Cleveland-based trombonist and composer Sam Blakeslee brings an international quintet to the Bop Stop as part of his 5-city tour this February. With it's members hailing from Israel, The Netherlands, New York City, and Cincinnati, the group combines some of the most original and innovative voices on the jazz scene today both regionally and abroad. Come out to the Bop Stop on February 19th to catch this special one-night performance!

• Sam Blakeslee - trombone (Cleveland)
• Brandon Coleman - guitar (Cincinnati)
• Jorn Swart - piano (Netherlands/NYC)
• Cory Todd - bass (NYC)
• Dan Pugach - drums (Israel/NYC)

Sam Blakeslee is a trombonist/composer originally from Columbus, OH but now resides in Cleveland. Sam graduated from Youngstown State University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies where he studied with Dr. Dave Morgan, Dr. Kent Englehardt, and Dr. Michael Crist. In 2013, Sam graduated with a Master’s Degree in Brass Performance from the University of Akron where he studied with Ed Zadrozny and Jack Schantz. From 2013-2014 Sam served as Instructor for Jazz at Youngstown State University. He currently is the Director of the Jazz Prep Program at Cuyahoga Community College and is the Instructor of Improvisation at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Cincinnati-based Brandon Coleman is one of the Midwest's most acclaimed and rising jazz guitarists, dedicating his vision to expansive texture and energetic performances. CriticalJazz.com said of Coleman, “While New York City is widely considered the home for modern jazz guitar, Brandon Coleman is based out of Cincinnati and has the skills to jump into the jazz mecca of the universe with both feet. I have reviewed over three hundred guitarists in three years, Brandon Coleman leaps to the head of the class with his latest release ‘Decisions’…Coleman is special because he sounds like no one else. While his technical proficiency is beyond reproach, Coleman has an deceptively subtle artistic sense of harmonic movement that could be considered in the same style as that of a Bill Evans. One can pick out bits and pieces from a plethora of modern jazz giants but for sake of
argument consider Danny Gatton meets John Abercrombie on the way to a Ralph Towner show if you feel the need to toss an arbitrary label on his craft.” Coleman endorses Curt Mangan Strings, Timbertones Picks and Timberwolf Guitars.

Jorn Swart (1987, The Netherlands) is a spirited up-and-coming jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, currently living and performing in New York City. His refined playing and touching compositions already gained him much international and national recognition. In November 2013 he toured Europe with his critically acclaimed debut album “A Day in the Life of Boriz”. His new project, MALNOIA, is a bass- and drum-less trio that soon will record an album. In 2010 he received a Fulbright grant, Huygens Scholarship, and a fund from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds in order to pursue his Master's Degree in New York City, where he studied with David Berkman, Johannes Weidenmueller, Sophia Rossof, and Jean-Michel Pilc. In 2011 he was one of the 20 musicians from around the world selected for the "Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency" in Washington, D.C. That same year he was the winner of the Sir Roland Hanna Award, a yearly award presented to an excelling jazz pianist. In the United States he has performed with greats such as Jimmy Heath, Sheila Jordan, and Antonio Hart, and in the Netherlands with Tineke Postma, Benjamin Herman, Jasper Blom, and Clemens van der Feen. Jorn has performed and toured all across Europe and the East Coast of the U.S.

Cory Todd is a bassist and composer from Maryland and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. A recent graduate of Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, Cory has spent years touring internationally in various groups and sharing the stage with world renknown musicians such as Esperanza Spalding, Jamey Haddad, The Bad Plus, Donny McCaslin, Jaw Jam, and others. His band, "Drama Section" will be releasing their debut album "I'll Have What I'm Having" in 2016.

Dan Pugach is a Brooklyn-based drummer and composer. Originally from Israel, Dan served his mandatory three- year military duty as drummer for the Air-Force Orchestra. During that duty he studied Rimon School of Music and got his diploma in jazz performance. After the army Dan traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for three months to study percussion and drums with the world’s leading samba musicians. Shortly after, he moved to the United States to expand his musical career. He got his B.M from Berklee College of Music and his M.A from the City College of New York, both degrees specializing in jazz performance and composition. Since then, Dan has been working as a full-time drummer, composer, arranger and orchestrator in New York City. His involvement in projects that vary from modern jazz to pop and folk music got him a reputation of one of the most versatile and sought-after drummer in town. Pugach is also known for his Nonet (nine-piece ensemble) that has won him two ASCAP Jazz Composer Award and many arranging/composing commissions for medium-size ensembles to full big band.