The Grand Marquis have that classic, timeless 'straight-from-the-Kansas City-speakeasy' sound while injecting a vibrant relevance into their brand of hot swinging jazz & jumping blues. Versatile and buoyant, distinct and refreshing - a rhythm cocktail served by masterful musical mixologists.

The Grand Marquis' music can bring to mind a variety of settings and places as well: Prohibition-era KC, the streets of New Orleans, 1950's Memphis and even 1930's Paris. But their sound remains grounded in a roots influence that keeps inspiring the Grand Marquis to create, innovate and build off a solid foundation of American music. Theirs is a style that defies the limitations of category, whether jazz, blues or swing, yet finds favor with a wide audience culturally, demographically and intergenerationally.

Bryan Redmond     lead vocals; soprano, alto, tenor & baritone saxophones

Although he's been in Kansas City for several years, Bryan hasn't strayed too far from his west Tennessee roots. He has been playing saxophone since grade school, singing in gospel groups at church and studying locally at UMKC before emerging on the Kansas City music scene in the mid-1990's. His distinct solid, clarion baritone voice is equally at ease shouting the blues or crooning a mellow ballad. He captures the essence and the soul of roots music while melodically spinning tales. Wielding a myriad of saxes, he can unleash a soulful, dynamic approach and rough, dark tone that hearkens back to the days of roadhouses and juke joints or paint from a softer shaded palette with ease.

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Chad Boydston     trumpet, backing vocals

Chad made his way here from Iowa where they have been growing trumpet players since Bix Biederbecke. A University of Northern Iowa alum, he has rubbed elbows with some greats, including Wynton Marsalis. His father plays trumpet as well, and passed on his talent to Chad. Influenced by Louis Armstrong, Bix and Clifford Brown, Chad’s powerful sound blended with his virtuosic technique is a force to be reckoned with.

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Ryan Wurtz     guitar

A Topeka, Kansas native, Ryan made his way to Kansas City, graduating from the Conservatory of Music at UMKC under the direction of Bobby Watson. He studied jazz under RodFleeman, Danny Embrey, and Hal Melia while rocking out in local bands including Blackout Gorgeous and Archetype. His captivating, melodic phrasing and rootsy versatility are the perfect attributes to masterfully weave their way into the fabric of the Grand Marquis sound.

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Ben Ruth  upright bass, sousaphone, backing vocals

A Kansas City native, Ben has played bass in several groups, including the orchestra at UMKC. That technical background melded with a penchant for rock & roll. He has honed the slapping rhythmic style into a frenetic art form, lays down a dexterous bass groove and is a solid improvisor. While in the band he picked up the sousaphone and has quickly become adept at adding his driving energy to this early jazz instrument. Ben's singing makes him a "triple threat," adding just the right amount of depth to the vocals and solidifying the group's distinct sound.

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Lisa McKenzie     drums, washboard

Lisa has been playing drums since her teens, drawing on a background of diverse musical styles, and has amassed a wealth of experience playing all over the country in the past several years in various groups before founding the Grand Marquis. She has studied percussion not only locally but in Ghana, and that African influence is evident in her trademark sound.  A multi-faceted percussionist, Lisa has included washboard and marimba in her repertoire.  She is an integral asset, playing driving, energetic rhythm always in the pocket. Definitely the "lady who swings the band!"