About

Stanton Kessler

Areas of Expertise

  • Jazz, R&B, Funk
  • Brasilian and Afro-Cuban styles
  • Group Psychology and Dynamics
  • Writing and Arranging for Small Groups
  • Music Business
  • Improvisation and Theory
  • CD Production

Clinics • Adjudication • Education

  • “A Matter of Time” Clinic with Todd Strait [Video]
  • Iowa State Jazz Competition
  • 18th & Vine Jazz Festival
  • Adjunct faculty, University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music & Dance
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • UMKC Jazz Festival Camp
  • Central Missouri State Jazz Festival
  • Northwest Missouri State Jazz Festival
  • Washburn University Jazz Festival
  • K-State Jazz Festival
  • Missouri Western State College
  • Johnson County Community College
  • Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Camp

Performance

Leader:

  • Passport
  • Parallax [Video]
  • Crossroads Quartet
  • Force 5
  • Cornerstone
  • The Kessler/Embrey Conspiracy
  • SK Duo w/Kathleen Holeman [Video]
  • The Sons of Brasil [Video]
  • HoraceScope
  • The Uncertainty Principle
  • Stan Kessler’s Television
  • Stan Kessler & the Flat Five
  • Stan Kessler & Pyramid
  • Gentleman’s Agreement
  • Baby Leroy

Performance

With:

  • Matt Otto
  • Hermon Mehari
  • Clark Terry
  • Bob Kindred
  • Gary Foster
  • Clay Jenkins
  • John Clayton
  • Ed Soph
  • Frank Mantooth
  • Karrin Allyson
  • Dave Brandom
  • Angela Hagenbach
  • Kim Park
  • Bobby Watson
  • Todd Strait
  • Bob Bowman
  • Bill Caldwell
  • Phil DeGreg
  • Steve Cardenas
  • Kerry Strayer

Recordings

  • Stanton Kessler, “Two’s Company”
  • Stanton Kessler, “Skywatcher”
  • Kathleen Holeman, “Live at the Corbin Theater”
  • Passport
  • The Sons of Brasil, “While You Were Out”
  • The Sons of Brasil, “The Sons of Brasil”
  • Stan Kessler, “Stan Kessler’s Television”
  • Stan Kessler, “Open”
  • Stan Kessler, “Jazz Meets Chant”
  • The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “Take One”
  • Russ Long, “Time To Go”
  • The Escapegoats, “Don’t Blame Us”
  • Karrin Allyson
  • Max Groove
  • Musa Nova
  • Trilogy Big Band
  • Kansas City Spirit Orchestra
  • Angela Hagenbach
  • BCR
  • Bill Caldwell
  • Alan White
  • Guido Toledo
  • Tom Hall
  • Pat Wilson
  • Kim Liggett
  • Hal Leonard Jazz Combo Paks
    (w/Frank Mantooth)

Festivals

  • Prairie Village Jazz Festival (Prairie Village, Kan.)
  • Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival (St. Joseph, Mo.)
  • Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival (Topeka, Kan.)
  • Bob James Jazz Festival (Marshall Mo.)
  • Capital City Jazz Festival (Jefferson City, Mo.)
  • UMKC Jazz Festival (Kansas City, Mo.)
  • Kansas City Jazz Festival
  • Kansas City Woman’s Jazz Festival
  • Jefferson City Jazz Festival (Jefferson City, Mo.)
  • Kansas City Heritage Jazz Festival
  • Trails West Jazz Festival (St. Joseph, Mo.)
  • Plaza Art Fair (Kansas City, Mo.)
  • Parkville, Missouri Riverfest
  • Jazz In The Woods (Lenexa, Kan.)
  • Hidden Glen Arts Festival (Olathe, Kan.)
  • K-State Fazz Festival (Wichita, Kan.)
  • Washburn University Jazz Festival (Manhattan, Kan.)
  • Jazz on the Green (Omaha, Neb.)
  • Jazz in June (Lincoln, Neb.)
  • Spokane Community College Jazz Festival (Spokane, Wa.)

Honors and Awards

  • Musician of the Year, Plastic Sax Blog
  • Best Horn Player, Pitch Weekly Music Poll
  • Best Trumpeter, JAM Magazine Jazz Poll
  • Best Jazz Band/Leader: Sons of Brasil, New Times Music Poll

Education

  • Kansas University (Music Education)
  • Wichita State University (Music Education)
  • John Elliot (Music Theory)
  • Kansas City Youth Symphony (Principal)