"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 the band as a very special guest 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 Project 2K9 as well as the forthcoming album from 2KX.

Don Schiff has worked with some of the best - including Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, Sammy Davis, Arjen Lucassen among many others. Don is also a member of "Rocket Scientists." He is internationally known for his expertise with the NS/Chapman stick.

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.

Adding the gleaming touch to the band as a special guest 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.

Several other guest artists  appear on the 2KX album, including Mitch Perry (Edgar Winter Group, MSG, Cher and more), Michael Sadler (Saga), Ryo Okumoto (Spock's Beard and GPS) and Maxi Nil (Visions of Atlantis).



  Lisa LaRue
photo by Sean Buur

She began playing keyboards as a small child, her grandmother noticing she was playing "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" the Nancy Sinatra hit, on her toy Magnus Chord organ. Later sought out by shopping malls and department malls as a young girl, she started writing her own songs and designing her own 'album covers.' This led and inspired her for her future careers, which also include graphic design.

Not only a fan of progressive music such as Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, Genesis, and others, the hometown boys Kansas played a big part in her influential years, as well.

Before setting out for a record contract, she collaborated with Gilli Smyth of "Gong" on a self-released 'tape' titled "Dreamscapes." "Dreamscapes" was released by the U.S.-arm of Voiceprint, and soon after, she began label shopping for a longer-lasting deal.

A composer and keyboardist, LaRue became the first female artist signed to the Sound of America Records label (SOAR) Natural Visions sublabel. Her debut release was titled "Beloved Tribal Women," produced by Will Alexander (keyboard tech to Keith Emerson, Herbie Hancock, and many other great keyboard players). The CD also received accolades for being a first in combining art with music. The CD booklet featured 14 paintings by the most awarded female Native American artist in the world, Joan Hill. The idea was, "A picture paints a thousand words," so naturally, the music was instrumental, letting the art inspire the listener. Since, she has released "Children's Songs in the Cherokee Language," "That Ol' Sofkee Spoon," "Ama," "Transformation 2012,"  "World Class" released as Lisa LaRue Project 2K9, and most recently, "Fast and Blue" from her permanent band, Lisa LaRue 2KX.

Lisa LaRue resides in Los Angeles, CA with her significant other, John Baker and their blended family of beautiful cats.  She is the 2008 Oklahoma Music Awards' "Native American Artist of the Year," and a 2008 nominee for the Hollywood Music Awards' "Instrumental" category, while the band, Lisa LaRue 2KX is a nominee for "Instrumental Artists of the Year" at the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music Awards.




  Steve Adams


Steve Adams knew he wanted to play guitar at the tender age of seven after hearing a visiting Classical guitarist perform at his school. His first guitar was an electric guitar literally purchased at a garage sale. After passing through the learning/growing pains of being in teen bands playing the likes of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, Steve decided that he wanted to learn the art of finger style guitar.

Realizing his passion, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Classical guitar performance from Lewis & Clark College. This launched his career in teaching and performing throughout the Pacific Northwest.

After years of studying Classical and Jazz, Steve began to yearn for those days of Rock, revisiting the work of artists such as YES, ELP, and Genesis. Soon he began writing his own material under the artist name ARZ. Three albums have been released with the fourth enlisting drummer Merrill Hale. Their latest album, Turn of the Tide, will soon be released. Steve has also appeared on Tina S. Marie’s album Messages and assisted with its recording and production.

Steve appears on Lisa LaRue’s Project 2K9 adding electric and acoustic textures.



   Don Schiff

Don Schiff has worked with some of the best - including Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, Sammy Davis, Arjen Lucassen among many others. Don is also a member of "Rocket Scientists." He is internationally known for his expertise with the NS/Chapman stick.



  Merrill Hale

A native Portlander, Merrill Hale has played drums for over 25 years. For the past 3 years Merrill has been writing, recording and producing music in the prog rock band ARZ. A perfect fit for Merrill's writing and playing style, ARZ affords him the luxury of pushing his musical limits without compromise. Before meeting the creator of ARZ Steve Adams in a Yes tribute band called All Good People, Merrill had played for numerous bands in many styles over his career. Anchoring his technique with formal training and education, he now teaches drums for a living.  Merril appears on the Lisa LaRue Project 2K9 album, "World Class," as well as the forthcoming album from 2KX, "Fast and Blue."

Dave Schiff

Dave Schiff is a virtuoso jazz tenor sax player who delivers funk, straight ahead, smooth jazz and big band with boundless energy, invention, and passion that leaves listeners in awe. Dave’s versatility and deep mastery of many instruments, including the alto flute, allow him to create infinite moods perfect for any genre.
Dave’s expertise on all woodwinds has given him the opportunity to back great acts all over the country, including performers such as Barry Manilow, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Natalie Cole, and many more.  Dave is a 20 year veteran of the Navy Band Jazz Ensemble “The Commodores”. Throughout his Career he has had the opportunity to study under jazz greats such as Pepper Adams, Don Menza, Boysie Lowrey (composition), and Sir Roland Hannah.

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Special Guests

JOHN PAYNE    MICHAEL SADLER    RYO OKUMOTO  MITCH PERRY   MAXI NIL
MICHAEL ALVAREZ

   John Payne


Vocalist/bassist John Payne 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. He appears on the Lisa LaRue album "Transformation 2012" as well as Lisa LaRue Project 2K9, "World Class."

(photo by merriewells, used with permission)


Michael Sadler

Michael Sadler is internationally known as the lead singer and frontman for "Saga."  He has collaborated on various projects as well, including the recent "Roswell Six" endeavor.


Ryo Okumoto

Having recorded and worked with the likes of Kitaro, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin and numerous others, Ryo is best known as the keyboardist for "Spock's Beard."  He is also a member of GPS as well as K2.


Mitch Perry

Over the last 25 years, Mitch Perry has worked alongside some of the most renowned and popular musicians in the world.  Having worked with Michael Schenker, Cher, Glenn Hughes, Billy Sheehan, Asia Featuring John Payne, he is currently working with his own band.  Mitch was awarded 'Best Rock Guitarist' at the 2000 LA Music Awards, as well as 'Instrumental Album of the Year' 2007 and various other awards.

Maxi Nil

Maxi Nil (former singer-composer of Elysion 2003-2008) joined the band On Thorns I Lay with whom she recorded one album which was recently released.  Some of the most important moments for Maxi were supporting Amorphis in 2004. The Gathering in 2007, Diary of Dreams in 2008, sharing the stage with Star Industry in the song Last Crusades and singing twice on stage with Moonspell in Athens.  In February 2009, and while working on her solo album, she supported Dutch band Agua De Annique.  In June 2009, she joined Visions of Atlantis, an Austrian band.

  Michael Alvarez

Cellist Mike Alvarez started out taking piano lessons but his curiosity led him elsewhere.  While checking out stringed instruments, he discovered his true musical love:  the cello!  Although it towered over him at the time, it felt right.  As time passed, the urge to rock  made him favor keyboards, guitar and bass, but it was his cello playing that caused people to call.  He has recorded and performed with such notables as Erik Norlander and Lana Lane, Don Schiff, Roswell Six, Nima Rezai, Bridget Brigitte, Michele Shipp, Deal By Dusk, Scot Taber and Rustik Ballyd.  He once even played at a reception for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  His current band is Bass Clef Experiment, a duo with Greg Gohde.

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Lisa LaRue / Lisa LaRue 2KX