Events

Previous events

Oct25

KYle Cantrell Septet

Blockhouse Bar, 205 S College Ave, Bloomington, IN

Playing with tenor saxophonist Kyle Cantrell's group at the Blockhouse Bar for the Call and Response series. $5/$10 cover. Two sets at 7:30 and 9 PM!

Marina Alba Lopez - vocals Kyle Cantrell - tenor sax Sam Butler - trumpet Eric Garcia - guitar Dan Ventura - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Francis Bassett-Dilley - drums

Oct22

Great College Fight Songs, The Jazz Edition

(EDT, UTC-04) (EDT, UTC-04)

SILO Auto Club and Conservancy, 644 E Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN

“Great College Fight Songs, The Jazz Edition” is a collection of arrangements of iconic college fight songs by Sam Butler and Garrett Fasig. Both Butler and Fasig have studied at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of some of the finest jazz musicians and educators in the world, including Brent Wallarab, John Raymond, and Greg Ward. Both are mainstays in the Indianapolis jazz scene, and are bringing fresh takes of the most well-known and recognizable themes you hear every Saturday afternoon around the country, including their alma mater of IU, and classics from around the country like “Hail Purdue,” Glory, Glory” from the University of Georgia, “Tiger Rag” from LSU, “Rocky Top” from Tennessee, “Across the Field” from Ohio State University, and many more.

With a band featuring Nick Recktenwald on trumpet, Jeff Parker on trombone, Dan Ventura on piano, Jacob Smith on bass, and Francis Bassett-Dilley on drums, finished out with Butler on trumpet and Fasig on tenor saxophone, these septet arrangements are bound to be brought to life in new and exciting ways that alumni have never heard before.

May16

Come hear Sam Butler and his Folklore Sextet at the world-famous Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis! Sets start at 7:30 and 9:30, and will feature music from the upcoming "Folklore" release, along with other original compositions and known favorites. Tickets range from $15-$25 a person. The band features:

Sam Butler - trumpet Greg Ward - alto saxophone Garrett Fasig - tenor saxophone Luther S. Allison - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Kenny Phelps - drums

"Folklore" is the debut album from Sam Butler, an Indianapolis-based trumpeter and composer with a unique and melodic style. With release on May 5th, 2023, his bandleader debut at The Jazz Kitchen caps off a five show tour around the Midwest, including stops in Chicago and Detroit. The band and the music are energetic and free-flowing, and aim to bring melody and groove together in a combination that leaves a little something for everyone.

Originally from Fairhope, Alabama, Butler relocated to Bloomington in 2018 to pursue a degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and is now in the midst of his Master's Degree in Jazz Studies at IU. He has become a mainstay in the scene around Indianapolis, performing with Sean Dobbins and the Modern Jazz Messengers, the Buseli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, and the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective. Butler has also shared a stage with jazz greats Orrin Evans, Melissa Aldana, and Emmet Cohen while at IU.

The compositions from "Folklore," all originals by Butler, are through-composed and feature different members of the ensemble based on their musical personalities. Each musician is recognizable throughout as both a soloist and as a member of the band. With an all-star cast including some of Butler's closest musical peers and mentors, the music comes to life in the free-flowing style of each musician, always unpredictable and allowing room for improvisation. Chicago-based saxophonist Greg Ward and Cincinnati's own Garrett Fasig on tenor complete the hornline with Butler. Pianist Luther Allison from New York joins Australia's Brendan Keller-Tuberg on bass and Indianapolis staple Kenny Phelps on drums in the rhythm section.

"Folklore" aims to bring joy to the listener, and provide memorable melodies and moments from each track. The combination of contemporary jazz, folk, classical and elements of funk provide musical gestures that sound familiar to audiences while also pushing the envelope in crossing those lines. Tracks like "Storybook" and "The Primrose Path" bring in elements of R&B and funk while referencing musical themes on the album, while "Suspension (Adrift, Glide)" combines elements of swing and ECM with R&B, and "Premonition, Acuity, Flourish" combines elements of minimalism and straight-ahead jazz.

May12

Come hear Sam Butler and his Folklore Sextet at Fulton Street Collective! Sets start at 8 and 10:15, and will feature music from the upcoming "Folklore" release, along with other original compositions and known favorites. Tickets are a suggested $15 a person. The band features:

Garrett Fasig - alto saxophone Kyle Cantrell - tenor saxophone Marco Giovannelli - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Francis Bassett-Dilley - drums

With special guest: Greg Ward on alto saxophone!

May11

Come hear Sam Butler and his Folklore Sextet at Merriman's Playhouse in South Bend! Set starts at 7:30, and will feature music from the upcoming "Folklore" release, along with other original compositions and known favorites. Tickets are $10 a person, and $5 for students. The band features:

Garrett Fasig - alto saxophone Kyle Cantrell - tenor saxophone Marco Giovannelli - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Francis Bassett-Dilley - drums

Apr27

"Folklore" Sextet at Cliff Bell's

Cliff Bell's, 2030 Park Avenue, Detroit, MI

Come hear Sam Butler and his Folklore Sextet at the world-famous Cliff Bell's in Detroit! Sets start at 7:30 and 9:30, and will feature music from the upcoming "Folklore" release, along with other original compositions and known favorites. Tickets are $20 a person. The band features:

Garrett Fasig - alto saxophone Andrew Kreitner - tenor saxophone Marco Giovannelli - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Francis Bassett-Dilley - drums

Apr26

"Folklore" Album Release Show

Blockhouse Bar, 205 S College Ave, Bloomington, IN

Kicking off a 5-show Midwest tour, come see "Folklore" performed live, sets at 7:30 and 9 PM at The Blockhouse Bar! This is the album release party for the record, which is out on May 5th. Cover is $10 at the door, $5 for students. The band features:

Garrett Fasig - alto saxophone Kyle Cantrell - tenor saxophone Marco Giovannelli - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Francis Bassett-Diller - drums

with special guest: Greg Ward - alto saxophone

Oct26

“Folklore” @ Blockhouse Bar

Blockhouse Bar, 205 S College Ave, Bloomington, IN

Come out for sets at 7:30 and 9 pm to hear the “Folklore” band play music from the upcoming Spring 2023 album of the same name.

Set at 7:30 is with a new band, “Changing of the Guard,” featuring:

Caleb Robinson - tenor saxophone Dan Ventura - Piano Alex Hoberty - Bass Tate Sherman - Drums

“Folklore” band at 9 pm featuring:

Kyle Cantrell - Alto Garrett Fasig - Tenor Marco Giovanelli - Piano Isaac Beaumont - Bass Francis Bassett-Dilley - Drums

Sep2

"Folklore" @ Swing in September

Dunn Meadow, Bloomington, IN

Come hear the "Folklore" Sextet play in the first installment of the 2022 season of Swing in September in Dunn Meadow! Bring lawn chairs and blankets to outside and enjoy some live music.

Featuring:

Kyle Cantrell - Alto Saxophone Garrett Fasig - Tenor Saxophone Austin Thomas - Piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - Bass Francis Bassett-Dilley - Drums

Apr27

Come hear Sam perform with an all new band at the Blockhouse Bar, set at 8:30 p.m! A new set of original music that blends the genres of folk, jazz, and rock. $5, 21+.

Featuring:

Sam Butler - trumpet Greg Ward - alto Garrett Fasig - tenor Luther Allison - piano Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Kenny Phelps - drums

Apr21

Macrohard Onfire @ The Bishop Bar

The Bishop Bar, 123 S Walnut St, Bloomington, IN

A raucous set curated by multi-instrumentalists and producers Joey Miller and Garrett Spoelhof.

Featuring: Garrett Spoelhof - vocoder/keyboards Joey Miller - vocals/percussion/keyboards Abhik Mazumder - keyboards Isaac Beaumont - bass Brendan Keller-Tuberg - bass Justin Clark - drums Garrett Fasig - alto sax Kyle Cantrell - tenor sax Sam Butler - trumpet

Apr20

Jack Rudin Jazz Championship @ Jazz at Lincoln Center

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Jazz at Lincoln Center, 10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY

The IU Brent Wallarab Jazz Ensemble is traveling to New York City to compete in the second iteration of the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, a festival centered on promoting the highest level of collegiate jazz ensembles in the United States. The band finished 2nd in the competition in 2020.

There are tickets available for the Combo Showcase on April 19th, as well as the full competition. There will also be a final concert with the JALC Orchestra that night, and streaming option are available.

Apr11

Come watch the IU Plummer Jazz Sextet perform with world-renowned tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana. The Plummer Jazz Sextet is a Bloomington based combo focused on writing and performing original music by the students under the direction of IU faculty member, alto saxophonist and composer Greg Ward. This concert will feature the music of Aldana being played with the ensemble.