About Me
In one way or another, I've been involved with music for over half a century, going back to when I was a child performer on the Red River Jamboree (hillbilly-music.com). Now in my 27th year as a jazz pianist at Sardines in Fort Worth, Texas, I'm also an heir to the country music legacy of my parents, J.C. and Floy Case (Floy Case Collection @ UNT). My professional playing career was begun by my older brother Jerry Case, now a jazz guitarist working in Los Angeles. My western swing associations include Jim Sarver, Joe Andrews, Maurice Anderson, Tom Morrell, Tommy Camfield, Chuck Caldwell, Merle David, Roy Lee Brown, Randy Elmore, Louise Rowe,
Leon Chambers, Rich O'Brien, Bud Carter, Herb Steiner , Mac MacRae, Carl Cooper, Billy Luttrell, Tommy Allsup, Buddy Wallis ,Walter Lyons, Leon Rausch, Benny Garcia, Tommy Perkins, Bob Boatright, Don Edwards, Chris O'Connell, Herb Remington, Billy Briggs, Craig Chambers, Dave Alexander and George Uptmor. Some highlights in my jazz career include playing a reception for Ornette Coleman at the opening of the Caravan of Dreams nightclub (with James Clay, Clint Strong, etc.); concerts during the past three decades with Billy Hart, Dewey Redman, James Clay, Marchel Ivery, Duane Durrett, Mack Goldsbury, David "Fathead" Newman, Carla Norris, Joey Carter, Roger Boykins, Clint Strong, Sandra Kaye; Also the 25th Anniversary jazz party at Sardines with Mario Cruz, Drew Phelps, Kyp Green, Jeremy Hull, Daniel Tcheco, Pat Brown, Keith Wingate, Joey Carter, Jon Pointer, Chris White, among the many talented friends who made that night in September 2008 very special and memorable. A JAZZ MILESTONE !!Varied musical pursuits of mine throughout my long career (jazz, avant garde, musique concrete, traditional country, modern western swing) are well represented on CDs.My wife Kitty and I became political activists in 2003 after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In 2005, I assumed a Muslim name, Jhon Kahsen, to represent my compassion for the countless civilian victims of U.S. atrocities. My CD release of 2005, Love's Bitter Rage, "a peace and justice suite", is perhaps my best work. Recent CD releases: Texas Sunset Suite; Strays...And Other Songs,
both issued in 2008.
It's been my great honor to be inducted into the Cowtown Society of Western Music Hall of Fame (2000), the Fort Worth Music Hall of Fame by Fort Worth Weekly (inaugural class of 2004), and the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in San Marcos (2009).
