Both Sam Butler and Garrett Fasig have been awarded the Hoagy Carmichael Award for Excellence in Jazz Composition.
Sam and Garrett’s Visions Jazz Ensemble will record the collection this coming December at Primary Sound Studios in Bloomington, Indiana. All of the musicians, including NYC based vocalist April Varner, are Indiana University graduates. Joining Sam (trumpet) and Garrett (alto saxophone) in the band will be Caleb Robinson (tenor saxophone), Jeff Parker (trombone), Alex Turner (guitar), David Linard (piano), Alex Hoberty (bass), and Francis Bassett-Dilley (drums).
The provisional title of the recording is Of the People. The band is booked for their first live performance of the recording at the February 15, 2026 SundayJazzBrunch@SILO show. Mark your calendars! More live performances are in the works for 2026.
“Project America at 250” is being financed by tax deductible donations through the Indiana Entertainment Foundation, fiscal sponsors of Brent Wallarab Projects. Over half of the funds to complete the recording have already been raised. You are invited to join the bandwagon!
Listen to the album and watch their videos below.
They appeared on Fox59’s Indy Now Mixtape show.
