Trio of Composers Commissioned by Mighty Mo Combo

Kansas City, MO, 1 March 2021 — Composers David Berger, Marcus Lewis, and Jackie Myers received commissions from the Mighty Mo Combo to compose new works for amateur jazz band. These three composers were selected from an open call for proposals to write a new piece for the ensemble.

Assistant artistic director and Mighty Mo Combo music director Jessie Riggins says, “we are absolutely thrilled to work with these three composers. Each is phenomenal at their craft, and will provide the ensemble a range of different styles to experience, from classic big band to hip-hop inspired sounds, and everything in between.”

“With COVID-19 causing hardship around the world, our creative music-makers and the arts sector have been hit hard as so much of what we do involves being together to join in performance and community. The artistic staff and Board adapted the organization’s budget to find funding for all three commissioned composers to support their efforts because so many other gigs and opportunities have disappeared,” says artistic director Lee Hartman. “I’m grateful we’ll be able to hear the works of these fine composers premiered by the Mighty Mo Combo when the pandemic subsides.”

David Berger is recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994, Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Berger has composed and arranged more than 1000 pieces over a career spanning 50 years. The David Berger Jazz Orchestra has performed all over the U.S. and Europe, as well as on TV and in movies. https://davidbergerjazz.com/

Marcus Lewis holds a BM in jazz performance from Valdosta State University and MM in trombone performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Marcus currently lives in Kansas City, MO where he leads his own quintet and 18-piece big band. His latest project, Brass and Boujee, debuted on the iTunes Jazz Charts at #2 and the Billboard contemporary jazz charts at #15. Marcus has a passion for education and is the Founder and Artistic Director of Future Jazz, a nonprofit dedicated to jazz education. He is also the Adjunct Jazz Trombone Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. https://www.marcuslewis.net/

Jackie Myers may have the Midas touch for groove, conjuring up musical styles ranging from soul, jazz and modern R&B each time the talented pianist places her hands on the keys. Daytrotter's Pat Stolley says of Jackie's music "It reminds me of Joni Mitchell's jazz period." The finesse on her chosen instrument plays complement to what the Austin Chronicle describes as “her earthy lungs” - beautiful, captivating, complex, and always with an edge. https://jackiemyersmusic.com/

The Mid America Freedom Band is a community ensemble of LGBTQ+ and allied adult volunteer instrumental musicians with about 80 playing members. The Mighty Mo Combo is a subset of the organization dedicated to the uniquely American music idiom of jazz. MAFB provides a safe space for instrumental performance opportunities, outreach, and social advocacy for music enthusiasts within the LGBTQ+ and ally spectrum of the Kansas City area to create an inclusive community that fosters diversity. www.freedomband.com