BIO | GALLERY
With early classical piano training and a foundation in choral music, Arrika brings elegance, emotional depth, and lived experience to vintage jazz and timeless standards. She first took the stage at 18, performing “God Bless the Child” at the Jazzhaus in Lawrence, Kansas—an early moment that sparked her lifelong connection to jazz.
In 2006, she founded The Cellar Gallery & Lounge at 19th & Main, a multidisciplinary space blending live jazz and visual art. As curator, booker, and manager, she transformed the venue into a creative hub celebrated by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Magazine for its relaxed atmosphere and commitment to Kansas City talent.
​Stepping back from the stage to build the organization, she witnessed firsthand music’s ability to spark memory, joy, and connection—deepening her belief in its power to heal.
Returning to Kansas City in 2022 and later reestablishing roots in New Orleans, Arrika enters a new chapter—one that bridges the intimacy of sharing music in personal spaces with the power of performance on a larger platform. Her mission remains clear: to share music that moves, matters, and reminds us who we are.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
— Marianne Williamson
Arrika found her artistic footing at the historic Mutual Musicians Foundation in Kansas City in 2002, immersing herself in the city’s late-night jazz scene and performing throughout the 18th & Vine district. She appeared on the front page of the St. Joseph News-Press following her performance at the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival and has contributed vocals to recordings by several of Kansas City’s most prominent musicians.
Arrika relocated from Kansas City to New Orleans in 2014, performing at notable venues including Fritzel’s European Jazz Club, the New Orleans Mint, and many private gallery events. In 2019, she traveled from New Orleans to Colorado’s Front Range to launch Silver Senior Entertainment Services, providing music and arts programming to seniors living with memory loss and dementia.
