ABOUT BLUE

Blue Noyes is a drummer, educator, and composer based out of Kansas City. She began playing drum-set at age 2 after her parents discovered her interest in music. Beginning lessons at age 4, Blue has had a long time to develop her own style and technical abilities behind the drum set. She later began playing orchestral percussion in the 5th grade, where she developed many of her technical foundations. 

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At around age 15, Blue started playing small gigs around KC at bars, clubs, coffee shops, and private venues. Within a few years, she was playing with some of the most influential musicians and bands in and around Kansas City such as Marcus Lewis, Matt Otto, Chris Hazelton, Eddie Moore, and various established groups at KC's Green Lady Lounge and Black Dolphin jazz clubs. She has also performed with renowned artists such as Emmy Award winner Darcus Gates, Grammy Award winner Remy Le Bouef, and David Pastor. She currently performs multiple times weekly with her quintet (Union), the RSS Trio, and with various other local musicians. Her current projects are Union and Blic Neaver (modern duo with trumpeter Nic Weaver).

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During her life, Blue has had the opportunity to study with many great musicians. Her most influential teachers include Brandon Draper, Matt Otto, Dylan Bassett, Sam Platt, Dan Gailey, Loyd Warden, Brian Steever, Johnny Vidacovich, and Carl Allen. She was recently awarded the drum-set chair in the 2026 JEN Sisters In Jazz - a prestigious group of the top young women in jazz from around the world - in which she studied under Ellen Rowe and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington and performed at the 2026 Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

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Blue's musical repertoire spans many genres, from second line to metal, with a specialty in modern jazz and free improvisation musics. She has performed with groups of many different sizes ranging from duos and quintets to 50 person steel pan ensembles. She has been featured on multiple recordings - most notably her debut album "First Steps" (available on BandCamp), and will be releasing her second full band album in summer 2026 - Union LIVE. She was also featured with the KC Area Youth Jazz Fellows for two seasons (on the albums 2022 Fellows and 2023 Fellows).

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Blue is currently attending the University of Kansas and majoring in jazz studies where she works under the direction of Brandon Draper, Dan Gailey, and Matt Otto.