Written interview with Bluesman Mike Bourne Band and about new album: Kansas City O’Clock.
Jazz Blues European Union: – Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with Jazz Blues EU. Tell us about your music. When did you start performing?
Mike Bourne: – I first heard blues when I moved to Kansas City after college. There were two radio shows, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. I bought up a beat up a acoustic guitar, and sat down every weekend with the blues shows and taught myself to play. It took a year, and then I went to the jams, and played in my first band in KC.
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
I performed in Chicago with some of the greats, including Sam Lay (Wolf’s Drummer), Otis Rush and Denmark’s Barkin Bill Smith. But Kansas City is home. There rich tradition of Jay Mcshannd and Big Joe Turner, and all the great horn players from this town influenced me a lot, especially when I moved back. Kansas City was always famous for the mashup between blues and jazz, and I took that to heart. Abb Locke, Albert Collins sax player, split his time between KC and Chicago, and he took me under his wing. I learned rhythm parts and the idea of protecting the song from Abb.
What performers have been your inspiration?
My first blues record was BB King’s live and well. Big influence. Through BB I discovered T-bone, another big influence. Sonny Kenner was a great player from KC. Jay Mcshann still inspires me. And I got introduced to Tiny Grimes and some players like that.
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
In the digital age, streaming and access has crushed CD sales. Now the trick is to make money on gigs and new digital stages. I don’t have it figured out for sure. But I am luck to have a great residency gig only a few blocks from 12th street in Vine — the Black Dolphin.
What do you base your success on?
I think writing original songs to the form is a big part. I think that just sounding like myself and not trying to copy is a big part. I think a relentless persistence and hard work is part of it. Relationships and surrounding myself with great talent too. Blind Racoon and Overton records have been great partners to me.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
I have written and arranged a few times with Shamekia Cropland’s manager and songwriter, John Hahn. I really have been inspired by the originality in his lyrics and process. He has been lifelong mentor. I have had Rockin Johnny play on both my last two records. Johnny and I came up about the same time, first meeting at his Monday Jam at Smokedaddys when I was playing with Bill. Our styles are completely different but we have a great vibe together and I really respect what he’s done as a true road dog.
What was your latest musical release?
I just released “Kansas City O’Clock” on Overton, which is Blind Racoon’s label. This is my second collaboration with Blind Raccoon.
Do you have any news to share? Could you share the story behind your latest new CD Mike Bourne Band – Kansas City O’Clock and what inspired its creation?
I was inspired to do this after the success of “Crusin Kansas City” This one was more ambitious with more musicians and instrumentation for the arrangements. News? This week it just hit #2 on theUSA Roots and Blues Charts, right behind Buddy Guy’s record. That was pretty cool to see. And we continue to get support from our residency gig, THE BLACK DOLPHIN, a great jazz club in the arts district only a few blocks from historic 12th Street and Vine.
How does your latest album fit into your creative path? Is this a goal you wanted to achieve?
This has a lot of the “Kansas City Sound” on it. My main piano player, Jim Beisman is a disciple of Jay Mcshann, and that really shapes the songs. There’s a young Sax player in my band, Dougan Smith who really helped define it too. KC has such a great tradition of horn players from Charlie Parker to Lester Young, and Dougan inserts that tradition into the blues forms. It sounds incredibly cool. And being part our residency gig at the BLACK DOLPHIN is really giving us the opportunity to sharpen the music.
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
Sometimes I write about how I’m feeling. Like “I can’t be anybody but myself” from the new record. Sometimes I hear a phrase in real life that spurs me to write a song like “Lose your rings, keep your fingers”. Sometimes it’s just storytelling based on life experience, like “Martini Legs.” Rick Estrin is a big influence, especially on the more humorous takes.
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
To be honest, I don’t think too much about commercial appeal. I try to make the best record or put on the best show and figure the rest will take care of itself. Playing and making music from the heart has an appeal vs. chasing something commercial.
What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
Social media and tech are the new way to promote and they are constantly changing. It is difficult to keep up.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
I remember the night Otis Rush came in when I was playing for Barkin Bill. I couldn’t tell it was him, dark bar heavy stage lights, but he came up and just stared. On set break my bandmates let me know. I offered Otis my guitar to sit in, but he told “no, I want you to play.” We played for three hours, Otis singing with me on guitar. That was a big deal. The other one was doing a theater gig in Manila for the national council of the arts. You just never know where this music will take you.
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
I think it’s making it tougher to make a living. But change is constant, you just do your best to adapt.
Musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music? Shows, Facebook pages, I like to talk to people live. The BLACK DOLPHIN gig is a great place for this because people from around the country and world visit the club. I have met so many great fans and also musicians there.
How can fans find you? Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
You can find my day to day activities on Mike Bourne and KC Boogie Facebook. That will become much more robust this year. For just a deeper dive on the band, https://www.powerpresskits.com/ mikebourneband. You can also drop and email at mikebourneband@gmail.com. We’re also every Thursday at the BLACK DOLPHIN and a lot of Fridays.
I am hoping to keep the momentum going with the new record — and travel for 2026, especially want to get on the festival circuit in Europe. Kansas City will always be home though. We’ll probably do a live recording here in 2026!
By Olivia Peevas
