Stanton Kessler has been a mainstay on the Kansas City jazz scenefor 50 years as a trumpet player, composer and arranger. He hasmaintained a steady stream of groups as leader and is a highly sought aftersideman. His current groups include The Sons of Brasil, Horacescope/ themusic of Horace Silver, Passport and The Stanton Kessler Quartet/trio/duo.He has won several awards over the years, including musician of the year/Plastic Sax.com, Best Jazz Trumpet/ The Pitch Magazine and FavoriteJazz Trumpeter/Jazz Ambassador Magazine. Stanton was inducted intoThe Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2021.Stanton is also a highly respected educator. He spent 22 years asadjunct jazz faculty at The University Of Missouri at Kansas City and hastaught jazz theory and improv privately for all instruments for 25 years.Some of his former students include Hermon Mehari, Clint Ashlock, NateNall and Nic Weaver.
He is currently traveling the region doing clinics,master classes, jazz festivals and camps. He has been a youth jazz facultymember for 15 years. Stanton received The Duke Ellington Award forexcellence in jazz education in 2023, the first given in Kansas City.During his career Stanton has produced 12 CD projects and hasplayed with such notables as Clark Terry, Paquito D'Rivera, Gary Foster,Karrin Allyson, Steve Cardenas, Kevin Mahogany, Bobby Watson, KimPark, Matt Otto, Adam Larson, The Matt Catingub Big Band, The KansasCity Jazz Orchestra and more.Visit Stanton at stantonskessler.com