went on to study opera and jazz percussion, formed the fusion band Group Therapy, and spent a decade fronting the Midwest touring band Kokomo before collaborating with contemporary jazz artist Max Groove on a Billboard top-10 single. The credits kept stacking from there -- studio work and stages shared with Gerald Albright, Freddie Jackson, Najee, Grover Washington Jr., and Ashford & Simpson.
Come hear a voice shaped by a lifetime of music -- from gospel choirs to Billboard charts to the intimate stage of the Blue Room.
Saturday Headliner — Marcus J (8:30 pm & 10 pm)
Join us Saturday for a night with Marcus J (Marcus Williams), a rising voice in Kansas City’s vibrant R&B and soul scene. With albums like “Diary Of The Lover,” “Smooth Talking,” and “Secrets,” Marcus J has built a reputation for silky vocals and songs that move between slow-burn romance and feel-good grooves.
His sound draws from the deep well of classic R&B while keeping things fresh and contemporary. Saturday night at the Blue Room is always a vibe, and Marcus J is the perfect artist to set the tone. Pull up a seat, order a drink, and let the music take over.
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.