BRATTLEBORO — The Vermont Jazz Center will present Huntertones this Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m., featuring Dan White, tenor saxophone; Jon Lampley, trumpet and sousaphone; Chris Ott, trombone and beatbox; Josh Hill, guitar; Adam DeAscentis, bass; and John Hubbell, drums.
Huntertones is a sextet of musicians who have traveled to over 25 countries. They have collaborated with musicians from South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe as part of a State Department program initiated in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower “to improve the public image of the US in the light of criticism... around racial inequality and racial tension” (Wikipedia). Huntertones began their first of four state department tours in 2016.
Despite the clear influences of funk in this band’s sound, it’s still easy to perceive Huntertones’ deep connection to the jazz legacy, according to a news release. Elements of their compositions can be traced back to Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and gospel legend, James Cleveland. Their varied sets embrace funk, gospel, hard bop and straight-ahead jazz, but they also enjoy cleverly arranged mashups of surprising pop tunes from the songbooks of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Queen.
When asked to summarize their music, Lampley said: “High energy, horn-driven, danceable, and up-tempo. We are a band that very much thrives on playing live…you can’t really replace the energy of the six of us playing in a room reacting with each other.”
The VJC expressed gratitude for the sponsorship of Dave Snyder of Guilford Sound, one of the Jazz Center’s major supporters. Their sponsorship allows for reduced-price admission to VJC concerts and subsidizes free admission for local music students. The VJC is also thankful for the ongoing support from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. VJC publicity is underwritten by the Brattleboro Reformer and the Commons.
Tickets for Huntertones at the Vermont Jazz Center are $25+ general admission, (contact VJC about educational discounts); available online at www.vtjazz.org, or by email at sarah@vtjazz.org. Tickets and information on handicapped access can be attained by calling the Vermont Jazz Center ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1.
