Pianist Joseph Lafayette Cartwright makes his home in Mission, Kansas and is rec-ognized as a proponent of ‘Kansas City Jazz.’ He is a graduate of the UMKC Con-servatory of Music and currently serves as music director for Unity Village Chapel in Unity Village, Missouri. Joe has performed on and produced numerous record-ings, many on his own label, Lafayette Music, including the 2017 release Out Of This World, featuring vocalist Molly Hammer. Some of his credits include work with jazz luminaries Eddie Harris, Christian McBride, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Karrin Allyson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Kevin Mahogany and Mel Torme. Cartwright has per-formed for audiences in Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia as part of the USIA/Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador Touring Program. In the fall of 2012, the Joe Cartwright Quartet headlined the CCPA Jazz Festival in Asuncion, Paraguay as representatives of Kansas City Jazz.

“I am always flattered when a fellow musician decides to perform and record one of my tunes. My plea-sure and amazement is enhanced when the artist is as imaginative and talented as pianist Joe Cartwright. Cartwright is one of those unsung artists who deserves greater attention”—Dave Brubeck

“He leans over the grand, head cocked, watching the audience, an ear down near the keys, listening to an octave tremolo. It comes crashing down in a block chord, then another, as Cartwright, head bobbing, superimposes one rhythm on another. Pausing, Cartwright’s fingers emerge to to spider a line he lips. The steam builds, and soon the pianist is flinging swing out in handfuls. Cartwright throws his whole soul at the keys.”—Kansas City Business Journal

Representative Concert Venues

Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.Teatro Municipale, Asuncion, ParaguayTata National Theater, Mumbai, IndiaJazz In Marciac, Marciac, FranceJazz At The Bistro, St. Louis, MissouriPeace Center, Bethlehem, West Bank, PalestineBlue Room, Kansas City, MissouriKauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Kansas City, MissouriPolsky Theatre, Carlsen Center, Overland Park, Kansas