Jazz-a-Que

Bell Cultural Events Center

Bell Cultural Events Center
April 12, 2025
6:00 PM

MidAmerica Nazarene
University Jazz Ensemble
Mr. Doug Talley, Director
Dr. Luke D. Johnson, Director
Earlie Braggs, Trombone

MNU Jazz Ensemble

I Want Jesus to
Walk With Me
Spiritual
arr. Chris McDonald

Yair Saucedo,
alto saxophone

MNU Jazz Combo

Little Sunflower
Freddie Hubbard

Maeson Tunley,
Evelyn Adam,
Lacey Buxton,
Sage Adam,
Gracelyn Duncan,
Emanuel Escobar,
Malachi Wasson

Intermission

MNU Jazz Ensemble

One O’Clock Jump
Count Basie
arr. Jeff Hest

Earlie Braggs,
tombone;

Peter Vessey,
tenor saxophone;

Collin Downey,
trombone;

Sage Adam,
tenor saxophone;

Evelyn Adam,
trumpet

It Could Happen to You
Jimmy Van Heusen
arr. Jake Haughey

Lindsey Peterson,
voice;

Earlie Braggs,
trombone;

Peter Vessey,
tenor saxophone

Things Ain’t What
They Used To Be
Mercer Ellington
arr. Duke Ellington

Yair Saucedo,
alto saxophone;

Earlie Braggs,
trombone

MNU Jazz Combo

Killer Joe
Benny Golson

Maeson Tunley,
Evelyn Adam,
Lacey Buxton,
Zoe Harding,
Alex Wood,
Gracelyn Duncan,
Michael Coleman,
Malachi Wasson

St. Thomas
Sonny Rollins

Maseon Tunley,
Brent Crites,
Yair Saucedo,
Sage Adam,
Collin Downey,
Gracelyn Duncan,
Michael Coleman,
Malachi Wasson

Intermission

MNU Jazz Ensemble

Cold Duck Time
Eddie Harris
arr. Mark Taylor

MNU Jazz Combo

One for Daddy-O
Nat Adderley

Yair Saucedo,
Evelyn Adam,
Maeson Tunley,
Christopher Winton,
Gracelyn Duncan,
Emanuel Escobar,
Malachi Wasson

Doxy
Sonny Rollins

Brent Crites,
Maeson Tunley,
Lacey Buxton,
Christopher Winton,
Gracelyn Duncan,
Emanuel Escobar,
Malachi Wasson

MNU Jazz Ensemble

Perdido
Juan Tizol
arr. Frank Mantooth

Yair Saucedo,
alto saxophone

Little Brown Jug
Joseph Winner
arr. Paul Lavender

MNU JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Saxophone

Yair Saucedo - alto

Lacey Buxton - alto

Zoe Harding - alto

Peter Vessey - tenor

Sage Adam - tenor

Kaleigh Guthrie - baritone

Trumpet

Brent Crites

Evelyn Adam

Maeson Tunley

Judah Kuhn

Trombone

Collin Downey

Christopher Winton

Alex Wood

David Waller

Ron McClellan#

Rhythm

Gracelyn Duncan - piano

Emanuel Escobar - bass

Michael Coleman - bass

Malachi Wasson - drums

#MNU Faculty/Staff or Community Member

Meet Our Guest Artist:
Earlie Braggs

Earlie Braggs is a freelance musician currently living in
Kansas City, MO. While living in Kalamazoo, Ml.,
he was a member of the Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra,
the Kalamazoo Big Band, the Otsego Jazz Ensemble,
and the Jazz Septet from Battle Creek, MI.
Earlie also led his own jazz quartet.

He spent many years traveling the U.S. and performing
with various artists and music ensembles including
Cab Calloway, Cat Anderson, Steve Allen and
Kansas City favorites, pianist Jay “Hootie” McShann
and jazz violinist Claude “Fiddler” Williams, to name a few.
From 1997 to 1999 Earlie toured Europe and select U.S. venues
with the New York-based Illinois Jacquet Big Band.
He is also a founding member of the Jazz Heritage Orchestra,
a 17 piece professional jazz orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio,
which has featured internationally celebrated artists
including Clark Terry, Nancy Wilson, and Benny Golson.
Earlie has appeared on his own CD and numerous other recordings.

He is currently a member of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra
and also an early Kansas City jazz history based
ensemble - The Vine Street Rumble. In 2024 the
Earlie Braggs Quartet was the Saturday afternoon
headliner for the two day Johnson County Community College
Winterlude (Kansas) featuring a contrast between the styles of
Kansas City musicians and the New Orleans Sound
of Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra,
the main act of the festival. Earlie has adopted the motto
“Have trombone, will travel” since that is what musicians
sometimes must do to perform music.

Consider supporting
MNU Performing Arts by
joining Friends of the
Performing Arts.

www.mnu.edu/fpa

An opportunity for community
members of all ages to study
applied music lessons
with professional

MNU faculty, community
teaching faculty
and MNU students.

www.mnu.edu/caa

UPCOMING PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS

MNU Student Senior Showcases

April 13, 2025 at 7:30pm Bryson Kendall — in Mabee Performing Arts Hall

April 15, 2025 at 7:30pm Savannah Paxton — in Sunderland Black Box Theatre

April 17, 2025 at 7:30pm Ashley Parker — in Sunderland Black Box Theatre

April 22, 2025 at 7:30pm Kalon Hale — at Cunningham Center in Tollefson

MNU Improv Show

April 24, 2025 at 9:00pm

MNU Student Film Festival

April 24, 2025 at 9:00pm

Cunningham Center Student Lounge

https://www.mnu.edu/events/midamerica-student-film-festival/

MNU Percussion Studio: Percussion Show

April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm

MNU Band, Choirs and Chamber Orchestra Concert:

Let Everything That Has Breath

April 27, 2025 at 3:30pm

MNU Theatre, Film & Choir: SPARK Camp

June 2-6, 2025

https://www.mnu.edu/spark-mnu-arts-camp/

MNU Theatre Summer Shakespeare:
The Merry Wives of Windsor

June 19-21, 2025 at 8:00pm

To reserve your tickets for the concerts or shows,

go to bellcenter.mnu.edu or call the box office at (913)971-3636

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Our Mission: A transformative university that nurtures
Christlike community, pursues academic excellence,
and cultivates a passion to serve.

Our Vision: To impact the world for Jesus Christ through
servant leaders recognized for their excellence,
integrity, and spiritual vitality.

Dr. Jon North

President

EdD; Ethical Leadership, Olivet Nazarene University
MBA; MidAmerica Nazarene University
BA in International Development, MidAmerica Nazarene University

Dr. Jon D. North was elected the sixth president of MidAmerica Nazarene University in 2025 and is the first alumnus of MNU to hold this position.

Before he was elected president, Dr. North served MNU as the senior vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the MNU Foundation. Over the past 15 years, his leadership has elevated the university’s landscape. Under his direction, the MNU Foundation’s assets quadrupled, laying a strong financial foundation for the future.

He also spent 17 years with Heart to Heart International, a global humanitarian aid organization based in the Kansas City metro. As an active member of the Kansas City community, Dr. North serves on various non-profit and community boards.

Dr. North and his wife, Faith, are both MNU graduates, as are their four adult children and two daughters-in-law. The Norths live in Olathe and are active members of Central Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas.

Darrel Anderson

Vice President for Finance

Master of Accountancy, University of Missouri
BA in Business Administration, MidAmerica Nazarene University

Darrel Anderson brings a wealth of strategic finance, budget development and cash flow management to his role as MNU’s Vice President for Finance. Anderson has more than 30 years of public and private experience. He has held the CFO position at a variety of companies, including his position as the CFO for the State of Indiana’s Department of Revenue. Anderson’s interest in finance began at MNU, where he earned his undergraduate degree in business administration.

He and his wife reside in Olathe.

Lisa Hood

Vice President for Strategic Expansion

MLA; Psychology, Baker University, 2015

Lisa Hood has been with MNU since 2015, previously serving as School of Professional and Graduate Studies director of business partnerships and community relations.

As vice president, Hood provides leadership for the SPGS strategic growth initiatives and recruitment along with student services and support systems.

Her career prior to MNU includes positions at two other universities. She served at the Institute for Professional Development and Helix Education assigned to Baker University and worked as associate director of admissions at both Avila University and Baker University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Emporia State and a Master of Liberal Arts with a concentration in psychology from Baker University. In addition to her current responsibilities, Hood teaches sociology courses at MNU.

Hood and her husband, Joe, live in Olathe. They have two college-aged daughters.

Mr. G. Todd Garrett

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

MEd; MidAmerica Nazarene University
BA; Physical & Health Education, MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Mr. G. Todd Garrett serves as the Vice President for University Advancement & Athletics. Mr. Garrett has served MidAmerica Nazarene University with distinction for nearly three decades, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to our Christian mission and remarkable success across multiple roles.

As a 1994 MNU graduate, Mr. Garrett began his professional journey as an educator in the Olathe Public Schools before returning to MNU as the Head Baseball Coach from 1998 to 2006. His career has progressed through increasing levels of responsibility, including Director of Athletic Development, Director of Development & Corporate Partnerships, and, most recently, Director of Athletics since January 2017.

Todd and his wife, Karen, are both MNU graduates, as are their two adult children and their daughter-in-law. The Garretts live in Gardner, Kansas and attend Life Church of Overland Park, Kansas.

Daniel Rincones

Vice President for Student Development

MA, LPC, SATP MA; Counseling, 2015, MidAmerica Nazarene University
Post-graduate Certificate; Sexual Addictions Treatment Provider, 2017, MidAmerica Nazarene University
BA; Bible, Theology and Religion, 2009, MidAmerica Nazarene University

Daniel began his career in student development as a resident educator and assistant chaplain at MNU. He also served as youth pastor at Christ Community Church of the Nazarene in Olathe from 2008 to 2013.

Daniel served as director of residential life beginning in 2015 and transitioned to dean of students in 2020 before being named vice president in 2021. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Counselor Education at MNU and serves local clients as a licensed professional counselor.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to continue my work with MNU students,” Daniel says. “Our mission of creating a transformational experience in the lives of today’s students is more important than ever as they navigate young adulthood and societal issues while they earn their education.”

Rincones and his wife, Kylee, a licensed professional counselor employed by the Olathe School District, reside in Olathe.

Dr. Abby Hodges

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PhD; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
MS; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
BS; Chemistry, Denison University

Dr. Hodges began her career in higher education at Azusa Pacific University as a chemistry professor from 2008 to 2014. She then moved to MNU where she taught and in 2018 was appointed Chair of the Department of Natural, Health, and Mathematical Sciences. From 2022-2023, before accepting the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hodges was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hodges’ career research has focused on protein folding and protein engineering, and she has mentored over twenty students in these research projects. She has also furthered the MNU first-year experience program and chaired the General Education committee for five years. Dr. Hodges was recognized as the MNU Faculty of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hodges lives in Olathe with her husband Ryan and two boys.