Award-winning NYC trombonist, composer, and arranger comes home to celebrate the release of his live album, recorded right here at BLU, with his 18-piece jazz orchestra featuring special guest NYC trumpeter, David Adewumi!
Join us at BLU Jazz+ for this special reunion show of the Sam Blakeslee Large Group to celebrate the Golden Mean Records digital release of “Sam Blakeslee Large Group: Live At BLU Jazz+.” The evening will feature a few highlights of the album as well as several brand new pieces for this dynamic contemporary jazz orchestra, including the live premiere of a commissioned piece from the International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers. Get your tickets today!
Featuring Bobby Selvaggio, Nathan-Paul Davis, Chris Coles, Johnny Cochran, Brad Wagner (woodwinds), Scott McKee, Theresa May, David Adewumi, Jack Schantz (trumpets), Sam Blakeslee, Chris Anderson, Caleb Smith, Mark Mauldin (trombones), Ben Tweedt (piano), Brandon Coleman (guitar), Matt Wiles (bass), Dustin May (drums).
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About Sam Blakeslee
Originally from Columbus, OH, Sam Blakeslee is a New York City based, award-winning trombonist and composer. Since his arrival in NYC in August 2017, he has performed at iconic jazz clubs such as The 55 Bar, Smalls, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, Zinc Bar, and the Blue Note. He can also be found performing and recording regularly with top-tier large ensembles like the Dan Pugach Nonet, Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows, Terraza Big Band, Manuel Valera’s New Cuban Express Big Band, Big Heart Machine, New Alchemy Jazz Orchestra, Emilio Solla’s Tango Jazz Orchestra, and New York Afro-Bop Alliance Big Band. Sam is an endorsing artist for Best American Craftsman (B.A.C.) trombones, as well as an endorsing artist for Denis Wick Mouthpieces and Mutes.
As a bandleader, Sam has independently released Sam Blakeslee Quintet – Selective Coverage (2017), which received glowing critical acclaim from several jazz publications, including a 4-star rating from All About Jazz) and Sam Blakeslee Large Group – Live at Blu Jazz (2018). The latter was originally released exclusively on Bandcamp, but will be digitally re-released on all streaming platforms on March 18th, 2022 by Cincinnati-based record label, Golden Mean Records.
His recent, genre-spanning chamber project Sam Blakeslee & Wistful Thinking – The Long Middle featuring Chris Coles (alto saxophone), Brandon Coleman (guitar), and Matt Wiles (bass), was released on NYC Jazz Record Label Outside In Music on July 30th, 2021 and received critical acclaim from JazzIz Magazine, JazzTrail, and Textura publications, among others. “Wistful Thinking doesn’t, in other words, split into rhythm players and soloists. Instead, all four are integrally involved at sustaining flow whilst also weaving into the playing moments of individual expression.” – Ron Schepper, Textura. In November 2021, Wistful Thinking also released a holiday single and his arrangement of “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” on Outside In Music, which landed on several editorial and curated streaming playlists.
Busy Body, The second and forthcoming album from Wistful Thinking, features more fusion influence and dives into the vast world of electronic production. The album will feature percussionist Jamey Haddad, woodwind phenom/composer Brian Krock, and Grammy-nominated drummer and composer Dan Pugach. Busy Body will be released in Fall 2022.
As an active composer for large ensembles, Sam is currently a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in NYC under the direction of Andy Farber and Alan Ferber. In 2018, he was the recipient of the David Baker Prize in Composition from Ravinia Steans Music Institute and was also a 2020 COVID-19 Commission Grant recipient from International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers.