Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Bassist Ben Leifer .. He was born in Topeka, KS to a musical family amd stated his study of music early in life and began playing the electric bass at age 14 and eventually picked up the upright bass at age 17. That led him to study bass and composition at the UMKC conservatory of music under the tutelage of Bobby Watson. And these days, he is a staple on a thriving KC scene ..