MAS Presents: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne

MAS Presents is thrilled to welcome internationally acclaimed pianist, vocalist, and songwriter Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne for an intimate evening rooted in the rich traditions of boogie-woogie, blues, jazz, and soul. Born in Spokane and shaped musically by New Orleans, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Wayne grew up surrounded by gospel music through his father’s church before immersing himself in jazz, rhythm & blues, swing, and soul. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has become one of the great torchbearers of piano blues, a musician whose performances carry both deep historical roots and an unmistakably personal voice. Wayne’s playing is joyful, fluid, and commanding: rolling left-hand boogie patterns, sharp improvisation, soulful vocals, and the kind of effortless musical confidence that only comes from a lifetime devoted to the craft. As guitarist Duke Robillard described him, Wayne is “a monster piano player, imaginative songwriter and soulful singer who captures the essence of old school blues and boogie, while simultaneously sounding totally fresh and contemporary.” Throughout his career, Wayne has shared stages with legendary artists including Jimmy Reed, Pinetop Perkins, Johnnie Johnson, Ike Turner, Joe Louis Walker, and members of Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Doobie Brothers. His many honors include a Juno Award, multiple Maple Blues Awards, Living Blues Awards, and induction into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame. But beyond the accolades, what makes a Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne performance special is the feeling in the room: music that swings deeply, grooves hard, and reminds listeners how alive and expansive the blues can be when placed in the hands of a true master.   RIYL: Pinetop Perkins, Dr. John, Ray Charles, Otis Spann, Roosevelt Sykes, boogie-woogie piano traditions, classic Chicago & New Orleans blues