The Jim Lower Trio
Overview
Hello, if you are looking for a jazz group for your wedding, cocktail hour, birthday party, corporate event or anything else jazz related I would love to talk to you. After years of events I know what you want from a band, simplicity. My goal is always to play great music and set the mood for your event, but more than anything I want to make things as easy as possible for you. All you should have to do is tell me what size of band you want, point where you want music and let me take over. I typically will provide a PA which you are welcome to use throughout the night and will accommodate any request. I can book trio up to a 16-piece jazz orchestra and anything in between. Thank you!
Reviews
19 reviews
Johnna S.
December 9, 2025Five stars!
We were absolutely thrilled to have this group perform at our event this year! They were professional and a pleasure to work with. They arrived on time and fully prepared and brought an incredible level of musicianship to the performance. Every player was exceptionally talented, and their energy added so much to the atmosphere of our Christmas party. Our guests had nothing but positive things to say. We would hire them again in a heartbeat and highly recommend them to anyone!
Hired as: Jazz Band
Maddie K.
January 23, 2023Just as described
Jim's trio was perfect for our corporate event. Jim was incredibly responsive and easy-going to accommodate the structure of our event. The group was ready to go in time, and were a joy to listen to. We would absolutely recommend them for your event!
Hired as: Jazz Band
Kimberly B.
November 28, 2022Wonderful live jazz for a Wedding
Thank you so much for creating the perfect ambiance for our wedding! They played beautifully during the ceremony and for our reception, and even had a member of the trio who sang! It was such a wonderful surprise and was perfect for our first dance.
Hired as: Jazz Band, Wedding Band
Lexi R.
August 29, 2022Great and talented group to work with!
We hired The Jim Lower Trio for our Corporate Fundraising Event and they set the tone for our evening. From the great communication beforehand to the professionalism on and off stage, I would highly recommend!
Hired as: New Orleans Style Entertainment
George H.
August 2, 2022Excellent job by the Jim Lower Trio!
They were professional, on time, and played quality music!
Hired as: Jazz Band
Booking information
Price range: $750-$6,000
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 600 minutes
What to expect
With me you get more then the typical musician experience. I have years of running small businesses with my wife and have the mind set that service comes before anything, I aim to go above and beyond expectations. I am very flexible and can handle nearly any request ranging from piano trio all the way up to a full scale big band and anything in between. I try to make everything as easy as possible for you.
Call or text is most direct but I do check my email every few hours and will stay in constant communication leading up to your event.
About
Traditional, hard swinging, and laid back are all words that could describe Jim Lower’s playing Style. A Missouri Native, Lower has spent a majority of his life studying and performing in and around Kansas City. At the age of 12 Lower received his first drum set and quickly discovered his desire to become a jazz drummer. While many drummers his age were exploring rock, pop, or rap, Lower was busy studying Jeff Hamilton’s style of playing. Early on he knew that Hamilton’s infectious style and mastery of the brushes was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Eventually drummers like Mel Lewis, Elvin Jones, “Philly” Joe Jones, Buddy Rich, and Shelly Manne began influencing Lower.
Self-taught until college Lower, would attend the University Of Central Missouri earning a BA in Jazz Studies. At UCM Lower spent his time studying music performance and music pedagogy with Dr. Michael Sekelsky and Dr. David Aaberg all while regularly performing throughout Kansas City. After graduation, Lower spent a short about of time at the University of Northern Colorado but midway through his time he decided that UNC was not the right fit for him. Eventually he would return to Kansas City where he began weaving himself into the Kansas City music scene. After taking some time away from school he rediscovered his passion for music and more importantly teaching music and decided to finish his masters at the University of Missouri Kansas City finishing his Masters In Jazz Studies.
As a performer Lower has performed regularly in the Kansas City jazz scene and has been involved in everything including piano trio, big band, and organ trio. Currently Lower is gathering arrangements and looking for a home for one of his longtime dreams, his own big band dedicated to the music of Buddy Rich, Terry Gibbs, Woody Herman, and other groups involved in the late 1950’s west coast jazz scene.
Additional booking notes
For the type of service offered I will generally handle everything on my end, so there is no need for you to even concern yourself, let me make it easy for you.
Past booked events
December 2025
05
Friday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Springfield, MO
March 2024
23
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
Grandview, MO
December 2023
02
Saturday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
January 2023
19
Thursday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Leawood, KS
December 2022
05
Monday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Mission Hills, KS
November 2022
27
Sunday
Wedding Reception
6:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
August 2022
27
Saturday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Topeka, KS
April 2022
23
Saturday
Wedding Reception
4:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Parkville, MO
March 2022
26
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
February 2022
19
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 10:30pm
•
Kansas City, MO
January 2022
29
Saturday
Wedding Reception
3:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
18
Tuesday
Nonprofit Event
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
St Joseph, MO
October 2021
23
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
22
Friday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
May 2021
21
Friday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
January 2020
25
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Olathe, KS
November 2019
30
Saturday
Anniversary Party
6:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Lees Summit, MO
15
Friday
Birthday Party
7:30pm - 12:00am (Sat)
•
Kansas City, MO
08
Friday
Weekly/Recurring Performance
6:30pm - 10:30pm
•
Topeka, KS
June 2019
17
Monday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
April 2019
13
Saturday
Fundraiser
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
November 2018
15
Thursday
Corporate Event
4:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Kansas City, MO
August 2018
09
Thursday
Birthday Party
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Olathe, KS
Set list
We are always happy to accommodate any special requests but typically anything sang by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald or performed by The Oscar Peterson Trio, The Ahmad Jamal Trio, The Jeff Hamilton trio or similar artists is on the table. We try to focus only on class Jazz and Big Band era standards.
Additionally, we can perform a night of "jazzy-pop" or even contemporary music.
Influences and inspiration
My influences are groups like the Ray Brown Trio, Jeff Hamilton Trio, Oscar Peterson Trio and a variety of big bands. Everything the Jim Lower Trio performs is straight out of the Great American Songbook and will easily be recognized by nearly anyone in the audience.
Setup requirements
We don't really have any required equipment that we expect you to provide. The one exception is if a piano is available, we would request that it is tuned a few days before our performance.