Seattle trumpeter and bandleader Samantha Boshnack synthesizes a dazzling array of musical influences in her sophisticated yet fun and highly original compositions—from intricate chamber writing to lush jazz panoramas and funky brass band-inspired grooves. Whether blasting through the sonic explorations with her alternative chamber orchestra, B’shnorkestra, or leading the 7-piece Seismic Belt or her quintet, Boshnack’s compositional voice pulses with vitality.
Drawn to it’s vibrant music scene, Boshnack moved to Seattle in 2003 after graduating from New York’s Bard College. The subsequent twenty-one years find her actively bolstering the thriving musical community and creating ensembles, commissions, recordings and performances both locally and nationally. She is a part of the acclaimed composers’ collective Alchemy Sound Project and was a member of the zany, postmodern Reptet. Boshnack has toured nationally and internationally and has released five albums as a bandleader. In 2018, Boshnack was awarded the annual Make Jazz Fellowship (a three-month residency in LA) sponsored by the Herb Alpert Foundation to honor and support promising, emerging jazz composers. She has received support and commissioning funds from New Music USA, Meet The Composer, 4Culture, Artist Trust, Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, New York Foundation of the Arts, and Earshot Jazz. She has performed or recorded with artists such as Wayne Horvitz, Butch Morris, Eyvind Kang, Jessica Lurie, Bobby Previte, Amy Denio, Terry Riley, Robin Holcomb, among others.
“Boshnack is in possession of an acerbic wit and an encyclopedic knowledge of all sorts of music from bargain-bin to top shelf.” (The New York City Jazz Record)
“A fixture of Seattle’s prolific jazz community, Samantha Boshnack is both an agile, expressive trumpet player and a wily, far-reaching composer.” (Crosscut)
“Boshnack can scream or play it sweet.” (All About Jazz New York)