New York City based trumpet virtuoso returns to the Rubber City to celebrate his latest album, "Real Feels" Live Volume 1 (recorded right here at BLU) with a masterclass (6PM, free) & concert event (8PM)! Featuring John Raymond, Gilad Hekselman, Colin Stranahan. Presented by BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation.
Recently voted as a Rising Star Trumpeter in the Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll, John Raymond has been making a name for himself as one of the most promising, up-and-coming jazz musicians in New York. Originally from Minneapolis, MN, John has performed with some of most well-respected names in jazz including Billy Hart, Orrin Evans, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ethan Iverson, and Linda Oh among others. His latest album “Real Feels” was released to widespread acclaim, including a ★★★★1/2 Downbeat review.
Tonight, Raymond celebrates the release of his new album “Real Feels – Live Vol. 1,” a follow up effort to “Real Feels” that includes rising stars Gilad Hekselman (guitar) and Colin Stranahan (drums). The unique bass-less trio incorporates indie-rock inspired originals and covers as well as puts a fresh spin on familiar songs, many of them stemming from Raymond’s roots as a Midwesterner. From American folk songs like Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” to classic hymns such as “Amazing Grace,” to Lennon & McCartney’s “Blackbird,” to Thom Yorke’s “Atoms for Peace,” the music undoubtedly evokes a nostalgia for the past. However, “Real Feels” is far from being antiquated; the band’s improvisational, free-wheeling, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of approach to the music makes the songs feel entirely relevant.
Get your tickets today for this very special evening of live jazz from an all-star NYC ensemble!