Vocal music education student at UMKC. Performer and aspiring musician. 

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Not Dark Yet - Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble
“It’s a concentrated, potent dose of thundering jazz-metal power, more orchestral than big-band, thrilling no matter how you categorize it.” Phil Freeman, Burning Ambulance. 

“Don’t let the eighteen-member size of this jazz band scare you. This isn’t Grandpa’s big band, nor your Dad’s. Nor necessarily anybody else who’s into big band jazz. The Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble, perhaps the world’s only modern creative heavy metal horn band, is for the rest of us.” S. Victory Aaron, Something Else Reviews. 

“…[a] band that just about blows down the house… This is blockbuster, even bruising, music with little respite on the program; such vigorous music might scare some folks away, [I] can’t wait to hear this ensemble live.” Richard B. Kamins, Step Tempest. 

“…[a] seriously aggressive large ensemble… Music that speaks loudly and carries a big stick, too.” Dave Sumner, Wondering Sound. 

“…[a] muscular, bracingly intricate new disc…” Time Out New York. 
Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble 

Woodwinds 
Kevin Russell, Chris Shade, Michael Thomas, Justin Flynn, Alden Banta. 

Trumpets 
Augie Haas, David Smith, Josh Deutsch, Matt Holman. 

Trombones 
Matthew McDonald, Nick Finzer, JC Sanford, James Rogers. 

Rhythm 
Landon Knoblock, Rhodes. Kenji Shinagawa, guitar. Russ Flynn, bass. Jared Schonig, drums.
credits
released 14 October 2014 

Recorded at Let ‘em In Studio, Brooklyn, NY on 8/26, 9/13, 9/30, & 10/7 2014 by Luke Moellman and Brian Losch. Mixed by Luke Moellman & Nathan Parker Smith. Mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound. Produced by Nathan Parker Smith. Funding for tracks 2,3, & 11 provided by the BMI Manny Albam Commission. All compositions by Nathan Parker Smith, © 2014 NPSMUSIC/ASCAP. Exclusively licensed to Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, LLC. Made in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Unauthorised duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Chris Munce, a Kansas City native, has been involved in local choral ensembles for almost two decades. Chris is an accomplished choral performer, and member of the Grammy Winning Kansas City Chorale and Armonia Early Music Ensemble. He spent two years with the Lee's Summit Community Boys choir as a treble, and was a tenor section leader at Unity Temple on the Plaza from 1999-2007. Chris received a Bachelor's of Music Education from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. During his tenure he spent three years singing in Heritage Chorale under the direction of Dr. Eph Ely and Dr. Charles Robinson and four years studying voice with Professor Michael Cousins. Following graduation Chris became the Director of Choirs at Belton High School, after which he began study for his Masters Degree in Choral Conducting at the Conservatory. During that time he served as adjunct faculty at the Conservatory teaching choral arranging, and at Blue River Community College as a professor of voice. Chris is now teaching at Lee's Summit High School as the Director of Choral Studies where his premier ensemble "Sounds of Summit" has recently been invited to perform at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC and his Concert Choir will make it's debut next spring in New York City.  Chris is also Director of Music at Lee's Summit First Presbyterian Church.   He has been an active private voice instructor since 1999.

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