lisalaruekeyboards

"2KX" is the permanent band formed from the recent international prog endeavor, "Lisa LaRue Project 2K9." The band is headed by keyboardist Lisa LaRue, who has released four solo albums previous to the LLP2K9 "World Class," and is the current Oklahoma Music Awards' Native American Artist of the Year." She has also been nominated for several Native American Music Awards in addition to a Hollywood Music Award. Joining her in the core lineup is John Payne on vocals,who fronted ASIA for 14 years...

"2KX" is the permanent band formed from the recent international prog endeavor, "Lisa LaRue Project 2K9." The band is headed by keyboardist Lisa LaRue, who has released four solo albums previous to the LLP2K9 "World Class," and is the current Oklahoma Music Awards' Native American Artist of the Year." She has also been nominated for several Native American Music Awards in addition to a Hollywood Music Award. Joining her in the core lineup is John Payne on vocals,who fronted ASIA for 14 years replacing John Wetton in 1992. 8 studio albums and 6 live albums followed including extensive world touring with the band. In 2006, John formed "ASIA Featuring John Payne" and is performing shows with his current lineup. Previous to ASIA, John sang with Roger Daltrey, CCCP, ELO Part 2 and more recently GPS plus being chosen as the Parson in Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds stadium tour. This is his third collaboration with LaRue. Steve Adams, of the prog duo "ARZ" adds guitars and bass to the mix. Having studies classical and jazz guitar, Adams has released three albums under the ARZ name, and is currently finishing a fourth. Adams has currently worked with LaRue on LLP2K9, and is cowriter of most of the material on "World Class" as well as the forthcoming album from 2KX. Merrill Hale, the other half of ARZ, joins the lineup on drums. Hale has written several of the tunes he has collaborated with LaRue on as drum pieces before the band has added their respective parts. He also appeared with LLP2K9. David Mark Pearce, of the Oliver Wakeman Band, is also lending his guitar expertise to the band. Besides recording and performing with Wakeman, he will soon be releasing his debut solo album, which also includes LaRue on keyboards. Pearce appeared on LLP2K9, and also added engineering and coproduction on several of the tracks as well as contributing songwriting to the previous album. Adding the gleaming touch to the band is celloist Mike Alvarez who is a sought-after performer onstage and in the studio. Notable collaborations have been with Erik Norlander & Lana Lane, Don Schiff, Bridget Brigitte, Nima & Merge, Michele Shipp, Rustik Ballyd and Deal By Dusk. He is also a member of the occasional ensemble, Men Of Rock. Guest artists include Mitch Perry (Edgar Winter Group, MSG, Cher and more) and Maxi Nil (Visions of Atlantis).