About the Band:  Hearts of Darkness

Hearts of Darkness is an sixteen-piece afrobeat, hip-hop, funk, soul collective formed in 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri. The sound is a hybrid beginning from the roots of '70s afrobeat and building off of the traditions of Kansas City big-band jazz as well as American funk and rock with hip-hop on top, the band's sound is as huge and lush as the grooves are deep and tight.

In 2011, the band has opened for the national tours of Huey Lewis and Snoop Dogg, played with Willie Nelson and Neil Young at Farm Aid and also performed at the inaugural Kanrocksas Music Festival. Music reviewer Timothy Finn of the Kansas City Star said of the band, "Even in a big venue like Starlight, they sounded as polished and prepared as a regular touring band." The 'Hearts were voted "Best Jazz Ensemble" in 2011 via the Pitch Weekly Music Awards, and they continue to pack local venues show after show.

The band plays original songs composed by Alex Smith and Jolan Smith with lyrics by Alex, Jolan, Les Izmore and Brandy Gordon while pulling out an occasional tribute to greats like Fela Kuti. The front of the stage is held down by four vocalists, backed up by a six-piece horn section with rhythms established by bass, rhythm guitar and keyboards. Finally, the groove is locked in with a heavy four-piece percussion section featuring african and american instruments. Music writer Bill Brownlee, a contributing reviewer to The Kansas City Star wrote on his blog "Plastic Sax": "Far from a musty academic exercise, the Hearts of Darkness convey the spirit, if not the sound, of Kansas City's heyday. The Hearts of Darkness deserve recognition from the jazz audience because their visceral big band power is the soundtrack to the same exuberant scenes that undoubtedly accompanied the bands of Benny Moten, Harlan Leonard and and Count Basie."