Stan Kessler

Trumpets/flugelhorns

Stan Kessler, trumpets/flugelhorns instructor, is a bandleader, clinician, and educator in the Kansas City area. He also does extensive writing and arranging for small groups. Mr. Kessler also plays drums and hand percussion. He is currently leading The Sons of Brasil (18 yrs.), The Stan Kessler Quartet (16yrs.), Stan Kessler’s TV(3 yrs.), HoraceScope (1 yr.) and The Uncertainty Principle (1 yr.). He maintains adjunct positions at UMKC and Missouri Western State College in jazz trumpet, theory and improvisation and music business classes.

Mr. Kessler graduated from Shawnee Mission South H.S. in 1970 with honors. From 1968 to 1970, he was principal trumpet in the K.C. Youth Symphony. In 1970, Mr. Kessler was awarded first chair all-state trumpet in Kansas. He attended Kansas University and Wichita State University from 1970 to 1972.

For the last 33 years, Mr. Kessler has been a member of every kind of group you could imagine. He has led such bands as Stan Kessler and the Flat Five, Eightball, and Baby Leroy. His expertise includes jazz, R&B, funk and all Latin genres, especially Brasilian and Afro-Cuban.

In 1980, Mr. Kessler was assistant director of the jazz ensemble and combo instructor at UMKC. He was voted best trumpet player and leader of the best jazz band (SOBs) in KC by The Pitch readers’ poll. He has appeared in concert with Clark Terry, Paquito D’Rivera, Ernie Watts, Gary Foster, Karrin Allyson, Steve Cardenas, Kevin Mahogany, Bobby Watson, John Clayton, Kim Park and many others.