Originally from Columbus, OH, Sam Blakeslee has recently finished his classes at YSU and is set to graduate in August. Sam is a member of Mojo: The Generations Big Band, Dennis Reynoldsʼ Heritage Jazz Orchestra, and Ron Chickʼs Friends Big Band. He has also been very active on the Cleveland freelance scene where he has had the pleasure to play with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Sean Jones, Jim Rupp, The Paul Ferguson Jazz Orchestra, Ernie Krivdaʼs Big Fat Tuesday Big Band, Up Ensemble, Bobby Sanabria, Carol Morgan, Bobby Selvaggioʼs Hendectet, The Brad Wagner Sextet, Dave Morgan, Nathan Douds, Theron Brown, Chris Coles, and also has recorded with the pop group O.A.R.
" In the spring of 2010, Sam was chosen to be one of fifteen people nationwide to attend the Steans Institute for the Young Artist at Ravinia where he studied with Rufus Reid, Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, and Dr. David Baker. In the summer of 2010 Sam performed at the Parma Jazz Festival in Parma, Italy with an alumni group from the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. His arrangement of the bassist George Mrazʼ composition "Blues For Sarka" was performed by the University of Akron Jazz Ensemble in a concert that featured George Mraz as a guest artist.
This past April he was accepted into Betty Carterʼs Jazz Ahead Residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C where he had the chance to study with Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, George Cables, Chip Jackson, and Carmen Lundy.
Through that residency he performed on the Millennium Stage to a worldwide audience.
Upon graduation Sam plans to attend the University of Akron on a graduateassistantship and then move to New York City.An Incredible Bio from someone so young. So Many Names to Drop, So Much Time toward Serious Study, but I'm not easily impressed. Does he have heart, emotion, integrity, spirit, emphasis, strength and the only component that really matters is Jazz...can he swing???You can rest assured Brother & Sister Jazz Fan, that component alone is why Sam Blakeslee is kicking off this year's Fest.The Brother Can Blow....
" In the spring of 2010, Sam was chosen to be one of fifteen people nationwide to attend the Steans Institute for the Young Artist at Ravinia where he studied with Rufus Reid, Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, and Dr. David Baker. In the summer of 2010 Sam performed at the Parma Jazz Festival in Parma, Italy with an alumni group from the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. His arrangement of the bassist George Mrazʼ composition "Blues For Sarka" was performed by the University of Akron Jazz Ensemble in a concert that featured George Mraz as a guest artist.
This past April he was accepted into Betty Carterʼs Jazz Ahead Residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C where he had the chance to study with Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, George Cables, Chip Jackson, and Carmen Lundy.
Through that residency he performed on the Millennium Stage to a worldwide audience.
Upon graduation Sam plans to attend the University of Akron on a graduateassistantship and then move to New York City.An Incredible Bio from someone so young. So Many Names to Drop, So Much Time toward Serious Study, but I'm not easily impressed. Does he have heart, emotion, integrity, spirit, emphasis, strength and the only component that really matters is Jazz...can he swing???You can rest assured Brother & Sister Jazz Fan, that component alone is why Sam Blakeslee is kicking off this year's Fest.The Brother Can Blow....
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