Grand Marquis Bio & History


Bio

The Grand Marquis have that classic, timeless 'straight-from-the-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.

Since their 1998 inception the Grand Marquis have played a lot. They've logged more than 1400 performances, as far-flung as Seattle to South Beach Miami, but often in the midwest where they call Kansas City home.

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 inter-generationally.

Lisa McKenzie

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 over the past several years in various groups. 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.
Lisa
Ryan Wurtz
Ryan
 Ryan Wurtz, a Topeka, Kansas native, made his way to Kansas City, graduating from the Conservatory of Music at UMKC under the direction of Bobby Watson. He studied jazz under Rod Fleeman, 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 addition and compliment to round out the Grand Marquis sound.
Chad Boydston
Chad made his way here from Iowa where they have been growing trumpet players since Bix. 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 Biederbecke and Clifford Brown, Chad’s powerful sound blended with his virtuosic technique is a force to be reckoned with.
Chad
Ben Ruth
Ben
 A Kansas City native, Ben has played bass in several groups, including the orchestra at UMKC. That technical background he gained melded with a penchant for rock and roll. He has honed the slapping rhythmic style of jump blues and rockabilly to a frenetic art form, adding a raw, driving force to the band’s sound. He not only lays down a dexterous bass groove but can improvise with the best of them. Versatile as well, he’s been known to occasionally double on tuba.
Bryan Redmond
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.  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.  Singing through his solid clarion baritone voice he can shout the blues, croon a mellow ballad or conjure images of Calloway.
Bryan

the Grand Marquis' History
The year 1998 birthed a new sound out of the spirit of Kansas City jazz. The Grand Marquis, then a quartet, consisted of Carl “Slim” Hanson (guitar & lead vocals), Bryan Redmond (saxophones), Andy Dondzila (upright bass), and Lisa McKenzie (drums). 1999 brought the addition of bassist and longtime friend, Ben Ruth, adding the raw, driving force that helped cultivate what the band is today. The year 2000 was celebrated by the release of their debut CD release; “Burlesk.” Trumpeter Chad Boydston came along early in 2002, putting the icing on the cake for the now-quintet’s second CD entitled “Le Chant Du Diable Bleu,” released later that year. The Grand Marquis were further refined in August of 2003. Sammy Nicolier came into the fold as guitarist, while Redmond’s baritone voice replaced the departing Hanson on lead vocals. The new refined style shines through in their eponymous third CD release from 2004. The band’s versatility was strengthened following their nationwide 30-city tour that year, when McKenzie added washboard and marimba to her arsenal, while Ruth picked up the tuba. Today, they keep the spirit alive as one of the hardest working bands in Kansas City continuing the tradition, making their own brand of jumpin’ blues and hot swinging jazz. Ever ubiquitous in the Kansas City music scene, the Grand Marquis are finding themselves in demand around the Midwest as an innovative, versatile and thoroughly entertaining band. They are sure to find favor with anyone looking for good music.