Wichita Jazz Festival's Upcoming Shows

The Wichita Jazz Festival presents The Stan Kessler Quartet. Wednesday, April 22nd at Walker's Jazz Lounge. 252 N. Mosley, Wichita Kansas, 67202 Doors at 6:30. Concert at 7:30 21+ to attend the concert. $30 plus fees in advance or $30 plus tax at the door (unless Sold Out) Select Show Time in Green Box to Purchase Tickets Featuring Stan Kessler - Trumpet John Kizilarmut - Drums Brant Jester - Piano Jeff Harshbarger - Bass About Stan Kessler Stan is a Trumpet / Flugelhorn Player, Band Leader, Clinician, and Educator in the Kansas City area. He also does extensive writing and arranging for small groups. He is currently leading The Sons of Brasil (32 years), The Stan Kessler Quartet/ Trio/Duo (28 years), Stan Kessler's TV (3 years), HoraceScope (9 years), Passport (7) years), Parallax, (6 years). Stan has 7 recording projects to his credit as leader, and has produced another 6 projects for other artists. For 22 years Stan maintained an adjunct position at The University of Missouri at Kansas City in Jazz trumpet, theory and improvisation, and music business classes. For 17 years Stan has been on faculty of KC Youth Jazz and Metro Jazz Workshop and The Kansas City Jazz Academy. Stan was voted Best Trumpet Player and Leader of the Best Jazz Band (SOBs) in KC by the Pitch Readers’ Poll. He was deemed Musician of The Year by blogger Plastic Sax in 2013 and favorite trumpet player of 2022 by JAM Magazine. In 2023 Stan revived The Ellington Family Jazz Educator Award. He was voted Favorite Trumpet Player by the readers of The Jazz Ambassador Magazine in 2022 and 2023. He has appeared in concert with Clark Terry, Paquito D'Rivera, Gary Foster, Karrin Allyson, Steve Cardenas, Kevin Mahogany, Bobby Watson, Kim Park, Matt Otto and Carl Allen, Adam Larson, The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and many others. Visit him at stantonkessler.com About John Kizilarmut John has performed/recorded with a wide range of artists and groups including Aretha Franklin, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, Matt Wilson, Jimmy Heath, BranfordMarsalis, Adam Larson, Logan Richardson, New York Voices,Ana Gasteyer, Conspirare, Shirley Jones, DJ Starscream, and theDesMoinesSymphony. He is also a frequent guest performer and clinician at percussion and jazz festivals throughout the midwest. Additionally, he was a featured performer at the PASIC convention in 2013. Mr. Kizilarmut is also an active composer and arranger. His works have been featured by many award winning music programs, including the 2013 State Jazz champion Waukee High School Jazz Ensemble, Lake Central High School Band, several DCI Drum Corps, and the University of Texas percussion ensemble. John has served as a percussion teacher on the faculties of Drake University, Grinnell College, University of Missouri Kansas City, Avila University and Northwest Missouri State University. He currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his son, Evan. About Brant Jester Brant is from Ozark, Missouri, holds a bachelors and masters degree in music from Missouri State University and University of Missouri Kansas-City. He remains busy as a jazz pianist, piano instructor, adjudicator and accompanist across the greater Kansas City area. He is the former pianist of the Missouri Jazz Orchestra (MOJO). In addition to playing he serves at 90.1 FM KKFI, Kansas City Community Radio as a jazz DJ for the Jazz In The Afternoon Show. Brant remains as a resident composer and arranger for the Springfield Chamber Chorus. Brant has also performed with artists such as Bobby Watson, Lynn Seaton, Bob Bowman, Julian Coryell, Rick DiMuzio, Dave Scott, Zaid Nasser, and comedian Todd Glass. About Jeff Harshbarger Bassist/vocalist/composer Jeff Harshbarger has collaborated with both visual artists (Nick Cave, David Ford, Molly Murphy) and musicians (Bobby Watson, Curtis Fuller, Francois Rabbath, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Bach Aria Soloists, David Balakrishnan, Jandek, Marcus Lewis, The People’s Liberation Big Band, Darol Anger, Eugene Chadbourne, Jimmy Karl Black) to produce work that challenges convention. Having contributed to over 100 recordings for albums, art installations and film, Harshbarger’s artistry has been featured at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Banff Centre, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Festival International d’Music, the Seaside Institute and the Steans’ Institute at Ravinia. Host of "Jazz in the Afternoon" on 90.1 FM KKFI, Harshbarger is the recipient of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award, The Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Fellowship and the Steans’ Institute Fellowship. 

The Wichita Jazz Festival presents The KC Connection Jazz Band Thursday, April 23rd at Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd., Wichita Kansas, 67203 Doors at 6:30. Concert at 7:30 $40 plus fees in advance or $40 plus tax at the door (unless Sold Out) Select Show Time in Green Box to Purchase Tickets The KC Connection featuring: Jeff Harshbarger - Bass Rod Fleeman - Guitar Matt Otto - Saxophone Brian Steever - Drums Roger Wilder - Piano About Jeff Harshbarger Bassist/vocalist/composer Jeff Harshbarger has collaborated with both visual artists (Nick Cave, David Ford, Molly Murphy) and musicians (Bobby Watson, Curtis Fuller, Francois Rabbath, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Bach Aria Soloists, David Balakrishnan, Jandek, Marcus Lewis, The People’s Liberation Big Band, Darol Anger, Eugene Chadbourne, Jimmy Karl Black) to produce work that challenges convention. Having contributed to over 100 recordings for albums, art installations and film, Harshbarger’s artistry has been featured at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Banff Centre, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Festival International d’Music, the Seaside Institute and the Steans’ Institute at Ravinia. Host of "Jazz in the Afternoon" on 90.1 FM KKFI, Harshbarger is the recipient of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award, The Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Fellowship and the Steans’ Institute Fellowship. About Rod Fleeman Rod Fleeman has been a professional guitarist for over 30 years. Following his studies at the University of Miami, Rod moved to New York City where he toured and recorded extensively with the jazz fusion group Dry Jack. Since returning to Kansas City in 1981, he has toured and recorded with such artists as Marilyn Maye, Karrin Allyson, Jay McShann, Claude Williams and Interstring. Rod currently serves on the staff at Kansas City Kansas Community College. About Matt Otto Matt Otto is currently the Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Kansas University (KU) teaching Jazz Theory and Performance, Jazz Combo, Mindful Musicianship (meditation for musicians) and private lessons. Matt was also an Adjunct Professor at the Rutgers New Brunswick teaching online courses in jazz improvisation, theory and performance. Matt pursued his education in music performance and composition at Indiana University, Berklee School of Music, New School Jazz (BFA) and California Institute of the Arts (MFA) during which time he studied under Lee Konitz, George Garzone, Billy Pierce, Charlie Haden, Don Hawkins, Paul Carman and many others. Having lived in Japan for 6 years, New York City for 7 years and Los Angels for 6 years, he has performed with a variety of artists including Anthony Wilson, Larry Koonse, Rashid Bakr, Ben Monder, Willie Jones III, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Gregory Hutchinson, Jonathan Kreisberg, Joe La Barbera, Leroy Vinegar, Dick Berk, Bob Bowman, Jimmy Smith (drums), Paul Jackson, Ari Honig, Josh Roseman, Ben Street, Mike Moreno, Sara Gazarek, Josh Nelson, Peter Schlamb, Danny Weiss, Roger Wilder, William Parker, Matt Wilson, Ed Neumeister, Steve Cardenas, Bobby Watson, Bob Weir, Deborah Brown, Larry Goldings, Eric Harland, Sheryl Bailey, Darek Oles, Erik McPherson, John Stowell, Danny Embrey, Alan Pasqua, Alan Ferber, Mark Ferber, and many others. While in Los Angeles, Matt co-founded of the Los Angeles Jazz Collective (lajazzcollective.org). The mission of the collective (LAJC) is to help create opportunities for creative jazz composers and performers to showcase original artistic work and to set up an ongoing Jazz outreach program for young jazz musicians in and around Los Angeles. Matt currently performs his original compositions and jazz standards with his Kansas City based quartet as well as traveling several times per year to NYC and LA for performances and recordings. Matt has recorded and performed with the Grammy nominated Anthony Wilson Nonet (The Power of Nine, Groove Note 1035, 2006), The Rashid Bakr Quintet (Earth Native Majic Records 2001), has performed in Los Angeles with the Grammy Nominated Alan Ferber Big Band as well as having recorded on over 50 CD’s as both a leader and a side man. About Brian Steever Brian enjoys a wide variety of musical collaborations in the Kansas City area and beyond. He graduated from the Conservatory at UMKC in 2012 and attended Betty Carter Jazz Ahead in 2013 and 2014. In the meantime, he’s had occasion to play drums with some of the best musicians in world including Bob Bowman, Hermon Mehari, Danny Embrey, Deborah Brown, Jeff Harshbarger, Steve Cardenas and Matt Otto among many others. Keep in touch with Brian on instagram @briansteever About Roger Wilder Pianist Roger Wilder was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y. and received a Bachelor of Music from University of Miami in 1986. In 2000, the Wilder family moved to the Kansas City area, where Wilder performs with his own ensembles and as a sideman with various jazz artists and occasionally the Kansas City Symphony. He released his own cd “Stretch” in 2013 and has appeared on many cd’s by artists including Angela Hagenbach, Duffy Jackson, Mike Metheny, the Westport Art Ensemble, Dan Thomas, Bob Bowman, Adam Larson, the Sons of Brasil, and Stan Kessler. The Roger Wilder trio appears every Friday at the Majestic Restaurant. Mr. Wilder has served as adjunct jazz professor at the UMKC Conservatory for 15 years, where he has taught Jazz Piano, Jazz Theory, Jazz Ear Training, and Jazz Small Group. Since 2005 he has hosted his own Jazz Radio Show as "The Jazz Geek" on 90.1 fm KKFI (www.kkfi.org) Fridays from 1 to 3 pm CST. 

The Wichita Jazz Festival presents Nick Finzer and the WSU Jazz Arts 1 Big Band Special opening concert by the Mid KS Jazz Band Friday, April 24th at WSU Miller Concert Hall, 2102 N. Hillside St., Wichita Kansas, 67214 Doors at 6:30. Concert at 7:30 $30 plus fees in advance or $30 plus tax at the door (unless Sold Out) Note: Students admitted Free at the door with Student ID Select Show Time in Green Box to Purchase Tickets Featuring: Nick Finzer - Trombone WSU Jazz Arts 1 Big Band About Nick Finzer Hailed as a “Rising Star” in the world of jazz (DownBeat Critics Poll), Nick Finzer is making waves in the music industry with his dynamic original compositions and trombone artistry. Finzer has toured the globe as a bandleader as well as sharing the stage with some of the most respected names in jazz. As both a headlining trombonist and an entrepreneur, Finzer is on a mission to spread the joy and power of jazz. In the past ten years, Finzer has released seven critically acclaimed albums, garnering features in the industry’s top publications and reaching the #1 position on the JazzWeek Radio charts. His original compositions have received national recognition through the honor of two ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards, and in 2020 he became a recipient of the prestigious New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America. Finzer’s album "Legacy” (2024) celebrated the centennial of trombone legend J.J. Johnson, reaching the top of the JazzWeek Radio Charts for three consecutive weeks. In 2018, Nick Finzer made history as the inaugural Professor of Jazz Trombone at the prestigious jazz program at the University of North Texas. As a leading figure in the world of jazz, Finzer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to both the university and the broader music community through his teaching, creative work, YouTube channel, and advisory roles with artists and institutions focused on long-term creative strategy and sustainability. Nick is an artist for Conn-Selmer Inc. and plays a King 3B+ Trombone.