DaNoyze is an all-instrumental jazz fusion and funk group out of Kansas City, Missouri — four musicians connecting the raw soul of funk with the harmonic depth of jazz, built entirely for the stage. No vocals, no filler: just groove, freedom, and a modern edge.
Led by drummer, composer, and bandleader Kenny Watson Jr., DaNoyze has built a reputation as one of the most distinctive instrumental voices in the Midwest. The group returned for a second year at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival in Lawrence, KS, and was a paid performer at Artsfest in Springfield, MO through the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
Watson is a recurring performer at Kansas City's historic Green Lady Lounge, an active member of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, and serves on the board of the Mutual Musicians Foundation — one of the most storied jazz institutions in the country.
Every member of DaNoyze has been nominated for a JAM Magazine Jazz Artist of the Year award on their respective instrument. Watson is also the recipient of a $3,500 ArtsKC Inspiration Grant and a proud endorsed artist of WFL3 Drums, the hand-crafted American drum company founded by William F. Ludwig III.
DaNoyze is a self-contained, festival-ready act — built to load in, plug in, and deliver a set that moves a crowd, whether it's a day stage at a state fair or an evening slot at a jazz festival.