PRESENTED AS PART OF THE ALLUVION JAZZ SERIES
GET THE FULL 12-SHOW PACKAGE
TWO SHOWS - 7PM & 9PM - $30 advance tickets - $35 at the door
This is a fully seated, listening room style show.
Tickets sold separately for each show. Both shows are 75 minute sets.
The Alluvion Jazz Series has delivered the unbelievable once again. The one and only Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter are coming to Traverse City in quartet form with their new band: SuperBlue.
7PM SHOW
Sat August 31 • 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Doors + bar open at 6:30pm
$30 advance tickets - $35 at the door - Please note: tickets will not grant entry for the later performance
SOLD OUT
9PM SHOW
Sat August 31 • 9:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Doors + bar open at 8:30pm
$30 advance tickets - $35 at the door - Please note: tickets will not grant entry for the earlier performance
GRAMMY® Award-winner Kurt Elling is without question today’s preeminent male jazz vocalist, renowned worldwide for his unparalleled virtuosity and flair for trailblazing artistic exploration. From his stunning reinvention of timeless standards to his own captivating original songcraft, the Chicago-based musician has fused his dazzling talents across a panoply of musical approaches, emblazoning each with signature imagination, insight, and emotional intelligence.
Where many male jazz vocalists at this stage in a much vaunted career have tended to stick to the tried and true, Elling seems to be growing more ambitious and experimental with the passing of time, a tendency evidenced by his stunning new LP, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree. The followup to 2021’s remarkable SuperBlue, the album once again sees Elling joining forces with legendary producer/guitarist Charlie Hunter, drummer Marcus Finnie, and keyboardist Kenny Banks Jr. for a kaleidoscopic collection of new songs, surprising covers, and dynamic reinventions.
THE JAZZ SERIES PACKAGE
Ready for a whole year of unforgettable jazz? Purchase a ticket for the full 2024-25 season of The Alluvion Jazz Series for only $300 — that’s twelve shows for the price of ten! Plus early access to each show to pick out your favorite seat before doors open and a free Alluvion T-shirt for each package purchased.
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About the artists:
KURT ELLING - VOCALS
Renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, two-time GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling has secured his place among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. The New York Times proclaimed Elling, “the standout male vocalist of our time”. Over a twenty-five year career of touring and recording, Elling has won three Prix du Jazz Vocal (France), two German Echo Awards, two Dutch Edison Awards, and has been nominated for a GRAMMY award sixteen times. He has had a 14-year run atop the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls, and has won twelve Jazz Journalists Awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year”.
Kurt Elling’s voice is instantly recognizable, embracing listeners with his warm, rich baritone and navigating the full span of his four-octave range as a virtuoso improvisor and a compelling storyteller. The Guardian (UK) has named Kurt Elling, “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers,” and, “one of jazz’s all-time great vocalists.”
Read more on Kurt’s website
CHARLIE HUNTER - GUITAR
Charlie Hunter is a guitarist, producer and composer celebrated for his innovative approach to the guitar. He gained widespread recognition for his unique style of playing an eight-string guitar, which he custom-designed, allowing him to simultaneously play bass lines, melodies, and chords. Hunter currently plays 6 and 7 string guitars made by Hybrid Guitars Co. Hybrid Guitars was founded in 2015 when he teamed up with luthiers Clay Conner and Wes Lambe to produce fanned-fret instruments to his specifications.
Hunter's eclectic style seamlessly blends elements of jazz, funk, blues, and rock, creating a sound that is distinctly his own. His mastery of the guitar and his ability to navigate complex rhythms have earned him acclaim from both critics and fellow musicians alike.
Read more on his website
MARCUS FINNIE - DRUMS
A Memphis native, Marcus Finnie began playing drums at church accompanying his mother on organ. During this time, he practiced to vinyl records from Billy Cobham to Earth Wind and Fire. At age 4 he sat in with a band on Beale Street at Rum Boogie Cafe.
Since then, Marcus has recorded, toured and performed with Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, Lady Antebellum, India Arie, Lalah Hathaway, Nelly, Sheléa, G-Love and Special Sauce, Ana Popovic, Jacob Whitesides, Michael McDonald, Take 6 and several others. Marcus continues to record and tour all the while teaching and giving clinics. He also writes, produces and arranges R&B, pop and jazz.
Read his full bio on his website
KENNY BANKS JR. - KEYBOARD
...composer, arranger and performer who slips effortlessly among musical styles while retaining his own distinct sound.
This Columbus Ohio native has been studying and playing piano since the age of seven. He first developed his gift through the church, which led him to study music at Central State University. Following graduation, he taught vocal music in the Columbus Public Schools before pursuing his dreams by touring as a clinician, keyboardist, musical director and producer across the United States and other parts of the world.
Read his full bio on his website