Leadership
Marcus Lewis
Marcus holds a BM in jazz performance from Valdosta State University and an MM in trombone performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He leads his own quintet and 18-piece Big Band, and spent eight years touring with Grammy-nominated vocalist Janelle Monáe.
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Marcus released his debut album, Facing East, in 2012, featuring Logan Richardson, Adam Larson, Pablo Masis, Andrea Lewis, Sam Harris, Aidan Carroll, and Tommy Crane. The record appeared in Vogue as part of Janelle Monáe's Summer Playlist.
He has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Klaipėda Jazz Festival, the Sydney Opera House, the 53rd Grammy Awards, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, and twice for President Barack Obama at the White House. He was awarded the 2008 Betty Carter Jazz Residency and Outstanding Soloist at the 2003 Wichita Jazz Festival.
Marcus has performed or recorded with Aretha Franklin, Prince, Bruno Mars, B.o.B, Jidenna, Musiq Soulchild, and Sugarfoot's Ohio Players. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Future Jazz KC.
Teaching Artists
Woodwinds
Matt Otto
MFA, California Institute of the Arts; BA, The New School. Assistant Director of Jazz Studies, KU. Directs Jazz Combo I and teaches improvisation and private saxophone.
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Having lived in Japan, New York, and Los Angeles, Matt has performed with Anthony Wilson, Ben Monder, Charlie Haden, Albert "Tootie" Heath, and many others. He has recorded with the Anthony Wilson Nonet and released several albums as a leader on Origin, Noir, and Jazz Collective Records.
JCCC Director/Trombones
Dr. Ryan Heinlein
Associate Professor and Chair of Music, Theater and Recording Arts at JCCC, where he conducts the jazz and concert bands. Jazz education advisor to the Kansas Music Educators Association.
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Ryan holds trombone performance degrees from Wichita State and the UMKC Conservatory. He performs around the Midwest with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, the Marcus Lewis Big Band, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Four Tops, and his own group, The Project H. He is a Conn-Selmer endorsing artist.
Trumpet
Nate Nall
A regular at the Blue Room and the Kauffman Center, Nate won 2nd place in the 2016 National Trumpet Competition's Jazz Division and completed a residency at Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead.
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Nate has performed with The Temptations, Bobby Watson's 18th & Vine Big Band, the New York Voices, and the Paducah Symphony. Around Kansas City he leads the Nate Nall Quintet and performs with Clint Ashlock's New Jazz Order Big Band, writing and arranging original music.
Northland Director/ Saxophones
Joel Gordon
Recorded and released a full-length album with the Matt Cook Collective, touring the Midwest and leading free educational clinics for public school students along the way.
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Joel leads his own chordless quartet, Happy Habitat, and has performed with the Marcus Lewis Big Band (Brass & Boujee), Moon City Big Band, and Vine Street Rumble. He recently assembled the Northland Big Band and studied under Tim AuBuchon, Matt Otto, and David Liebman.
Vibraphone / Piano
Peter Schlamb
A Kansas City-based vibraphonist who recently released his debut album, "Tinks," and maintains a busy schedule performing locally, nationally, and internationally.
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Peter spent several years in New York, where he attended and graduated from The New School, recording and performing with David Binney, Mike Moreno, and Ben van Gelder. He currently leads the group Electric Tinks and performs with the Ben van Gelder Quintet.