MAFB’s spring concert is all about feathered friends, our favorite pollinators, and, of course, babies and rebirth! Charles Griffes’ impressionist The White Peacock, Igor Stravinsky’s dynamic Firebird, John Williams’ Jurassic Park, and Shuying Li’s Last Hive Mind II take center stage but keep an ear out for a little baby elephant walking by as well!
Examining musical interpretations of democracy and the democratic process, “Variations on Democracy” is a free chamber concert of ideas for MAFB’s smaller groups with works by Louis Andriessen, Jennifer Jolley, Jorge Sosa Ortega, Carol Erion, Ethel Smyth, and more plus a world premiere by MAFB artistic director Lee Hartman. Grammy-winning soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson joins as vocal soloist. A preconcert panel discussion of political scientists and artists takes place an hour before each performance.
From timeless classics given a jazz flair, to famous charts that had audiences jiving and wailing in the solemn echoes of World War I and II, we highlight the historical origins of jazz and what it shows us about its future. “Echoes of the Greats” blends the music from legends of both the classical and jazz eras, showing how every note and rhythm contributes to the larger picture of community music-making.
Just in time for Halloween, the dramatic cinematic scope of Randall Standridge’s A Ghost Story complements the exquisite craft of Julia Perry’s Symphony No. 6 as we celebrate the centennial of this pioneering Black woman composer. Nick Omiccioli plays double duty as both composer and soloist in his new work for electric guitar and band that is inspired by 70s funk and disco!
In collaboration with the Hallmark Archives, vintage holiday cards from throughout Hallmark’s extensive collection will be projected during William Henry Fry’s delightfully charming Santa Claus: Christmas Symphony and Patric Standford’s clever reimagining of countless Christmas carols in symphonic form. Rounding out the program are Josh Trentadue’s drunken Wild Christmas Nightcap and a new fandango-inspired sleigh ride from Abdo Timejardine-Zomeño.
Jazz is today! Interweaving styles like hip-hop and fusion while diving into contemporary jazz found in our pop culture landscapes, this concert showcases Kansas City’s unique position as a UNESCO heritage City, cradling musical innovation and tradition of this American art form.
Featuring Pulitzer Prize-nominated Maria Schneider’s jazz works, "Harmonious Horizons" is a concert dedicated to showing how the spirit of jazz is one of borrowing, learning, changing, growing, and inspiring.
Celebrating the arrival of MAFB’s new timpani, composers Jennifer Jolley, Anthony R. Green, and Olivia Kieffer collaborate on a commissioned concerto for the instrument. Symphonies by Nancy Galbraith and MAFB audience favorite Julie Giroux provide even more musical opulence to end the concert season.
Woohoo, we’re at the zoo! A concert season about animals wouldn’t be complete with a trip to our local zoological park. Join MAFB for this outdoor concert at the Kansas City Zoo. Weather-permitting and admission to this concert comes with your purchase of a zoo pass or membership.
Mark your calendars for Friday, April 19th at 7:30 p.m. when the Undercroft of St. Andrew's will ring out with an homage to one of the most influential bands in history. Get ready for a Beatlesmania show like no other! The Mighty Mo Jazz Orchestra will turn the night into a celebration of the Fab Four with powerful renditions of your favorite Beatles covers. It's a celebration of one of the most iconic bands in music history, reimagined through the vibrant lens of jazz. Prepare for an unforgettable night of music, nostalgia, and camaraderie that only the Beatles and jazz can conjure.
What do reindeer, sheep, swans, partridges, elves, and a hippopotamus wrapped with a bow have in common? Well, they’re our musical gifts to you this holiday season as MAFB plays the ever-popular Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Philip Sparke’s Carol of the Shepherds, The Twelve Days of Christmas, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Swan Lake, John Kazik’s Eviler Elves, and more.
From savannahs, forests, plains, and even the ocean depths, MAFB’s fall concert pairs three familiar film scores Elton John’s immortal Lion King, John Williams’ terrifying Jaws, and Joe Hisaishi’s lush Howl’s Moving Castle with pieces off the beaten track like Viet Cuong’s Howls and Hymns for trombone and band, Julie Giroux’s Our Cast Aways — a work honoring rescue animals, and Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, the Sacred Blue Deer of Mexico’s Wixarika people.
Our season kicks off on Saturday, October 7th at 7:30 p.m. in the Undercroft, transformed for one unforgettable night into the "Lavender Flamingo", a throwback speakeasy jazz club that will transport you back in time. Don your finest flapper attire or simply come as you are and lose yourself in a seamless blend of beloved classics and contemporary jazz numbers from across the genre spectrum.
Twenty years in the making, Mid America Freedom Band is going all out with a celebratory concert that looks back on the ensemble’s history and its exciting path for the future. We are thrilled to present this concert at the historic Folly Theater and hope you’ll join us to hear works by James Barnes, Paul Creston, Vivian Fine, Christen Taylor Holmes, Erin Keeton-Howard, Stephen Montague, Derrick Syke, and our own artistic director Lee Hartman. Cheers!
In the world of dreams, anything is possible! Join the Mighty Mo Jazz Orchestra for an exploration of swing, fusion, latin, broadway, and other favorite jazz styles as we push forward with Pure Imagination, while we Dream a Dream in the Land of Make Believe.
'Round Midnight by Theonious Monk, arr. Mike Tomaro
Bad Dream by Earl MMacDonald
I Dreamed a Dream, arr. Roger Holmes
Land of Make Believe by Chuck Mangione, arr. Victor Lopez
Midnight Voyage by Joey Calderazzo, arr. Alan Baylock
Nimbus by The Yellowjackets, arr. Robert Curnow
Perdido arr. Paul Murtha
Pure Imagination, arr. Craig Skeffington
Star Eyes, arr. Rick Hirsch
Grab your sleigh bells, horses, reindeer, and toboggans as MAFB blasts off through snow-covered hills and fields with a holiday program that captures all the joy and fun of sleigh rides, sledding, and the inescapable jingling of bells. We hope to warm your spirits and have you laughing all the way.
Join the Mighty Mo Jazz Orchestra on Monday, December 5th as we say goodbye to Autumn and usher in the holiday season! Featuring the music of Terry Gibbs, Don Menza, and Chick Corea, with a few of our favorite holiday arrangements to get us in the mood for all of the festivities to come.
Spain by Chick Corea, arr. Paul Jennings
Autumn Leaves by Johnny Mercer, arr. John Berry
Autumn Nocturne by Josef Myrow, arr. Manny Albam
Christmas Time is Here by Vince Guaraldi, arr. Roger Holmes
Groovin' Hard by Don Menza
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You arr. Marty Paich
Moondance by Van Morrison, arr. Andy Classen
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Johnny Marks, arr. Chris Sharp
Autumn in Rome by Cahn/Weston/Cicognini, arr. Michael Philip Mossman
When I Fall in Love by Victor Young, arr. Craig Skeffington
Autumn Dance by Henry Wolking
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, arr. Mike Story
MAFB highlights three exciting young compositional voices to come out of Missouri on this concert with music by Richard Joey Carter, Kristen Hirlinger, and Matthew Manning. These works are paired with the father of modern concert band music, Missouri’s own Claude T. Smith’s Incidental Suite. Jason Gerraughty’s burn it down. salt the earth and Evan Williams’ love words give us the “Bitter” of the concert’s title. Smith and Tom Davoren’s award winning “Midwestern Suite” bring the “Suite” and Ida Gotkovsky’s rapturous Joyeuse Symphonie offers us our “Symphony.”
Join the award-winning Mighty Mo Combo at their new home, the B&B Live! stage in Shawnee, KS!
Our Kansas City Sweetheart concert features music from some of our most famous KC jazz musicians including Mary Lou Williams, Pamela Baskin-Watson, and a world premiere of a brand new commission from Jackie Myers.
The Mighty Mo Combo was established in 2011. The ensemble includes approximately 20 musicians from the Mid America Freedom Band as well as affiliate members and guest artists. Mighty Mo Combo helps connect audiences with the LGBTQ and ally community through the sounds and emotions of jazz. Each performance can include a variety of music including swing, pop, Latin, Broadway and other favorites. Your feet will be tapping and head nodding at the music that made big bands popular and created jazz legends.
The Kansas City Superman (world premiere) by Jackie Myers
A Wheel Within a Wheel by Bobby Watson
Billie's Bounce by Bill Holman
Moten Swing by Buster & Benny Moten
In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee by Milt Drint and Mary Lou Williams
Blue Room by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Miss Missouri by Benny Carter
All the Things You Are by Jerome Kern, arr. Gerry Mulligan
Sunset Glow by Benny Carter
Birdland by Zawinul, arr. Victor Lopez
Camel Hop by Mary Lou Williams
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus, arr. Andrew Homzy
Katy-Do by Benny Carter
Ms. B.C. by Pamela Baskin Watson, arr. by Bobby Watson
Paseo Promenade by Benny Carter
The Squirrel from Pasadena by Chris Sharp
Yardbird Suite by Charlie Parker, arr. Mark Taylor
The Gem Theater
1615 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Ain't No Mountain High Enough ................ arr. Paul Murtha
Crazy Little Thing Called Love ................... arr. John Berry
Cupid Shuffle .............................................. arr. Rick Stitzel
Gimmie Some Lovin ................................... arr. Roy Phillipe
I Want it That Way ...................................... arr. John Berry
Moondance ................................................. arr. Andy Classen
Free Bird ..................................................... arr. Paul Murtha
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da ................................... arr. John Berry
September .................................................. arr. Mark Taylor
Skyfall ......................................................... arr. Roger Holmes
Sweet Caroline ............................................ arr. Mike Stitzel
It's Too Late .................................................. arr. Mark Taylor
National World War I Memorial
2 Memorial DriveKansas City, MO, 64108
MAFB members pick their past seasons' highlights coupled with new music composed during the pandemic including Anthony O'Toole's Frenetico which MAFB co-commissioned.
MAFB explores pieces specifically written to be performed by any instrumentation and those with improvisatory elements
A new carol will be released each day on the band’s youtube channel and social media channels.
Past performances are mixed in with new performances of works by Kevin Day, Julie Giroux, Derek Jenkins, and Randall Standridge
In honor of our favorite mother-daughter queens Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, MAFB will premiere a commissioned double concerto by Stacy Busch for local drag queen musicians clarinetist Tajma Stetson and bassoonist Mrs. Jones.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s service in World War I greatly inspired the creation of Middle Earth, and this free educational concert focuses on those connections while paired with musical works inspired by Tolkien.
Join us for a night of fun, drinks and drag! Come on out and support MAFB, whether you're in the show, or cheering it on!
Oh no! The court jester got his hands on this holiday program and messed everything up!
Egyptian queens, warrior khans, long-reigning monarchs, and animated princesses all get their due with MAFB’s fall concert.
