Bebop jazz was initially heard in the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and has since transformed into one of the most creative endeavors any musician can undertake. With this in mind, Southeast’s newest faculty ensemble, the Sultans of Swing, was organized in the spring semester of 2006 by Robert Conger, and focuses on performing bebop jazz in all its many forms. This scintillating jazz quintet performs bebop jazz at its finest with a diverse array of music from Duke Ellington to Sonny Rollins to Dizzy Gillespie. The Sultans of Swing play several differing styles of bebop, from cool jazz to hard bop and of course the blues. The versatility of the classically trained musicians in the group is evident in the shift from classical style to the style of jazz.  

The members of the group are Matt Yount on piano, Shane Mizicko on drums, Barry Bernhardt on trumpet and Robert Conger on trombone.  The lone student in this group is Jarred Harris (bass), a sophomore music education major from Cape Girardeau’s Cape Central High School string program.  The Sultans can be frequently heard in clubs in downtown Cape Girardeau.

For booking information or scheduled performances, please contact Robert Conger at (573) 651-2398.

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