Jazz and the Local College Scene: How Missouri State University is Empowering the Next Generation of Jazz Musicians

By: Jordan Blomquist

Jazz has long been a staple of Springfield’s music scene, with deep roots that reach back decades—even centuries. As the genre grows and changes, local colleges like Missouri State University (MSU) are stepping up to help shape the next wave of jazz musicians. 

Drew Axley has been playing saxophone for more than 14 years and started working professionally in the music industry at 18. He earned a bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance from MSU in 2022 and has since performed with a range of jazz groups across Springfield, as well as occasional shows in Branson. Now back at MSU as a graduate student, Axley is pursuing his master’s degree all while staying active in the local jazz scene.

“MSU’s jazz program is small, but that makes it incredibly personal and tight-knit,” Axley says. “You really get to know your professors and learn from them—not just as musicians, but as role models. It sounds cliché, but it truly feels like a family environment. For example, I know I could call Jazz Piano Instructor Kyle Aho any day just to chat, vent or ask a music question, and he’d be happy to talk at length. Everyone looks out for one another.”

When Axley first entered the jazz scene, he went to jam sessions and played with anyone he could. He searched for jazz gigs, but came up short and settled for rock shows, “which I hated at first,” he admits. He’d played a few gigs in his hometown of O’Fallon, Missouri, and remembers the atmosphere feeling intense and uppity. Once he began playing in Springfield, he quickly sensed the difference here. “Through years of playing with different kinds of groups, attending jam sessions and eventually landing jazz gigs, I unlearned that mindset,” he says. “I’m very grateful to Springfield for that. It’s a welcoming scene if you’re kind and willing to put in the work.”

photo of Drew Axley

High Notes and Higher Ed

Kyle Aho is a jazz pianist, composer and educator, currently working as a senior instructor in the jazz studies program at MSU. There, the jazz department strives to prepare students for the real-world life of a professional musician. “We aim to equip them with the tools they need to find work in a wide variety of musical settings,” Aho says. “We want them to feel confident gigging across genres, and to be versatile, strong improvisers, readers, composers, arrangers and more. Just as important, we emphasize the development of interpersonal and collaborative skills so they can thrive in group settings and build lasting professional relationships.” 

Many graduates of the jazz program go on to pursue advanced degrees and become educators themselves, carrying forward the spirit of the program. 

Aho emphasizes the importance for students to have an awareness and appreciation of the history of jazz. “Jazz’s roots are uniquely American, and its development mirrors our nation’s—political, social and racial,” he says. “The study of this music is an investigation into what it means to be American. Jazz has a massive footprint with a vast range of artists and subgenres. We want the students to find those voices for the past and present that speak to them.”

Photo of Kyle Aho

Learning by Doing

Institutions like MSU offer real-world opportunities to students. This kind of experience is invaluable. In January, the jazz department had an exciting opportunity to take the students to the Jazz Educators Network conference in Atlanta, Georgia. One of their big bands, Jazz Studies I, and small groups, Jazz Symposium I, performed and worked with some talented clinicians. A faculty ensemble also performed Aho’s original music. Other recent highlights include regular gigs at local venues like Tie & Timber and the Dugout Bar & Grill, as well as semester concerts at campus halls. Students also perform at MSU functions, regional high schools and, this summer, in the Tent Theatre pit orchestra.

Aho’s vision is for the MSU jazz department to grow as both a refuge and a training ground for emerging jazz artists. He wants his students to feel safe, supported and free from judgment as they develop their skills and find their voices. “I want them to know that I will push them to stretch—to grow not only in technical ability but also in artistic vision,” he says. His goal is for students to be informed by the legacy of jazz and its great artists, while also feeling empowered to create music that speaks to their lives and the world.

From Campus to Community

For students’ development, Aho says it is critical to have a healthy jazz scene in Springfield. “The students need to have places to play for an authentic audience separate from MSU,” he says. “They need professional performance and immersion in order to develop important skills—gig and performance etiquette, audience engagement/awareness, repertoire expansion, etc. Additionally, students need to have ways to support themselves financially. Gigging and teaching an even younger crop of students is a great way to have an income.” 

Beyond the classroom, a thriving jazz scene is vital to Springfield’s broader arts and cultural identity. “Musicians—jazz and others—visual artists, dancers and writers enrich our community and feed our collective souls,” Aho says. “At their best, they bring us together, remind us who we are and challenge us to be better human beings, better listeners, deeper thinkers, more discerning viewers, with an appreciation for empathy, patience and beauty.” 

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