Sam Blakeslee Large Group

Sam Blakeslee Large Group

is a 17-piece contemporary jazz orchestra that features original compositions and arrangements in a variety of styles and moods. The Large Group held a monthly residency at Blu Jazz in Akron, OH from January 2016-July 2017. Through the Blu Jazz Masterclass Foundation, the group featured many special guest artists including Grammy- Nominated NYC jazz artists Dan Wilson, Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis, as well as Dominick Farinacci, David Smith, and renowned pianist and composer Bill Dobbins. In February 2020, Sam was a featured composer in Miho Hazama's Jazz Composer Showcase at the Jazz Gallery. In May 2020, Sam was the recipient of a COVID-19 Commission Grant from the International Association of Jazz Arrangers & Composers. The subsequent piece, Another Day In Which To Excel was released on all streaming platforms in January 2021.