Artist Highlight : Jass
Kansas City artist Jass is a vocalist, poet, flutist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer whose music sits at the intersection of soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and spoken word. Rooted in the musical traditions of Kansas City, Jass brings a distinctly personal approach to her work, blending soulful vocals with expressive instrumentation and thoughtful songwriting.
Jass, whose full name is Jasmine “Jass” Couch, began her musical journey singing in church choir and playing in school band and orchestra, where she learned instruments including flute, saxophone, viola, and keyboard. She has been writing, producing, and performing her own music since 2019, developing a sound that has been described as a hazy fusion of R&B and lo-fi pop with soul-inflected vocals.
Her artistry is deeply connected to her hometown. Jass has spoken about growing up surrounded by Kansas City’s musical legacy and incorporating that history into a sound that also draws from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Amy Winehouse. Her music often moves fluidly between singing, poetry, hip-hop, and instrumental passages, with the flute becoming an especially recognizable part of her live performances.
Over the years, Jass has shared stages with artists including Thundercat, Bobby Valentino, Brownstone, Tink, Mereba, and Morris Day & The Time, while performing at festivals and events across the country and internationally. Her work has even been featured on Peacock’s Bel-Air.
Her discography includes At the Close of a Decade (2019), April Showers (2020 and 2025), Send Interludes (2021), and OFFKey (2022). Whether performing with a full band or creating an intimate solo set, Jass continues to build a sound that feels both distinctly her own and deeply connected to the creative spirit of Kansas City.
At Manor Records, we’re proud to support Jass as she continues developing her music, expanding her audience, and representing Kansas City through her unique blend of soul, R&B, jazz, poetry, and flute-driven musicianship.
