Take It Easy

Asa Barnes, a Kansas City native, has built a dynamic career blending entertainment, real estate, and community service. With a deep love for music, he first found his voice in church and honed his craft through choral, instrumental, and classical vocal training. His talents led him to perform at New York’s Apollo Theater, earn local radio airplay in Kansas City, and advance as a Hollywood finalist on American Idol seasons 4 and 8. In 2018, Asa took a leap of faith, transitioning from music to real estate to help families achieve homeownership. Since then, he has guided over 90 families through the buying and selling process, earning recognition such as the Keller Williams Realty Eagle Award. He is passionate about educating his community on financial literacy and generational wealth through real estate. Beyond real estate, Asa remains active as a vocal coach, actor, and voiceover artist, using his platform to inspire others. A proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he embodies a commitment to service and leadership. Asa’s journey is a testament to faith, hard work, and the belief that success is within reach for those willing to pursue it.

TAYLOR JENNINGS is a Kansas City native and University of Central Missouri alumni. MTH CREDITS: Maureen in RENT, Featured vocalist in Musical Monday and Tuesday: Tony Awards, Musical Monday and Tuesday: We Will Rock You. OTHER CREDITS: Cheryl in Evil Dead the Musical (Egads! Theater), Martha in Spring Awakening (Home Grown Theater Company), Ulla in The Producers (Slightly Off-Broadway Theater). Taylor is also a vocalist and emcee for Patrick Lentz Entertainment (The Patrick Lentz Band and KC FLO). She was also the rock band singer for Sweet Emoceans and featured vocalist for America Rocks onboard The Carnival Ecstasy 2019-2020. @tay.ann.jenn

Desmond Mason – Credits (MTH) Ruby Room Series: For Lovers (2022), Beatnik Cafe (2022) Autumn Leaves (2022), Family Ties (2023), Piece of my Heart (2023), Get Up (2023), Let’s Get it On (2024). MTH Main Stage Productions: Stevie: Signed, Sealed, Delivered (2022), Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show (2023). Credits Outside of MTH: STAR on FOX, Jaigermeister (Take Back The Night Campaign), Featured Casio Keyboardist for Make Music Day 2021, KCJO Riff Generation Residency 2022.

Jeff Freling, originally from Kansas City spent 11 years in Chicago, IL performing with Blue Man Group on electric zither and Chapman stick, and on guitar with Tributosaurus, Mar Caribe and the popular Tom Waits tribute band, Big Time. He also served as a sideman to guitarist/songwriter Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices. Since returning to Kansas City in 2012, Jeff has composed music for film and television including Kansas City’s weekly television show “Cinema KC” and Judith Levy’s short film “NV in KC”, Carbon Trace Productions’ “A Vietnam Peace Story”. and most recently, the full length film “Kick Me”, Tony Ladesich’s short film “Great Plains Repertory”, and the pilot episode of the podcast “The Crypt Of Corvalo”. He has composed music, and served as music director for two theatre productions, “The Oil Boiler” and “Bucket Of Blood”, both produced by Kansas City’s Living Room Theatre. As producer/arranger, he contributed to Daisy Bucket’s 2018 release “Pansy” which won The Pitch’s Best Local Album of 2018, and produced Daisy’s second record “Welcome To Springfield”. He has composed music for corporate clients such as J.B. Nutter & Co., J. Rieger Distillery, and Artist INC. Jeff’s current live music projects include“Victor & Penny”, a guitar and ukulele duo alongside his wife, musician/actor Erin McGrane, and F/M Duo, a guitar duo with Cubanisms’ Michael McClintock. Jeff studied at Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA and the Conservatory at UMKC in Kansas City, MO.

Lauren is thrilled to be back for her 2nd Ruby Room Series performance! Hailing from the Washington D.C. area, Lauren moved to Kansas City in 2015 and quickly fell in love with the local music scene. As the bassist for 2 independent artisits @flaretharebel (her husband) and @lavadreams, she also performs with local theater productions and tribute bands including Found A Job (Talking Heads) and her favorite project; the Jamiroquai Funk Tribute. When it’s time to “unplug” you can find Lauren on the upright bass with the Kansas City Social Symphony, a 70-person nonprofit orchestra.s.