Marcel Blanchet

The Journey of E, a jazz musical described as a hybrid of music and drama. - The Recorder

Recommendation Letter for future contract. - John Cavaliere, Owner of Lyric Hall

An intimate stage, this week from Wednesday to Saturday, April 4-7, it will present “The Journey of E,” an anthology of the history of jazz and an homage to Edith Piaf, hence the E in the title. Written, directed and performed by Marcel Blanchet and his quartet Beyond the Sun, the audience is taken on a trip through history from the pre-Depression years of 1928 until 1945, in America and across the pond to Europe.

Marcel plays a newspaper boy who uses the day’s headlines as stopping-off points for a musical cavalcade of numbers, starting with Louie Armstrong’s “West End Blues.” Blanchet calls Armstrong the Michael Jackson of his age. As he hawks his papers, he travels along New York City’s Great White Way and picks up fellow musicians Ryan Larson on keyboard and Jedd Chlebowski on bass to join him on drums. When chanteuse Carolyn Raming strolls down the boulevard, his quartet is complete.

The hot jam session salts the air with the sultry and smoky sounds of Carolyn caressing “Love Me or Leave Me,” which segues into the Yiddish “Bei Mir Bisdu Shein” and breaks into French for “Stormy Weather.” Other wonderful numbers tumble after, like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Caravan,” “God Bless the Child” and a charming French version of “Wish Upon a Star.”

In tribute to cabaret great Edith Piaf, the group slides back in time to offer “Autumn Leaves” and “La Vie en Rose” before it travels back to the United States for a gig at a Harlem hotspot with a hearty and happy “Lullaby of Birdland.”
For tickets ($10-15) to performances of “The Journey of E, a Jazz Musical” Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. visit http://urit.ticketleap.com/
or call 203-513-3201
Let Marcel Blanchet and his jazz combo Beyond the Sun take you on a delightful musical journey jam packed with jazz, both hot and cool, for your listening pleasure. - Reviewer - NY Times, Bonnie's Blog The Balcony and Beyond, Middletown Press

This is a letter of recommendation from the Executive Directors of one of the theaters that we have performed in. - Chuck Stills, Executive Director of the Katharine Hepburn Theater

By Donna Doherty, Register Arts Editor.

“The Journey of E, A Jazz Musical,” written by Marcel P. Blanchet and performed with his Beyond the Sun musicians - New Haven Register

High energy and marvelously entertaining, Marcel Blanchet is the quintessential Renaissance man who can also pull in a crowd. His intriguing mix of talents (jazz musician, writer, speaker, and multi-media producer) is one reason why Beyond the Sun is in such demand for corporate events, city festivals, and intimate shindigs. And when it comes to creating radio and TV commercials, Marcel is a natural. He wows listeners with his originality and virtuosity as a performer.


testimonial from - Lynn Haney an American Biographer
- Lynn Haney an American Biographer

With a new Christmas CD, Guilford's Marcel Blanchet captures the spirit of the holidays in a way that truly embodies good will toward others.

The talented jazz musician and producer and his jazz group Beyond the Sun will give 100 percent of sales of the 1,500-copy first release of their new holiday CD Somewhere Paradise to the ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter.
"There are just a lot of beautiful people out there," says Marcel, who also thanks Beyond the Sun and the CD's guest artists. Marcel's college friend John Tuzzolo (Johnny Ray) co-wrote the title cut with him. Ray sings the lullaby on the CD.

"That song is a gift of love. I wrote it over 30 years ago, as a gift to my mom's sister, who was having a baby. Now that baby's an adult and she's having a baby, so the song's become a gift of a gift," says Marcel.
Beyond the Sun consists of Marcel (drums), Kalim Zarif (keyboards), Morris Trent (bass), and singer Carolyn Raming. The jazz group gigs in this area, across the country, and around the world, from Los Angeles to New Orleans and from Berlin to Brazil.

"We do a lot of fundraisers…It's part of my philosophy. It gives me an opportunity to be a voice for a good cause and at the same time entertain and bring an audience to jazz," says Marcel.

- Shore Publishing

With a new Christmas CD, Guilford's Marcel Blanchet captures the spirit of the holidays in a way that truly embodies good will toward others.

The talented jazz musician and producer and his jazz group Beyond the Sun will give 100 percent of sales of the 1,500-copy first release of their new holiday CD Somewhere Paradise to the ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter.
"There are just a lot of beautiful people out there," says Marcel, who also thanks Beyond the Sun and the CD's guest artists. Marcel's college friend John Tuzzolo (Johnny Ray) co-wrote the title cut with him. Ray sings the lullaby on the CD.

"That song is a gift of love. I wrote it over 30 years ago, as a gift to my mom's sister, who was having a baby. Now that baby's an adult and she's having a baby, so the song's become a gift of a gift," says Marcel.
Beyond the Sun consists of Marcel (drums), Kalim Zarif (keyboards), Morris Trent (bass), and singer Carolyn Raming. The jazz group gigs in this area, across the country, and around the world, from Los Angeles to New Orleans and from Berlin to Brazil.

"We do a lot of fundraisers…It's part of my philosophy. It gives me an opportunity to be a voice for a good cause and at the same time entertain and bring an audience to jazz," says Marcel.

- Shore Publishing

Marcel and Beyond the Sun Has Signed a Licensing Deal with World Wide Arts Independent Coffee Network

Posted: 2009-06-09 Comments


SOURCE: All About Jazz Publicity

Jazz in you Coffee
Marcel and Beyond the Sun has signed a licensing deal with the Independent Coffee Network

New Haven, CT -- Marcel and Beyond the Sun produced by UR iT Productions, and World Wide Arts' Independent Coffee Network a music video entertainment provider, have announced a licensing deal which will use the Jazz Quartet's New CD release “Black Coffee" in its promotional music videos. The licensing deal will broadcast Marcel and Beyond the Sun's CD Black Coffee in independent coffee houses though out the United States.

World Wide Arts provides independent coffee store owners with an HD flat screen television that delivers fresh and engaging content with music via broadband. The content also includes appropriate short messages from brand marketers to promote their products and services. The Independent Coffee Network mission is to serve thousands of independent coffee stores as one, creating a powerful independent group of stores.

“We are very excited to see the interest in our New CD Black Coffee and we feel our music really fits this market, said Marcel Blanchet, drummer/producer. We hope that we can visit many of the independent coffee stores that play our music and perform in concert in these areas to say thank you to our new audience"

World Wide Arts created the Independent Coffee Network with a simple proposition: give the independent coffee store owner a unique and original media product, differentiating them from ubiquitous chain stores and connecting the fiercely loyal and independent consumer with the indie business owners. WWA aggregates original musical content from all genres and delivers the first and only network of original artistic video content to independent coffee store owners. The independent Coffee Network brings coffee customers thought content that is contextual to the coffee house environment creating better engagement for customers and marketers.

Marcel and Beyond the Sun just released their new CD “Black Coffee" and will be performing in concert July 5th, in Guilford, Connecticut, “Jazz on the Green", sponsored by the Shoreline Alliance for the Arts. One of the Largest Jazz outdoor concerts on the Connecticut Shoreline.




- All About Jazz Publicity

PEACE Drums and Percussion is happy to announce Marcel Blanchet as one of their new Artist and featured Artist on their Website http://www.peace-drums.com - PEACE Drums and Percussion

The Blackstone Memorial Library is hosting a unique musical event in its auditorium Saturday, Sept. 29. An “honor in jazz” for both legendary drummer Max Roach and for the 30th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award is sure to stir the soul when performed by some of the area’s most accomplished musicians. “Sharing Love and Freedom,” which features an original multimedia piece by Roach composed in 1981 and is dedicated to King, will benefit Hospice of Branford. Marcel Blanchet, drummer and leader of the jazz quartet Magnifique will perform a special arrangement based on the Aug. 28, 1963 speech made on the steps of the Lincoln memorial by Dr. King. The arrangement was written and performed by Roach in tribute to King in 1981 and called “The Dream”; Roach died this past August at age 83. Blanchet said that performing a piece with such profound meaning is important, but shouldn’t detract from the enjoyment and beauty of the multimedia composition. “Roach’s work is a very interesting piece of spoken word and video imagery of both Dr. King and Roach. We are excited to perform it,” said Blanchet. “We play a lot of different styles–swing, jazz, rock jazz, bebop, standards, everyone will find something to love. “We really want people to realize the contributions of Martin Luther Kling and continue his dream. We hope everyone will come out and share the love and freedom with our fellow brothers and sisters, and friends.” The Rev. Charles Woody is slated to recite Dr. King’s speech in this presentation. Blanchet’s quartet is rounded out by Bill Carrera of Providence on keys, Fred Stroud from Buffalo, on bass, East Haven’s own Stephanie Hadden on tenor, and Blanchet of Guilford. Blanchet is also chief information officer for Hospice and in light of Roach’s passing asks residents to remember the work in which the organization is involved: dignity and compassion at the end of one’s days. “Sharing Love and Freedom” is at the James Blackstone Memorial Library Auditorium, 578 Main Street, Branford on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and refreshments are available for purchase. Limited seating available; tickets were close to a sellout before publication. Doors open at 7 p.m. Call 203-488-0724 for more information - Shore Publishing Inc. by Ben Rayner

The Blackstone Memorial Library is hosting a unique musical event in its auditorium Saturday, Sept. 29. An “honor in jazz” for both legendary drummer Max Roach and for the 30th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award is sure to stir the soul when performed by some of the area’s most accomplished musicians. “Sharing Love and Freedom,” which features an original multimedia piece by Roach composed in 1981 and is dedicated to King, will benefit Hospice of Branford. Marcel Blanchet, drummer and leader of the jazz quartet Magnifique will perform a special arrangement based on the Aug. 28, 1963 speech made on the steps of the Lincoln memorial by Dr. King. The arrangement was written and performed by Roach in tribute to King in 1981 and called “The Dream”; Roach died this past August at age 83. Blanchet said that performing a piece with such profound meaning is important, but shouldn’t detract from the enjoyment and beauty of the multimedia composition. “Roach’s work is a very interesting piece of spoken word and video imagery of both Dr. King and Roach. We are excited to perform it,” said Blanchet. “We play a lot of different styles–swing, jazz, rock jazz, bebop, standards, everyone will find something to love. “We really want people to realize the contributions of Martin Luther Kling and continue his dream. We hope everyone will come out and share the love and freedom with our fellow brothers and sisters, and friends.” The Rev. Charles Woody is slated to recite Dr. King’s speech in this presentation. Blanchet’s quartet is rounded out by Bill Carrera of Providence on keys, Fred Stroud from Buffalo, on bass, East Haven’s own Stephanie Hadden on tenor, and Blanchet of Guilford. Blanchet is also chief information officer for Hospice and in light of Roach’s passing asks residents to remember the work in which the organization is involved: dignity and compassion at the end of one’s days. “Sharing Love and Freedom” is at the James Blackstone Memorial Library Auditorium, 578 Main Street, Branford on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and refreshments are available for purchase. Limited seating available; tickets were close to a sellout before publication. Doors open at 7 p.m. Call 203-488-0724 for more information - Shore Publishing Inc. by Ben Rayner