Two of Northeast Ohio's finest trumpeter exports, Curtis Taylor & Donald Malloy, return home with their all-star bands, Wave Magnetik & #HASHTAGGED Live, for a very special masterclass (6PM, FREE) and live concert double bill! Presented by the BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation.
Wave Magnetik (8PM – 9:30PM) is the New York City based electronic duo comprised of Donald Malloy (producer/ trumpeter), and Mike Mohamed (live drums/percussion).
Since 2013 the duo has been releasing music and touring the United States. Always pushing the envelope with their seamless blend of Electronic Dance Music and Jazz, WM has successfully reached listeners worldwide, racking up hundreds of thousands of plays on SoundCloud, and hitting the #5 position on the CMJ charts.
WM has garnered acclaim from online and print publications including, Som Magazine, Mister Bass Boost, Ekm.co, and Future House Classics. In a review from Jazz Times they were referred to as “genius.”
Traveling across the states they have performed at venues such as The Detroit Electronic Music Festival, The Tri-C Jazz Festival, The Blue Note NYC, and many more.
#HASHTAGGED Live (9:30PM-11PM) is lead by Grammy® Award winning trumpeter Curtis Taylor. Taylor’s lyrical and melodic improvisational style displays a level of maturity far beyond his counterparts. His unique blend of soulfulness, harmonic sensibilities and rhythm melt together for an unforgettable sound that directly connects with the soul of the listener. According to Taylor, “ When played honestly, music is the ultimate conveyer of truth and beauty.”
Taylor has performed and recorded with Patrice Rushen, Billy Childs, Gary Novak, Bob Sheppard, Ed Motta, Marvin “Smitty’ Smith, Rodney Whitaker, Antonio Hart and great gospel luminaries Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard and the Singletons. More extensively Taylor’s stint with jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut included a notable concert performance at Kennedy Center recorded for NPR’s Jazzset, an appearance at the Spoleto Jazz Festival, and a week long engagement at Dizzy’s Club in NYC. In addition, Taylor had the great opportunity to tour internationally with virtuosic saxophonist James Carter’s Quintet, performing in: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Canada, and Austria. Rounding out the experience, was a week long stint at Yoshi’s in California again with the James Carter Quintet.
In more recent years, Taylor has had the wonderful opportunity to perform and record with rising Jazz star Gregory Porter. Taylor’s trumpet can be heard on Gregory Porter’s debut album Water and on his junior release (Blue Note records) Liquid Spirit. Both albums were nominated for Grammy Awards. Liquid Spirit won the Grammy in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for 2013.