The Kansas All Star Big Band will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave.

The supergroup featuring 18 musicians from around the state has emerged to include some of the very best jazz musicians in Kansas, said band leader Anthony Panek. Many are jazz educators from Hays to Wichita to Lawrence, including Great Bend’s own Kurtis Koch, a retired teacher, on drums.

“We just got started in June,” Koch said. “We all kind of knew each other from playing in different bands.”

Several of these musicians have doctorate degrees in jazz studies on their respective instruments. Others come from the military, cruise ships or professional big band backgrounds. They all have a connection to the state in some way. 

Panek is a trombonist from south-central Kansas who has performed with such artists as Roger Neumann's Rather Large Band, The Platters, Bob McChesney and Scott Whitfield. Koch was the former band director at Great Bend High School, taught music in public schools for 38 years and led the Great Bend City Band for many seasons. He is still active as a private instructor and adjudicator, and performs with many bands throughout Kansas.

“It’s fun,” he said of joining the All Star band with longtime musicians from all over the state. “We are blessed to have people who love music and are willing to travel and play.” They have performed at the Salina River Festival and other venues.

“The (Great Bend) show will consist of popular big band hits as well as some more modern tunes and there may be a few Christmas songs thrown in there for good measure,” Panek said.

Videos of performances can be found on the website, kansasallstarbigband.com.

The Great Bend concert is being funded by the Barton County Arts Council and the City of Great Bend CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau).