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.