Saxophonist, composer, and newcomer to Northeast Ohio, John Petrucelli makes his BOP STOP debut leading his quintet. Tickets to attend this show in person are $20 each. This event will also be livesetreamed on BOP STOP's Facebook page at showtime. Accessing the stream is free but donations are encouraged and can be made at www.givebutter.com/Petrucelli

Featuring:

• John Petrucelli, saxophones
• Tommy Lehman, trumpet
• Joey Skoch, piano
• Jordan McBride, bass
• Zaire Darden, drums

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The temptation, upon hearing John Petrucelli’s uncanny flow and remarkable command of his tenor sax in all registers on his debut album The Way is to say: “Where has this cat been?” The gifted 29-year-old makes a startlingly mature, fully realized statement as player/composer/bandleader on his auspicious debut. Surrounded by a first-rate crew of New York players, kindred spirits and marvelous improvisers; pianist Victor Gould, guitarist Peter Park, bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Gusten Rudolph and special guest drummer Victor Lewis, Petrucelli weds astounding technique to harmonic and rhythmic invention and a forceful sense of swing on The Way.

The New Jersey native began playing jazz in Trenton, mentored by jazz great Richie Cole. Petrucelli attended University of Virginia and continued his musical education under the tutelage of John D’Earth. From there he was encouraged by Terence Blanchard to move to New Orleans. The Big Easy proved to be a transformational time for John, he explored composition and deepened his connection to the jazz tradition and expanded his artistic palette. He also performed with Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra and David Mahoney’s Quintet and was a featured soloist with the Loyola University Jazz Ensemble at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival.

In the fall of 2010 Petrucelli moved back to the New York area to begin his studies at Rutgers University with saxophonist Ralph Bowen. He also joined the NYYS Jazz Orchestra, giving him the opportunity to perform with Alex Sipiagin, Sam Sadigursky and Paquito D’Rivera at venues including Symphony Space and Jazz at Lincoln Center. He also began studying and performing with Charles Tolliver and Victor Lewis.

During the summer of 2013, John began an intense slate of performances with his quintet which culminated in his 2015 debut album The Way. Jazz Weekly describes Petrucelli’s “muscular sound on the horn, [having] enthusiastically taken up the serpentine style of soloing patented by Marsh.” In fact, his approach to jazz embraces rhythmic freedom within a mainstream jazz context; as quoted in a piece from WBGO Radar: “There’s a kind of rhythmic freedom – lines don’t need to resolve in typical places,” says Petrucelli. “It was a new approach for me, and really fresh.” Petrucelli’s compelling tunes carry a potent blend of yin and yang that captivates the listener.

John continues to forge ahead with multiple projects and recordings, ranging from his Electric Trio, to his Quintet, to collaborative projects with vocalist/lyricist Anastasia Hagermann (Mischievous Minx) and trumpeter Joseph Badaczewski (Wayfarers and Pilgrims). His newest project, entitled Presence, is dedicated to explorations of the intersections of jazz, electronic and classical music which will be released in early 2018.