Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra at The Side Door Jazz Club (Old Lyme, CT)
I’m looking forward to performing at with the Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra at The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, CT! Sean is a wonderful trombonist and composer and this will be a ton of fun!
Masterclass at Jazz Arts Group (Columbus, OH)
I am really looking forward to making a long-overdue return to my hometown to work with the students in Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Arts Group to talk about all the great things we’ve got going on at The University of Hartford as well as our upcoming auditions at Cuyahoga Community College on November 21-22! Without CYJO and JAG, I would not have pursued a career in music, so I’m always grateful for the opportunity to repay this great organization in Columbus!
Masterclass at Capital University (Columbus, OH)
I am really looking forward to making a long-overdue return to my hometown to work with the students in Capital University to talk about all the great things we’ve got going in our Masters of Music in Jazz Studies at The University of Hartford as well as our upcoming auditions at Cuyahoga Community College on November 21-22!
Sam Blakeslee / Lee Fish Band at The Beehive (Boston, MA)
I am excited to be teaming up with longtime collaborator Lee Fish for a special night of music at The Beehive, one of Boston’s oldest music venues! More details forthcoming!
Eunmi Lee Jazz Orchestra - The Jazz Gallery (NYC)
I am looking forward to playing the music of Eunmi Lee at The Jazz Gallery this December! More details coming soon!
New York Afro-Bop Alliance Big Band
I will be joining the Latin-Grammy winning New York Afro-Bop Alliance Big Band under the direction of Joe McCarthy at The Morgan School as part of their George Flynn Classical Concert Series. This performance features the music from the Pan-American Nutcracker Suite, along with ballet and visual projections. This is an incredible interdisciplinary project!
Recording w/ Jhoely Garay Jazz Orchestra
I am excited to head into the inimitable Bunker Studios on October 27-28 to record the debut album of Jhoely Garay Jazz Orchestra! Jhoely’s stunning, nature-inspired music is some of my favorite on the NYC big band scene right now and it is an honor to be a small part of this project! Watch out for this release!
Jackie McLean Institute Jazz Trombone Day
I am really excited to be organizing the inaugural Jackie McLean Institute Jazz Trombone Day on Sunday, October 19th from 2-5pm in Berkman Recital Hall on our beautiful campus in West Hartford, CT. The JMI Jazz Trombone Day will consist of a combination of jazz trombone masterclasses, Q+A about jazz trombone and campus life, a participant's jazz trombone choir, and a short faculty recital with myself, JMI students, and alumni.
As an endorsing artist for King Trombones, the event is also sponsored in partnership with King and Bach Brass Instruments, which are affiliate companies to Conn-Selmer. The West Hartford location of Music & Arts will be bringing professional level tenor & bass trombones for your students to try out if any of them are thinking of purchasing a new instrument soon!
This event is free and open to the public and all ages, students, and music educators are also welcome to attend! However, if you have any students that might be interested in attending, please have them send me an email to sblakesle@hartford.edu to register for the event and so I can prepare the jazz trombone choir music accordingly.
Below is a flyer for the Jazz Trombone Day if you'd like to post in your band rooms and/or share with your students. If you or your students have any questions about the event or our program in general, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at this email address and I'd be happy to help!
Thank you for your time in reading this email and I hope to meet you and some of your students on October 19th!
Hartford Jazz Orchestra
I am excited to join the Hartford Jazz Orchestra for the first time as part of their weekly Monday residency at Elicit Brewing from 7:30-9:30pm! Hope to see some CT folks there!
Sam Blakeslee Large Group at the 2025 Jazz Education Network Conference
Sam Blakeslee Large Group
at the 2025 Jazz Education Network Conference
Saturday, January 11th
4-4:50pm
Atlanta Conference Center - Visions/Regency Ballroom
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Atlanta, GA
Featuring:
Sam Blakeslee - compositions/conductor
Mike Tomaro, Jon De Lucia, Chris Coles, Lucas Pino, Ryan Middagh - woodwinds
John Lake, Brad Goode, David Smith, Jonathan Saraga - trumpets
John Fedchock, Javier Nero, Reggie Watkins, Jennifer Wharton - trombones
Corey Christiansen- guitar
Carolina Calvache - piano
Seth Lewis - bass
Andy Wheelock - drums
w/ Jon De Lucia Octet - 2025 JAZZ Education Network Conference
w/ the Jon De Lucia / Dave Brubeck Octet Project
2025 Jazz Education Network Conference
Friday, January 10th
9-10am
Visions/Regency Ballroom
Atlanta Conference Center
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Featuring:
Jon De Lucia - alto saxophone/compositions/arrangements
Lucas Pino - tenor saxophone
Andrew Hadro - baritone saxophone
Jonathan Saraga - trumpet
Sam Blakeslee - trombone
Annie Booth - piano
Seth Lewis - bass
Michael D’Angelo - drums
w/ Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra - 2025 Jazz Education Network Conference
w/ the Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra
2025 Jazz Education Network Conference
Thursday, January 9th
10pm-10:50pm
Visions/Regency Ballroom
Atlanta Conference Center
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Featuring:
Ted Nash, Tim Green, Lucas Pino, Drew Zaremba, Andrew Hadro - woodwinds
Josh Kauffman, Jonathan Powell, Sean Jones, John Raymond, Jonathan Saraga, Brian Lynch - trumpets
Javier Nero, Ben Patterson, Sam Blakeslee, Jennifer Wharton - trombones
Shawn Purcel - guitar
Warren Wolf - vibraphone
Richard Johnson - piano
Regan Brough - bass
Kyle Swan - drums
w/ Birdland Big Band
I’m looking forward to joining the Birdland Big Band under the direction of David DeJesus for two nights of their week-long run at Birdland to start out 2025. Sets are at 5:30pm, 8:30pm, and 10:30pm!
Get tickets HERE!
w/ Birdland Big Band
I’m looking forward to joining the Birdland Big Band under the direction of David DeJesus for two nights of their week-long run at Birdland to start out 2025. Sets are at 5:30pm, 8:30pm, and 10:30pm!
Get tickets HERE!
Sam Blakeslee Large Group : Flowers For Rubber City
Sam Blakeslee Large Group & Tri-C Jazz Fest
present Flowers for Rubber City
Saturday, December 21st
47 E Market Street Akron, OH 44308
Get tickets HERE
Tri-C JazzFest Academy performs 7-7:30pm
The Sam Blakeslee Large Group performs 8pm-9:30pm
Featuring:
Sam Blakeslee - compositions/conductor
Bobby Selvaggio, Nathan-Paul Davis, Chris Coles, Johnny Cochran, Brad Wagner - woodwinds
Scott McKee, Garrett Folger, Tommy Lehman, Ephraim Miller - trumpets
Mark Mauldin, Zach Warren, Reggie Watkins, Amber Forrer - trombones
Zakk Jones - guitar
Andru Dennis - piano
Kip Reed - bass
Zaire Darden - drums
Sam Blakeslee Large Group : Flowers For Rubber City
Sam Blakeslee Large Group & Tri-C Jazz Fest
present Flowers for Rubber City
Friday, December 20th
2920 Detroit Ave Cleveland, OH
Tri-C JazzFest Academy performs 7-7:30pm
The Sam Blakeslee Large Group performs 8pm-9:30pm
Get tickets HERE
Featuring:
Sam Blakeslee - compositions/conductor
Bobby Selvaggio, Nathan-Paul Davis, Chris Coles, Johnny Cochran, Brad Wagner - woodwinds
Scott McKee, Garrett Folger, Tommy Lehman, Jack Schantz - trumpets
Mark Mauldin, Zach Warren, Reggie Watkins, Amber Forrer - trombones
Zakk Jones - guitar
Andru Dennis - piano
Kip Reed - bass
Zaire Darden - drums
w/ the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
w/ the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
presenting the Pan-American Nutcracker Suite
at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Tuesday, December 17th
Sets at 7pm and 9pm
Get tickets HERE
w/ the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
w/ the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
presenting the Pan-American Nutcracker Suite
at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Tuesday, December 17th
Sets at 7pm and 9pm
Get tickets HERE
w/ New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
w/ the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
presents the Pan-American Nutcracker Suite
at Yale University
“Ellington Concert Series”
w/ the Jazz Gallery Composers Showcase
The Jazz Gallery Composers Showcase Big Band 10th Anniversary Show
Curated by Miho Hazama
Wednesday, December 4th
1158 Broadway 5th Floor NY, NY 10001
Get tickets HERE
COMPOSERS
Sam Blakeslee
Michael Dudley
Brian Krock
Rafael Piccolotto de Lima
Erica Seguine
Rin Seo