During his career, Ambrose Akinmusire has paradoxically situated himself in both the center and the periphery of jazz, most recently emerging in classical and hip hop circles. He’s on a perpetual quest for new paradigms, masterfully weaving inspiration from other genres, arts, and life in general into compositions that are as poetic and graceful as they are bold and unflinching.
He has proven himself an artist of rare ability and wide-ranging aesthetic interests on his Blue Note albums When the Heart Emerges Glistening (2011), the imagined savior is far easier to paint (2014), A Rift in Decorum: Live at the Village Vanguard (2017), and Origami Harvest (2018). With on the tender spot of every calloused moment (2020), Akinmusire reaches a new pinnacle with his quartet of longtime bandmates – Sam Harris (piano), Harish Raghavan (bass), and Justin Brown (drums) – on an album of gorgeous, shape-shifting art that is a study of the blues in a contemporary context.
His unorthodox approach to sound and composition make him a regular on critics polls and have earned him grants and commissions from the Doris Duke Foundation, the MAP Fund, the Kennedy Center, and the Monterey Jazz Festival, amongst others. While Akinmusire continues to garner accolades, his reach is always beyond—himself, his instrument, genre, form, preconceived notions, and anything else imposing limitations.
Motivated primarily by the spiritual and practical value of art, Akinmusire wants to remove the wall of erudition surrounding his music. He aspires to create richly textured emotional landscapes that tell the stories of the community, record the time, and change the standard. While committed to continuing the lineage of black invention and innovation, he manages to honor tradition without being stifled by it.
on the tender spot of every calloused moment - Ambrose Akinmusire
Origami Harvest - Ambrose Akinmusire
Our Point Of View - Blue Note All-Stars
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE “ORIGAMI HARVEST”
Ambrose Akinmusire “on the tender spot of every calloused moment”
The first note you hear on Ambrose Akinmusire’s fifth studio album on the tender spot of every calloused moment is his own—a somber yet vibrant tone that conveys jazz and the blues in equal measure. In years past, this wouldn’t be the case; Akinmusire is a bandleader who foregrounds collective improvisation. So to hear him take the lead on “Tide of Hyacinth” is a bold leap: Akinmusire... read more
CONGRATS GRAMMY NOMINEES: GERALD CLAYTON, AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, GREGORY PORTER, NORAH JONES & MAVIS STAPLES
Congratulations to all our Blue Note nominees for the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards! Best Jazz Instrumental Album on the tender spot of every calloused moment - Ambrose Akinmusire Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard - Gerald Clayton Best Improvised Jazz Solo “Celia” - Gerald Clayton (soloist)... read more
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE: NEW ALBUM “ON THE TENDER SPOT OF EVERY CALLOUSED MOMENT” OUT 6/5
On June 5, trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire will release on the tender spot of every calloused moment, an arresting new quartet album which presents 11 new original compositions featuring his long-time bandmates pianist Sam Harris, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Justin Brown. The album—his fifth for... read more
Mar 27
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Solo: Beauty is Not Enough @ Big Ears Music Fest, Knoxville United States
Mar 28
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire/Honey from a Winter Stone, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville United States
Apr 22
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire @ Village Vanguard, New York/NY, New York United States
Apr 23
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire @ Village Vanguard, New York/NY, New York United States
Apr 24
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Village Vanguard, New York/NY, New York United States
Apr 25
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire @ Village Vanguard, New York/NY, New York United States
Apr 26
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire @ Village Vanguard, New York/NY, New York United States
Apr 27
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Village Vanguard, New York/NY, New York United States
May 24
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Academia de Musica de Espinho, Espinho/PT, Espinho Portugal
May 25
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ El Molino, Barcelona/SP, Barcelona Spain
May 25
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ El Molino, Barcelona/SP, Barcelona Spain
May 26
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Ainmusire Quartet @ Teatro Lara, Madrid/SP, Madrid Spain
May 28
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ G LIvelab Helsinki/FI, Helsinki Finland
May 29
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ G Livelab Tampere, Tampere/FI, Tampere Finland
May 30
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire @ Jassmine, Warsaw/PL, Warszawa Poland
May 31
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Jassmine, Warsaw/PL, Warszawa Poland
Jun 01
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Piazzetta Calderari, Pordenone/IT, Pordenone Italy
Jun 05
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire's Trefoil featuring Sullivan Fortner & Tyshawn Sorey @ Spoleto Festival, Charleston United States
Jun 05
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet @ Spoleto Music Festival, Charleston United States
Jun 06
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire/Honey from a Winter Stone, Spoleto Festival, Charleston United States
Jun 07
Ambrose Akinmusire
Ambrose Akinmusire Solo -Beauty is Enough, Spoleto Festival, Charleston United States
Jul 13
Ambrose Akinmusire
Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam Netherlands
