The Blue Devil Funk Band
Directed by Justin Binek, DMA
The KCKCC Blue Devil Funk Band is one of the showcase ensembles from KCKCC’s renowned music program. Directed by Justin Binek, the ensemble has earned both blues/pop/rock and vocal jazz awards in the annual DownBeat Student Music Awards, and individual members of the ensemble have earned numerous SMAs as soloists and audio engineers. The Blue Devil Funk Band has performed at the Jazz Education Network Conference and the Kansas Music Educators In-Service Workshop and performs a repertoire combining jazz, funk, R&B, rock and pop, with many of the group’s arrangements written by students in the ensemble.
Monday Night Big Band
Directed by Brett Jackson
This jazz ensemble is open to community members who want to play in a jazz band. The group rehearses once a week with musicians ranging in ages from high school upperclassmen to older adults. Monday Night Big Band performs at the major KCKCC jazz concerts two to three times each semester. The band received a perfect score at the 2024 Wichita Jazz Festival.
10 a.m. Jazz Combo III
Directed by Brett Jackson
This ensemble is for beginning-level jazz musicians. The combo's focus is on studying improvisation and sight-reading, while performing jazz standard repertoire.
11 a.m. Jazz Combo II
Directed by Brett Jackson
This ensemble is for intermediate-level jazz musicians. The combo's focus is on studying improvisation and sight-reading, while performing jazz standard repertoire.
1 p.m. Advanced Jazz Combo
Directed by Brett Jackson
The Advanced Jazz Combo includes several of the program’s best instrumental jazz musicians. Many of these student musicians also perform professionally in the Kansas City jazz scene. They received an excellent rating at the 2024 Wichita Jazz Festival. The ensemble was also selected for an outstanding ensemble award, plus several student solo awards at the 2025 Elmhurst University Jazz Festival. The combo is performing at the 2026 Kansas Music Education Association In-Service Workshop.
2 p.m. Big Band
Directed by Brett Jackson
This ensemble is designed for advanced-level jazz musicians to receive training on standard repertoire. The band is an all-student jazz ensemble, including both music majors and non-majors.