M-P Jazz to perform at Iowa Jazz Championships 2014

MEADER, MAYER, ROBERTS, KUNZ, SLABAUGH, MARNER, VAN ROEKEL

Posted By: Mistina Christner (email)
Date: 7/24/2018 at 08:44:54

Source: Kalona News 3/13/2014

M-P Jazz to perform at Iowa Jazz Championships
by Tim Groff

The Mid-Prairie Jazz Band earned a fourth consecutive berth to the Iowa Jazz Championships with an outstanding performance at the SEIBA Jazz Festival at Iowa City West High on March 8.
"It's the highest honor a Jazz Band in the state of Iowa can attain, it's what all the good jazz bands seek to get to," said Band Director David Kunz. "We're going to compete against 14 other Class 2A bands from across the State and it will be the best Jazz bands from across the State of Iowa."
The band performed three songs, Sister Sadie by Horace Silver with solos by Andy Roberts (Alto Sax), Anna Mayers (Trombone), Emily Meader (Bari Sax), Austin Slabaugh and James Rich (Trumpet), and Haley Marner (Tenor Sax), That Sunday, That Summer by Nat Cole Featuring Emily Meader on her Bari Sax, and At the Oasis by Andy Farber with solos by Austin Slabaugh, Andy Roberts and a bass solo by Jonah Van Roekel.
Director Kunz said his Jazz Band's success over the past four years is remarkable.
"It's like any other team - there's always something that you have to rebuild," said Kunz. "But the core of this band is back from last year and is really, really strong and talented. And we just build on that."
Senior Christian Johnson contributes to his band's strength with outstanding work on the drumset.
"As a senior this is the first year he's actually been our drummer," said Kunz. "He's taken some private lessons and really grown his senior year.