ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS
June 2021
Angela Carole brown
Writer / musician / artist Angela Carole Brown is the 2018 recipient of the North Street Book Prize in Literary Fiction for her novel Trading Fours, and the SoulWord Magazine Poetry Prize for her single poem “Cotton Candy.” She is the author of seven books, in the genres of memoir, fiction, and poetry. She writes the blog Bindi Girl Chronicles.
Recently transplanted from Los Angeles to Kansas City, Angela is a veteran of the LA music scene, having spent over three decades there as a vocalist, songwriter, and recording artist, has recorded several albums of music in the genres of jazz and folk, and is the lead singer in Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surreal.
As a visual artist, Angela has spent time in the playground of painting and drawing, glass mosaic, handcrafted dolls, collage, digital media, and graphic design. Her current medium is alcohol ink on yupo, with one of her AI's recently making the cover of Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz & Literature. She is, most recently, the 2021 recipient of DigiFest Temecula's People's Choice Award and Honorary Mention for her videobook The Richest Girl in the World, for which she is author, illustrator, narrator, and video editor.
She is featured in the documentary film The Goddess Project.
brian ruskin
Ruskin has established himself as a force in the Kansas City music scene for the past three decades. Ruskin’s unique style as a singer-songwriter/guitarist distinguishes him from many musicians.
He started playing professionally at the age of 18 in the Midwest playing rock, pop, funk, R&B, country, jazz, experimental, and folk music. The son of Tommy Ruskin and Julie Turner, both pillars in the Kansas City jazz community, raised him on performance income. It is no doubt that being surrounded by music since his birth had something to do with his chosen profession. Like many seasoned improvisers dug in to recordings on is record player and began playing by ear. He was fortunate to have access to many eclectic recordings through his family record collection. Brian has been a fixture throughout the region and spent several years as a significant part of the Austin, TX music scene.
Mark lowrey
“If you’ve picked up a flier for live music or frequented a restaurant around town, chances are you’ve heard of — or been entranced by the sounds of — jazz pianist and composer Mark Lowrey. A staple in the Kansas City jazz music scene, Lowrey has made a name for himself with his versatility, command of the piano and sound that transcends genres.
Though primarily known as a jazz musician, the Kansas City-born, Kansas City-bred artist’s résumé includes various local and national trios and ensembles, including Argentine tango ensemble Tango Lorca, renowned jazz outfit the Lonnie McFadden Quartet, folk/world group the Barclay Martin Ensemble, and Afro-Cuban ensemble the La Fonda Allstars. His live albums include Live at Jardine’s and the Kickstarter-funded love songs to KC, 18th Street Tangos. He’s dabbled in hip-hop with the experimental free jazz and freestyle hip-hop series called “Mark Lowrey vs. Hip Hop,” performed in a Radiohead concert tribute and played piano on “Dyin’ Flyin’” for Tech N9ne’s album Special Effects.” – 435 Magazine