Logan Richardson’s playing is beyond lyrical—his alto sax often functioning more as a lead vocalist than a virtuoso solo instrument.

Known for his adventurous, genre-bending jazz, Logan Richardson is an American-born, Paris-based alto saxophonist. He has been a professional musician since he was 16, and came to wider recognition after moving to New York and issuing his 2007 debut, the post-bop-influenced Cerebral Flow. He has performed with a variety of jazz musicians including Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, Butch Morris, Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, the World Saxophone Quartet, Arthur Blythe, and Jason Moran. He is also a member of the Next Collective.

While he is well versed in the jazz tradition, he has proven to be an eclectic, forward-thinking artist whose albums like 2015’s Shift (which featured guitarist Pat Metheny) and 2018’s Blues People showcase his love of mixing jazz with searing rock fusion, hip-hop, electronic rhythms, and Americana.

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From his beginnings as one of Chicago’s most thrilling young trumpeters, to his current status as an internationally renowned musician, composer and bandleader, Marquis Hill has worked tirelessly to break down the barriers that divide musical genres. Contemporary and classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house, neo-soul—to Hill, they’re all essential elements of the profound African-American creative heritage he’s a part of. “It all comes from the same tree,” he says. “They simply blossomed from different branches.”

Friday, 8/25 – Logan Richardson & Blues People featuring Marquis Hill

PHOTOS – 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker Artist In Residence, Tia Fuller was invited to sit in by Logan Richardson & Marquis Hill. Photos by Greg Carroll.

Named after the famed 1930s Street Hotel club in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, The Blue Room simultaneously honors the past and showcases the present names in jazz. A multifaceted exhibit highlighting the countless musicians who crafted “Kansas City jazz,” a sound known all over the world, The Blue Room also provides a distinctive platform to present dynamic performances from the best local and national jazz talent in an intimate setting. At the Blue Room, upcoming bands, seasoned veterans of the local jazz scene, national talent and internationally renowned jazz artists share the spotlight.