Fri 2/16 @ 8PM
Sat 2/17 @ 8PM
Originally from Columbus, with degrees from the University of Akron and Youngstown State University, jazz trombonist Sam Blakeslee has become well know to northeast Ohioans over the past five years.
He organized and led the 17-member Sam Blakeslee Large Band which held a monthly residency at Akron’s Blu Jazz + for a year and a half and taught at Youngtown State, Tri-C and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He’s shared stages with other northeast Ohioans who have gone on to prominence in the jazz world: Dominick Farinacci, Sean Jones and Joe Lovano.
He’s now moved on to New York City where he leads the Sam Blakeslee Quintet, a unit which has recorded its debut album Selective Coverage. In his bio he says of the album, “This collection of songs represents the process of coming into your own as an individual. Each composition is chronologically meaningful to my own development as a trombonist, composer and husband over the past four years as well as racially charged events that have inspired my writing. The title track ‘Selective Coverage’ is based on the unfair media coverage of minorities and the ongoing struggle to provide universal healthcare for all people.”
The quintet features, in addition to himself, three NY-based musicians and Cincinnati guitarist Brandon Coleman. When he comes back to northeast Ohio to celebrate the release of the album, with shows at Blu Jazz + and the BOP STOP, he’s bring Coleman and NY drummer Dan Pugach, and augment them with two stellar local plays, pianist Theron Brown and bassist Kip Reed.
He’ll be at the BOP STOP Friday and Blu Jazz + Saturday. Tickets are $12 at the BOP STOP; $15 at Blu Jazz +.
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Cleveland, OH 44113
Akron, OH 44308