Pianist to take center stage at the Orpheum

As an accompanist and musical director, Steve Rue has spent much of his career in the wings. But that changes Saturday, when the pianist and composer takes center stage at the Orpheum as concert headliner.

“That transition is a psychological transition as much as anything,” the Wichitan says.

Rue will perform mostly original music. Think of it, he says, as “Jim Brickman on steroids.” He describes his music as having elements of jazz and contemporary while also being rock-infused. “Pink Floyd was one of my big influences growing up,” Rue says.

The multisensory performance will include video elements, dancers and a string orchestra. Featured are violinist Alexa Blackburn and singer Karla Burns, a renowned Wichitan who earned a 1983 Tony Award nomination for her role as Queenie in “Show Boat.”

“I feel like a rock star because performing with Karla Burns at the Orpheum – I mean, it’s crazy,” Rue says. “I just kind of have to pinch myself that I get to do that.”

The timing is right, Rue says, for him to launch this phase of his career. He started with a couple of small concerts, including performances at Mosley Street Melodrama. Rue is known locally as the accompanist for East High School and the minister of worship for Summit Church. Now that his five daughters are grown – the youngest is now in college – he is ready to seek out and take many of the opportunities he previously turned down.

“I didn’t want to sit in a hotel room while my kids were at a ballgame or at a concert,” he says.

Burns says she encouraged Rue to put on this concert. She will sing new arrangements of three jazz/blues classics on Saturday: “I Got Rhythm,” “Hard Hearted Hannah” and Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child.”

Rue is “very artistic and creative,” says Burns, who teaches private vocal lessons in addition to performing regularly. “He has an incredible ear, and he works extremely hard.”

As for her part, Burns is thrilled to be able to use her instrument – her voice – after having an almost 10-pound goiter removed in 2007 and undergoing three subsequent years of intensive therapy.

“They said I would never sing again,” Burns says. “Every opportunity I get to sing is truly sent from above.”

Rue credits Burns as “adopting” him a couple of years ago and says she has great intuition, noting a positive text message sent from Burns at just the right time as he prepped for the concert. “Good morning,” Burns wrote him. “How R U? I was thinking about U this morning. Keep UR head up … we can’t see God looking down.”

“That is just classic Karla,” Rue says. “She is so humble.”

Rue also has praise for his collaborators, in particular Blackburn, a recent Wichita State graduate.

“They will be stunned by her playing – the beauty of it, the sensitivity,” Rue says. “It’s really amazing.”

Rue says the concert will be improvisational to a degree.

“We have chord structures. We know the safe choice we could play,” he says. “It just becomes a spiritual experience.”

Rue says he feels fortunate to live the life of a professional musician in Wichita.

“I looked up a few years ago and I realized I am living the dream life,” he says. “I go from one thing I love to one thing I love all day long.”

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Pianist to take center stage at the Orpheum."