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Show @ 7:30 | All Ages

Welcome back Koan for their second time in the Blue Room as they bring audiences a night of R&B, Jazz, Funk, and more as a part of Carol’s Jazz Night.

Formed out of a collective of young musicians who share a love and respect for the traditions of Black American music; Koan (formerly known as Interstellar Medium) makes music as a powerful framework for communal storytelling. Through their music, Koan seeks to tell their own stories and bring audiences into the expressive power of this artform through capturing the energy, beauty and poignant power of being human. Koan approaches each performance like a grand narrative weaving together their original music with arrangements which pay homage to the great innovators of modern jazz, R&B, funk, and hip hop. They hope, like any good movie, this musical narrative will be not just nice to listen to, but will immerse all in the stories they have to tell.

Koan began in the fall of 2024 out of their desire to play the music of the Second Great Quintet and Contemporary artists like Ambrose Akinmusire and Joel Ross as well as workshop their own compositions. The group quickly began collaborating with the vocalist Avery Joi and developed a genre bending sound during their time as the hosts of the Bishop’s Lounge jazz night. As a collective they also seek to support the projects and visions of all members. Koan’s first album came out in June under the leadership of Mathew Mueller. They recently released their second album, Ian Behrstock’s Tributaries and are beginning a series of shows in Spring and Summer 2025 to celebrate it.