♫MARQUISE KNOX
Born St. Louis, Mo, Marquise hails from a musical family deeply rooted in the Blues. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother Lillie. He also played with his uncle Clifford, who was a major influence in Marquise’s life. For Marquise, Blues is his heritage and way of life. He spent his early teenage years in St. Louis mentoring under the late great Blues legend, N.E.A. (National Endowment of the Arts) Heritage Fellowship recipient and Grammy Award winner Henry James Townsend. Marquise’s talents have earned him performing rights with some of America’s most notable blues performers such as blues legends B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins and David “Honeyboy” Edwards (the latter two also N.E.A. Heritage Fellows). He has also performed at dozens of festivals, and has toured all throughout Europe.
♫The Cash Box Kings
Alligator Recording artists the Cash Box Kings are bona fide blues royalty. Co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter Oscar Wilson and songwriter, harmonica giant and singer Joe Nosek, the band plays masterfully raw and unvarnished houserocking blues. Wilson’s huge, gritty vocals and Nosek’s powerhouse harmonica fuel their razor-sharp original songs. With their top shelf musicianship and trademark good humor, the Cash Box Kings are a one-of-a-kind blues band. In the words of MOJO magazine, the band is “flawless.” Their albums have topped the Billboard Blues and Living Blues Radio Charts and earned them 15 Blues Music Award (BMA) nominations (including Album of the Year, Best Traditional Album and Band of the Year). Mixing tough Chicago and Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, and steamrolling “bluesabilly” (their original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly), they attack every song they play with contemporary authority and old school authenticity. The musicians feed off of each other’s ideas and energy, effortlessly moving from a lowdown purr to a full throttle roar. According to No Depression, “The Cash Box Kings are a royal hive of raucous houserockers. Whether resurrecting the past or living in the moment, they satisfy your craving for hardcore Chicago blues, served up hot and tasty.”
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♫KENDRICK SMITH
Saxophonist, composer, and educator Kendrick Smith was born and raised in East St. Louis. His love and gift for music was realized as a child during his grade school years, where a whirlwind musical career would begin. While in high school, he began studying under the late, great, and renown baritone saxophonist, Mr. Hamiett Bluiett. Bluiett played along such jazz prominence as Charles Mingus and was one of the founding members of the World Saxophone Quartet.
Kendrick attended Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) on scholarship, where he began studying Jazz Performance under soulful pianist and educator Reggie Thomas. Over the years he has taught students of all ages and all levels of skill. In later years, he began adding flute, oboe, and bassoon to his repertoire. He has also been teaching lessons at the Missouri School of the Blind since 2017.
Kendrick has played as a solo act, and with his group, the Kendrick Smith Trio, all over the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.Kendrick has a residency at thriving jazz venue, Thurman’s Bar and Grill. He hits the stage every Friday night with his trio, providing what the owner always refers to as “face melting jazz and improvisation.” His leadership and performance at this venue landed him a very special feature in the NY Times, where writer proclaimed, “Kendrick Smith was playing the alto saxophone like his life depended on it!”
Kendrick has been called one of the emerging pillars of the St. Louis music scene and looks forward to fulfilling that prophecy. In his own words, his vision is to “Strive for excellence, show forth professionalism on and off the bandstand, to touch people, and to keep jazz music alive and moving forward.”
PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT N. GLENDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 765 N. SAPPINGTON ROAD OR AT THE KIRKWOOD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER, 100 N. SAPPINGTON ROAD. THERE WILL BE A BUS SHUTTLING FROM THE LOTS TO JAZZFEST, 2022.
