Stan Kessler Quartet

Wed, Apr 22

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.