Presented by the BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation, the high energy horn-driven group out of Brooklyn returns to Akron in celebration of their all-new live album (recorded in part right here at BLU) with a masterclass (5PM) and unforgettable concert event (8PM)!
Huntertones is a high energy horn-driven group founded in Columbus, OH and currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Their signature sound is a marriage of inspired improvisation and adventurous compositions that meld jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. The band met at The Ohio State University and got their start playing house shows at their Hunter Avenue apartment. In addition to covering a wide range of genres, they’re known for the ability to shift from a dynamic six-piece ensemble to an unconventional trio featuring saxophone, sousaphone, and beat-boxing.
The band started 2016 with a month-long tour of North America, South America, and Africa through the American Music Abroad program. They were selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to engage international audiences, students, and artists from around the globe. In September, Huntertones will release their second album, ‘Live.’ This record captures the band in its element, performing genre-bending music while feeding on the energy of a hometown crowd.
Individually, members of Huntertones have compiled a diverse resume of collaborations with top artists in the pop, jazz, soul, and musical theater worlds. This includes work with Jon Batiste and Stay Human (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), O.A.R., Snarky Puppy, Andy Grammer, Ed Sheeran, Allen Stone, Gary Clark Jr., Phillip Phillips, Ricky Martin, Umphrey’s McGee, Red Baraat, and more.
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About BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation
Committed to the preservation of America’s treasured art form of jazz, BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation (BJMF) is a new program developed by the founders of BLU Jazz+ Akron (BJA) that brings “front-row” jazz education performance & mentorship opportunities to student musicians and art lovers alike by presenting a series of masterclasses led by top visiting musicians from all over the world.
Recipient of a 2015 Knight Arts Challenge grant award by the Knight Foundation, BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation expands upon the essence of Akron, Ohio’s award-winning live jazz destination, BLU Jazz+ Akron (BJA), launched in Fall 2014. Learn more at blujazzmasterclass.org.