BIO | GALLERY
With early classical piano lessons and a foundation in choral music, Arrika Brazill first took the stage at 18, performing “God Bless the Child” at the Jazzhaus in Lawrence, Kansas—an experience that sparked her lifelong connection to jazz. After moving to Kansas City in 2002, she found her artistic footing at the historic Mutual Musicians Foundation, joining the city’s vibrant late-night jazz scene and performing throughout the 18th & Vine district.
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Alongside her musical path, Arrika built a successful career in project coordination, including work on the Sprint Center in Downtown Kansas City—where she proudly signed the final steel beam during construction, a lasting symbol of her ties to the city. In 2006, she created The Cellar Gallery & Lounge, a unique venue at 19th & Main that fused live jazz with visual art. As curator, booker, and manager, she transformed the space into a creative hub, earning praise from The Jazz Ambassadors Magazine for its relaxed, artistic energy and commitment to local talent.
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Arrika moved from Kansas City to New Orleans in 2015, where she performed extensively before relocating to Colorado’s Front Range in 2019 to launch Silver Senior Entertainment Services, bringing music and arts programming to seniors living with memory loss and dementia. Stepping back from the stage to build the business, she witnessed firsthand how music can spark memory, joy, and connection—deepening her belief in its power to heal.
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She returned to Kansas City in 2022, rejoining its rich jazz community and bringing with her a renewed sense of purpose and creative depth. Since then, she has performed in New Orleans, St. Louis, Detroit, and back in Kansas City—reconnecting with audiences and rediscovering the joy of being on stage.
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As a vocalist, Arrika blends gritty edge with soft phrasing and emotional depth. Influenced by artists from Irving Berlin and Billie Holiday to Mahalia Jackson and James Taylor, her style draws from classic jazz, Motown, folk, and timeless American songwriting. She’s known for her ability to bring lyrics to life—honoring the original form before making a song her own. In addition to singing, she is a songwriter and has composed several original songs, showcasing her unique creative voice.
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Now, with her sights set on returning home to New Orleans in 2026, Arrika enters a new chapter—one that continues to bridge 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.
