It was such a delight to have John Raymond and S. Cary performing live with Romain Collin, Dave Devine, Katie Ernst and special guest Ross Gay last Friday night as part of our Hand Picked series. Their new album, Shadowlands, is breathtaking – and up for consideration for 2 GRAMMY Awards! There was so much love from the community during this sold out show and we wish them the best during the rest of their debut tour.

Photos by Anna Powell Denton

‘Shadowlands’ is a stunning collection of songs uprooted from simple genre descriptors. Recorded in the woods of Eau Claire, Wisconsin where the two met almost twenty years ago, the music combines the warmth and beauty of Carey’s aesthetic with the improvisational, spontaneous nature of Raymond’s, blurring the lines between indie folk, forward-thinking jazz, lush pop, and atmospheric electronic music. Soaring and anthemic moments are balanced with the intimate and meditative, giving way to a wide range of expression. Surrounding Carey’s breathy vocals and Raymond’s lyrical horn is an earthy sonic landscape that blends acoustic and electronic textures effortlessly, and the subtle, electric moments of musical interplay throughout the album repeatedly invite you deeper into their new musical world.

John Raymond is one of the most promising, genre-bending musicians in jazz today. With a singular voice as a trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer, Raymond is ​“steering jazz in the right direction” (Downbeat Magazine) by pushing its boundaries, seamlessly incorporating indie-rock, folk and electronic influences into his music. As Something Else reviews stated, ​“This is jazz, yes, but jazz with an open mind’.

John has released eight albums under his own name, and has received praise from Stereogum, the New York Times, Downbeat, and more. He has also been associated with four Grammy-nominated albums. Raymond has performed with jazz luminaries such as Billy Hart, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Orrin Evans, Linda May Han Oh, Gilad Hekselman, and Cory Wong, and has also recorded with artists including Sara Bareilles, Darnell Davis, and Sandra McCracken.

John is a sought-after educator, both as Professor of Jazz Studies at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and as a guest clinician and soloist at schools around the world. His book, ​“The Jazz Trumpet Routine,” explores an approach to fundamentals through the lens of a creative improviser and has sold over 800 copies since its release in 2020. He is also the creator and host of the podcast ​“The Trumpet Summit” where he talks shop with other master jazz trumpeters including Tom Harrell, Sean Jones, Ingrid Jensen, the Snarky Puppy Horns, and more.

john​-raymond​.com

Over the past fifteen years, S. Carey has become an essential collaborator within the Bon Iver community and beyond, serving as the longest member of the touring band and contributing to their last three full length albums. He has honed his skills as a songwriter, producer, and collaborator with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Low, Mason Jennings, Mike Kinsella, Pieta Brown, Taylor Deupree, Bruce Hornsby, Ymusic, and many more. While fostering his own work through themes of nature, love, heartbreak, and sustainability, Carey’s heartfelt lyricism often lives within a bed of lush and beautiful sounds, akin to some Bon Iver sonic landscapes, but unique in his own way. S. Carey has released four full length records, All We Grow (2010), Range of Light (2014), Hundred Acres (2018), and Break Me Open (2022). On his latest release, Break Me Open, he created the record during the most challenging and change-filled period of his life — confronting the pain of his marriage falling apart, the passing of his father, and the growth of his children, only to emerge with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and generosity. Carey resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he spends most of his time out of doors: walking, running, mushroom hunting, or most likely standing in a stream trying to fool fish with flies and contemplating the cosmos.

scarey​.org

The Hand Picked Music Series is presented by Bloomington Roots and the Far Center for Contemporary Arts. The goal of Hand Picked is to create intimate, curated performances — ensuring a balance of sound and intimacy, while also bringing in acts unique to the area. Learn more at bloomingtonroots​.com.