Bill McKemy at the Blue Room

Musicians, by trade, are lifelong students. It’s a simple fact that respected Kansas City bassist, bandleader, and composer Bill McKemy embraces with every fiber of his being. And as he carefully explains, you always have to be ready for that next lesson — no matter the source or the circumstances. For McKemy, that journey has brought him in contact with an impressive roster of musical mentors, including such renowned players as guitarist John Abercrombie, percussionist/conguero Pablo Batista, saxophonist Ted Nash, trombonist Bill Watrous, and 3-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker.