A Musical Life

Lily Dooman is a singer-songwriter based in Wichita. She recently issued a self-titled solo EP and is a member of the newly-formed band Riverbirds.

“I started by going out to open mics and building a set from there. If I wrote a song I’d play it this week; if I wrote a couple more songs I’d play them the next week.

Emily Hill is lead guitarist in the band Stand Up. She is completing her final year at Wilbur Middle School in Wichita. Stand Up is working on its first EP. Here, Hill recalls the band’s first public gig.

“We played formal at our school. That was a big deal for us. That was the first gig that we ever played. We were just used to playing in our garage for my mom. We got to play in front of all of our grade.

William Flynn is assistant professor of jazz guitar at Wichita State University. He is involved in a variety of jazz-based musical ensembles including Driver, Friendly Skeleton, and The Songbook Project.

“One analogy that’s used a lot in jazz improvisation education is the language analogy. It’s kind of overused but it’s overused because it’s such a good analogy to make.

Nikki Sample is a solo singer-songwriter and lead vocalist of the Wichita band Big Red Horse. She lives in Wichita with her husband, Ryan.

Michael J. Engdahl is a guitarist, composer, and teacher based out of Wichita, KS. He plays in the local alt-rock band Coriander, the modern jazz quartet First To Leave, and leads his own trio, ME3. A recent graduate of Wichita State with a B.M. in Jazz Studies, Michael teaches at Senseney Music and has been a part of the local music scene for many years. His most recent recording, Live! At Miller Concert Hall debuts original compositions in the jazz idiom. Michael is looking forward to recording, performing, and touring with all his projects in 2015. 

Daniel Davis is the founder of ICT Fest, This Ain’t Heaven Recording Concern and has performed in a variety of music projects, including Yamoto, Ricky Fitts, and Living Ghost. He lives in Wichita with his wife and daughters. 

David Lord is a guitarist responsible for several releases under the Francis Moss and Wonder Revolution monikers. He is an accomplished educator and business owner who operates Air House Academy and Air House Records in Wichita. Lord has also recorded with brothers Aaron and Sean Fanning as part of the band Solagget

Francis Moss music is my music in relationship to the forest. So, it’s all kind of forest inspired.

Ian Stewart is a visual artist and musician based in Wichita.

“My name is Ian Stewart and I make music under the name Cleme.

It’s all collage based; it’s taking multiple things and turning them into one hopefully good piece.

Essentially there is no difference in my production method in doing a design for someone and this. It’s all layering and sometimes I’ll find that I’ve layered far too much and I’ll have to scrap things.

UJ Pesonen plays a variety of instruments, including drums, violin and guitar. He loves listening to music in the vinyl medium and his band, Wrong Kata Trio. The group has recently issued the album Come Morning.

“I am UJ Pesonen. I play in the Wrong Kata Trio which is based in Lawrence but I live here in Wichita.

Influenced by blues, jazz, and all things American music, Jim Vegas has lived in Boston (where he attended Berklee College of Music), Chicago, Fort Collins, Colorado, Los Angeles, and now Wichita. His wide range of influences and experiences can be heard via his songs, including those found on his latest release, The Bullfight in Our Heads.

On his song, “The Dream Thief”: