www.vibesworkshop.com

Homepage: www.tylerblanton.net

28 year old Jazz Vibraphonist and composer Tyler Blanton is gaining recognition as a major new voice on the New York Jazz scene. Since arriving in New York City in 2007, his bands have consistently featured some of the most important performers of his generation; Saxophonists Joel Frahm, Seamus Blake, Noah Preminger, Ben Wendell and John Ellis. Bassists Massimo Biolcati, Marco Panascia, and Matt Clohesy, and drummers Richie Barshay, Anthony Pinciotti, Mark Ferber, and Tommy Crane, among numerous others. Blanton’s playing style is most often described as warm and lyrical, but rooted in the Bebop and post- bop styles of Milt Jackson and Gary Burton. Compositionally, Blanton’s music is eclectic, though inherently melodic, swinging, and optimistic in nature. His Debut album “Botanic” was released in October of 2010 and has already garnered considerable attention from fans and critics.

Blanton is a native of Ojai, California where he grew up playing drums and percussion. In his late teens, he began private study with a number of professional musicians in the LA area and turned his musical focus to marimba and vibraphone. After several years of exploring the classical percussion literature, and inspired in part by his grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, Blanton became quickly drawn to jazz and improvised music on the vibraphone.

His musical studies lead him to Sonoma State University in the San Francisco Bay area, where he graduated cum laude from the jazz performance program in 2006. By that time he had established himself in the San Francisco Bay area jazz scene and was performing regularly at clubs and festivals, often times with the Universities’ faculty. The most noted project from Blanton’s college years in the bay area was a joint project with guitarist and Bay Area legend, Randy Vincent. One of the longest standing faculty members at Sonoma State University, Vincent is regarded as a treasure of the bay area music scene and has performing credits with the likes of Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Hutcherson, and many others. The group’s progress culminated with the release of “Nisha’s Dream.” (triangular music) in 2007, which largely featured original compositions by Vincent and Blanton.

In 2007, Blanton relocated to New York City where he very quickly developed musical connections with some of the leading players of his generation and began gaining recognition as a bandleader and composer. In October of 2010 his debut album as a leader, “Botanic” was released which features one of New York City’s top saxophonists; JoelFrahm. In a very short time since its release, Botanic has garnered considerable notice by fans and critics. “Botanic” has been chosen as one of Hot House magazine’s “Best recordings of 2011,” and was described as “engaging, unpredictable, easy on the ear, relaxing music of considerable substance” by Jazz Inside New York. In addition to regularly performing in New York, Blanton has lead groups nationally and oversees, maintaining a busy schedule both as a performer and educator.