"All shapes, all hues, all blues..." -- these classic lyrics could describe the variety of sounds emanating from the voice of blues and jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany. But even this description may not fully represent his vocal abilities. He excels at a range of jazz and blues styles, including scat, bebop, and beautiful ballads. As an improviser, he is a rhyme-smith with an amazing rhythmic sense, enunciating complex phrasing with rapid-fire precision.

Performing on stage in the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center, Mahogany demonstrates that the human voice, at least one as capable as his own, can be the ultimate musical instrument. His voice is able to imitate the range and tonal quality of instruments from string bass to trumpet, and from tenor sax to percussion. At one point during the show, host Billy Taylor exclaims, "Some serious bebop there buddy! Yeah, I mean, you didn't say that you studied drums?" The compliment highlights the rhythmic quality of Mahogany's improvisational vocals.

As Mahogany explains to Billy Taylor, he made a final decision to pursue a career as a vocalist while studying music at Baker University in Kansas. Until then, he had always played an instrument since early childhood, including piano, clarinet, tenor sax, and trumpet. But while he always loved to sing, and occasionally performed with a choir, he was never a lead vocalist during his youth. Incredibly, Mahogany says he didn't sing much in high school because his school was so inundated with good singers that he was intimidated.

In college this all changed, in part because Mahogany felt he had reached his peak as a musician, though he still wanted to pursue a career in music. Mahogany says, "I started focusing more on singing and realized that instrumentally, I had reached a plateau that was not necessarily meant for me to overcome." Ultimately, he decided to focus entirely on singing. As Mahogany puts it, "I just couldn't keep up even with the horn. "

At Billy's request, Mahogany paid a vocal tribute to Charlie Parker's alto sax style with the tune "Confirmation". This Parker classic a fitting tribute for Mahogany to make. As a child growing up in Kansas City, Mahogany learned jazz through the sponsorship of the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation, which was created for inner-city youth to be able to study jazz at no cost.

But Mahogany claims he also owes his development to many other influences, and they are as eclectic as his own vocal styles. He cites television singer Mario Lanza, classical legend Placido Domingo, and even country stars Randy Travis and Willie Nelson. He also was a huge fan of R&B vocal groups like the Temptations and Spinners. He even studied opera.

His mother was another important influence on where he is today. "My mom wanted us to be involved in the Arts...because she really believed that the Arts was part of a well-rounded education". Perhaps this influence contributes to the fact that Mahogany is not only well rounded as a vocalist, but is also a songwriter and actor.

Mahogany recently had a role in director Robert Altman's Kansas City (a film titled after Mahogany's home town), which is about that town's hey day as a key center in the development of jazz. He played a character resembling legendary Big Joe Turner, performing for the camera along with other well-known actor/musicians.

During Mahogany's performance at the Kennedy center, everyone was in for big surprise: an unexpected visit from another important influence, jazz vocalist, composer, and conductor, Bobby McFerrin. To the delight of all present, McFerrin and Mahogany knocked off a dynamic improved "scat" on Sonny Rollins' "Oleo".

The applause had barely subsided when Mahogany launched into what Billy Taylor calls "one of the greatest ballads", Billy Strayhorn's Lush Life. Mahogany's ability to quickly change gears further accentuates the variety in his repertoire. They round out the show with "The Coaster", by Gracian Monkur.