Staff

Marcus holds a BM in jazz performance from Valdosta State University and MM in trombone performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  Marcus currently lives in Kansas City, MO where he leads his own quintet, 18-piece Big Band and continues to tour with Grammy Nominated vocalist, Janelle Monáe. 

Marcus released his debut CD in 2012 entitled “Facing East” which features a world class line-up including Logan Richardson on Alto Sax, Adam Larson on Tenor Sax, Pablo Masis on Trumpet, Andrea Lewis on Vocals, Sam Harris on Piano, Aidan Carroll on Bass, and Tommy Crane on Drums.  The album was featured in Vogue Magazine as being one the top albums on Janelle Monae’s 2012 Summer Playlist.  Marcus Lewis is currently working on music for a new CD to be released in the fall of 2016.  Marcus Lewis is the Artistic Director of Future Jazz, a nonprofit dedicated to Jazz Education.

Marcus has performed at venues that include the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Klaipeda Jazz Festival in 2003, and the Jimmy Carter Summer Concert Series in 2008.  As a sideman, he has also performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, the 2010 New Orleans Jazz Fest, the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert and the 2012 North Sea Jazz Festival, the Sydney Opera House, and for President Barack Obama at the White House in 2011 and 2012.  Television shows include SNL, David Letterman, The Today Show, Jools Holland, Arsenio Hall, and American Idol.  Marcus was awarded the 2008 Betty Carter Jazz Residency and the 2003 Outstanding Soloist award at the Wichita Jazz Festival.

Some notable artists that Marcus has performed and/or recorded with are Aretha Franklin, Prince, Janelle Monáe, Bruno Mars, B.o.B,  Jidenna, Musiqsoulchild, Avery Sunshine, The Barkays, Confunkshun, and Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players. In addition to an active touring and recording schedule, Marcus stays busy writing, arranging, teaching and leading clinics and master-classes worldwide.

M.F.A. California Institute of the Arts; B.A. The New School

Assistant Director in Jazz Studies, directs Jazz Combo I, teaches jazz improvisation and private lessons in jazz saxophone. Saxophonist Matt Otto studied music performance and composition at Indiana University, Berklee School of Music, The New School for Social Research (BFA) and California Institute of the Arts (MFA). Having lived in Japan for five years, New York City for seven years and Los Angeles for six years, he has performed with a variety of artists including Anthony Wilson, Larry Koonse, Rashid Bakr, Ben Monder, Wada Leo Smith, Willie Jones III, Alan Ferber, Mark Ferber, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Gregory Hutchinson, Charlie Haden, Joe La Barbera, Junior Mance, Leroy Vinegar, Jimmy Smith, Ari Hoenig, Ben Street, Mike Moreno, Danny Weiss, Steve Cardenas, Larry Goldings, Eric Harland, Sheryl Bailey, Darek Oles, Erik McPherson, John Stowell and many others. He currently performs his original compositions with his Kansas City-based quartet. Otto has recorded with the Anthony Wilson Nonet, Joeless Shoe, and 3-ish and has several CDs recorded as a leader on Origin, Noir and Jazz Collective Records. He has also appeared on more than 20 CD projects as a side man. Otto is a member of the Jazz Studies faculty in the KU School of Music.

Adam Larson (b. 1990) is an American saxophonist, composer and author. An endorsed artist for P. Mauriat saxophones, The Boston Sax Shop and Key Leaves, Adam began playing saxophone at the age of 11. Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined”, by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen as “a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind”, and by Nate Chinen of The New York Times as “the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success”, Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation. Upon graduating from high school in 2008, Adam moved to New York City to pursue his BM and MM in Jazz Performance on full-scholarship from The Manhattan School of Music, finishing his studies in 2014.

Larson has released eight albums; three for Outside In, one for Ropeadope Records, two under the Inner Circle Music label and two produced independently. Larson’s record “With Love, From Chicago”, received a rare 4.5 Star rating from Downbeat Magazine and was featured in JazzTimes Magazine, among other national media outlets. The second installment in his recent “trio trilogy” project- “With Love, From Kansas City”, was featured in ThePitch (KC), and the final installment of the trilogy, “With Love, From New York” featuring bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Obed Calvaire, received a 4 Star rating from Downbeat.

Larson keeps an active schedule with his own groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S. including The Green Mill, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Estate, The Jazz Showcase, Dazzle, Noce, The Jewell and several others.

Music has allowed Adam to see more of the world than he once thought possible, having toured Poland, India,Taiwan, Holland, Germany, and South Africa, as well much of the United States. Larson’s Trio received a South Arts “Jazz Road Touring Grant” in 2022 and In 2015 Larson’s quartet was selected as one of ten ensembles to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s “American Music Abroad” program and toured Africa for 35 days visiting The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ghana.

Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought after clinician and masterclass presenter and has been a guest at more than 100 Universities across the world. Appearances include visits to University of Cape Town, HKU Conservatory-Utrecht, Temple University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, and University of North Texas among many others. Larson is currently on faculty at KCAI where he teaches classes in Entrepreneurship. Larson has previously taught jazz saxophone, music business and pedagogy at UMKC Conservatory and jazz saxophone and jazz ensembles at KU. Larson has a diverse private lesson studio of online students from the U.S. and abroad.

Adam has authored 12 jazz etude books that have been sold in over 45 countries and States. In 2018, in partnership with BestSaxophoneWebsiteEver, he created and released a successful online masterclass dedicated exclusively to developing great technique, called “Lightning-Fast and Crystal- Clean”. In 2023, Larson partnered with “BetterSax” to release a one-of-a-kind course dedicated to rhythmic diversity, called “The Rhythmic Pyramid”. He maintains an impressive portfolio of commissioned ensemble writing for school jazz ensembles, having written more than thirty original works to date, as well as over 200 original compositions for his own groups/projects. Adam was commissioned by the Illinois Music Educators Association to compose the All-State composition for the 2020 convention, where he directed the Honors Jazz Band. Larson has also directed the South Dakota All-State Jazz Combo.

With a vested interest in giving back, Larson has worked in various capacities with organizations that showcase exceptional young talent in the United States. Adam has served as a mentor for the Grammy Foundation, and as an adjudicator for the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and YoungArts organization. Serving in the role of creative director of the YoungArts New York regional show, Larson has presented multiple genre-bending, interdisciplinary performances held at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. Larson currently resides in Kansas City.

Trumpeter Nate Nall has performed at Kansas City’s most prominent jazz venues, including the Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. He has been a featured soloist on the nationally syndicated “12th st jump” jazz radio program. and a residency participant in “Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead” performing original music at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. In 2016, Nall won 2nd place in the distinguished National Trumpet Competition’s Jazz Division.

Other highlights include performing with The Temptations, Michael Feinstein, Bobby Watson’s 18th and Vine Big Band with Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi and KU All Star Big Band, The New York Voices and Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, and Paducah Symphony Orchestra w/ trumpeter Allen Vizzutti. Nate performs regularly around Kansas City with Chris Hazelton Quartet, Clint Ashlock’s New Jazz Order Big Band, the David Basse/Joe Cartwright Septet, and his own group, the Nate Nall Quintet, performing his original compositions and arrangements. Nate is a talented composer and arranger and student of saxophonist Bobby Watson.

Ben was born in Topeka, KS to a musical family. He began his study of music early in life and began playing the electric bass at age 14. He studied rigorously throughout high school and eventually picked up the upright bass at age 17. Ben studied the bass and composition at the UMKC conservatory of music under the tutelage of Bobby Watson. He has worked locally and across the world as part of the group Diverse which was formed at UMKC with peers Hermon Mehari and Ryan Lee. Ben has studied intensively with bassist Curtis Lundy and has studied and performed with master drummer Michael Carvin. After spending a year in New York, Ben moved back to Kansas City and refocused his efforts at studying music and devoting himself to the thriving local scene he performs regularly with Diverse and a hardcore Americana project with Megan Birdsall called MBIRD who has a record coming out in late 2015. He is also pursuing a career in medicine and hopes to be able to have a dual career with these two diverse interests.

Peter Schlamb is a vibraphonist based in Kansas City, MO. He recently released his debut album “Tinks” and maintains a busy schedule performing locally, nationally and internationally. Peter spent several years in New York where he attended and graduated from New School University. During his time in New York, Peter recorded and performed with artists including David Binney, Mike Moreno, and Ben van Gelder. Peter currently leads the group Electric Tinks and is a member of the Ben van Gelder Quintet as well as frequently performing with several other ensembles.

​Dynamic vocalist and entertainer Eboni Fondren brings passion and excitement whenever she takes the stage. Her precise readings of jazz standards, which she seasons with a dash of R&B, fill a room with energy and delight. With a smooth and sultry finish, audiences will be enchanted by her lyrical interpretation and ability to draw them in, leaving them wanting more.

Graduating from the Everette DeVan School of Groove in 2012, Eboni has become one of the most highly sought-after and premiere jazz vocalists in Kansas City. In addition to her own musical projects, which include Eboni and the Ivories and a member of the Lost Wax Band,
Eboni collaborates with some of Kansas City’s top musicians and can be heard swinging all over the local jazz scene.
She was selected as the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Favorite Jazz Vocalist by the KC Jazz
Ambassadors, nominated as a Woman to Watch by Her Life Magazine, represents Kansas City Jazz with the VisitKC Bureau, and recently had the honor and fantastic opportunity to represent
the United States at the 2023 G20 Summit in Varanasi, India. Her recent tour of Paris lauded a brand-new recording to be released in June of 2025, and her self-titled debut album was just released to rave reviews.

Few words describe the soaring talent of Ryan J. Lee. He’s young, vibrant, positive and one of the most versatile drummers living in Kansas City Missouri today. From jazz to gospel, drums to piano, drum instructor to drum manufacturer, Ryan has made an impact on the music scene locally, nationally and internationally. Only in his early 20’s, he is continuously performing with numerous well-known jazz and gospel artist today. Ryan attended the University of Missouri Kansas City where he studied jazz performance under the direction of Robert “Bobby” Watson. Ryan is well known for his affiliations with the young and talented jazz group Diverse. In 2008 Diverse won the Gene Harris Jazz Competition and was awarded a record deal with Origin Records. Since then Diverse has traveled world wide sharing their music and gaining much in return from those experiences and opportunities. Ryan is known for his attributes to jazz in Kansas City but plays many other styles as well. Some of his shared stage appearances were with artists such as Sean Jones, Steve Cardenas, Wycliffe Gordon, Greg Gisbert, Lynda Randle, Debra Lee, Logan Richardson, Randy Brecker, Jaleel Shaw, the Kansas City Symphony and many more. In 2011 he was District Champion and competed at regionals in the Guitar Center Drum Off. Ryan is not only a great drummer, but also a composer with a great spirit. He takes pride and joy in helping others understand what it means to be a musician. It’s more than just his playing; it’s his character. Ryan stands firmly on that principle and is devoted to making that message sing through his music.

Brian Steever is a drummer on a mission to inject joy into every musical situation that he finds himself.  The drums have been his passion since he was born. He began his studies with Loyd Warden in Columbia Missouri and is an alumnus of UMKC where he was fortunate enough to study with Doug Auwarter, Brandon Draper, Curtis Lundy, Michael Carvin and Bobby Watson.  Brian enjoys many performance opportunities in the Kansas City area and beyond.  He can be seen around town with Mike Metheny, Matt Otto, Bob Bowman, Jeff Harshbarger, and Hermon Mehari.  Brian has also had opportunity to play with musicians from all over the world including Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison, Javon Jackson, Deborah Brown, Bob Sheppard, Jerry Dodgion, Tony Tixier, Shunzo Ohno, Frank Basile, Roger Rosenberg, and Sam Newsome among others.

John has performed with a wide range of artists and groups including  Aretha Franklin, Doc Severinsen, Matt Wilson, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Logan Richardson, Clark Terry, New York Voices, Ana Gasteyer, Conspirare, Shirley Jones,  DJ Starscream, and the Des Moines Symphony.  He is a frequent guest performer and clinician at percussion and jazz festivals throughout the midwest, including Texas, Iowa, and Nebraska Days of Percussion; Tallcorn, Cherokee, and Iowa City Jazz Festivals. In 2013, John was a featured artist along with with TOCA artist Jamal Mohamed and Marimba One artist Matthew Coley at the PASIC convention. He is also an active composer and arranger, and 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. As an educator, John has served as an adjunct faculty member at Drake University, Grinnell College, and Northwest Missouri State University.  He currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife Nicole and son Evan.