Huntertones
March 8, 2025 @ 7:30 pm
Huntertones are a rare exception – a true band that has been touring and recording together for over 10 years. The six members of the Huntertones met while studying jazz at Ohio State University. They formed a group outside of the curriculum with the objective of forming a house band for the parties they hosted at their apartment on Hunter Avenue (hence the name – Huntertones). The now legendary parties grew in fame, as did their connection with each other. Their incessant touring has brought them to twenty-five countries including four state department-sponsored tours. Their tight frontline has also been recognized as a superlative horn section for others including Lake Street Dive, Kurt Elling, Ricky Martin, and Louis Cato, including an appearance as part of the house band on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Huntertone’s collective influences are wide-ranging, their disparate influences include gospel, hip-hop, rock, blues, and soul – from Peter Gabriel to Sonny Rollins, from David Bowie to Hiatus Coyote, from James Cleveland to Frank Zappa. In an interview with an ABC affiliate in Rochester, NY, when asked to summarize their music they said, “High energy, horn-driven, danceable, up-tempo, we want people to feel good.” Huntertone’s music is tailored to modern sensibilities. They are social media savvy and eager to play within the constructs of modern culture with some of their repertoire including mashups of arrangements by Queen, Michael Jackson, Snarky Puppy, and Stevie Wonder.
Huntertones are playful, but they are very serious – their music is of the highest quality, precise and tight. Lionel Louke, guitarist with Herbie Hancock, sums up their vibe well: “Soulful, tasty and groovy. I dare you not to dance or be in a good mood during and after listening to this beautiful music.”
—Jon Batiste
