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John Brewer Trio Plays Jazz Series
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Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

2/11/08
Story by Peggy Graham

John Brewer Trio Plays Jazz Series

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. ­– The John Brewer Trio will perform at noon Tuesday, March 11, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the free Jazz Series featuring local artists.

The band is John Brewer, piano; Brandon Draper, drums; and Ben Leifer, bass.

  • John Brewer, pianist/composer/keyboardist, received a scholarship from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he was quickly picked up by the hard-funk group Afroskull and was one of the founding members of the live hip-hop group Mental Metropolis.

Brewer had the opportunity to study abroad in Ghana soaking up culture and polyrhythmic music. After Loyola, Brewer received a master’s degree from the University of New Orleans. Brewer has also had the opportunity to play gigs with Johnny Vidacovich and Tony Digradi of Astral Project; Eric Krasno, Ryan Zoidas and Sam Kininger of Soulive; and Lige Curry and Starr Cullars of p-funk fame. Brewer has sat in with the likes of Nicholas Payton, Paul Jackson Jr., Melvin Sparks, Brian Haas and Mike Clark while attending their respective gigs. He has also toured with Tiny Universe guitarist Brian Jordan.

  • Leifer, composer/bassist, is currently studying composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with composers such as Zhou Long, Chen Yi and James Mobberley. He is a working bassist in Kansas City and has played with great musicians such as Nicholas Payton, Terrell Stafford, master drummer Michael Carvin, Howard Johnson, Robin Eubanks, Bobby Watson, Claire Daly, Harold O'Neal, Bill Saxton, Kevin Mahogany, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Ahmad Aladeen, Paul Mckee and David Gibson.  Leifer has also shared the stage with notable musicians such as Richie Cole, Stacy Dillard, Javon Jackson and more. He has extensive experience in all types of music – rock, funk, blues, jazz, Latin jazz and salsa.
  • Draper is a full-time percussionist performing regularly in many different settings from classical to hip-hop. He started drum lessons at the age of 5 and was sitting in with bands at 9. He began playing professionally at the age of 14 in various blues bands with his father, Paul Draper, a professional Hammond B-3 player. Draper holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion from Bethany College and master of music degree in percussion performance from the University of New Mexico. Draper is currently the percussion director at Shawnee Mission West High School and jazz drum instructor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance.  

He has performed in many classical settings including the New Mexico Symphony and Santa Fe Symphony orchestras. In contemporary and jazz settings he has performed with Ottmar Liebert, Donna Summer, John Fedchock, Frank Mantooth, Mose Allison, Bruce Dunlap, Eddie Daniels, Doug Lawrence and Kevin Hays. Draper also performs regularly with live DJ's and U.S. tours with Organic Proof, a duo that combines urban musical elements with tribal drumming. 

The spring Jazz Series continues at noon in the Recital Hall on the following dates.

  • March 18    Greg Meise Trio
  • March 25    Michael Pagan, piano
  • April 1    Kerry Strayer/Stan Kessler Group

Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The 50-minute concerts are cosponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts.

For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605.

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