Ryan Blotnick / Mike McGinnis Quintet at Sassafrass Cafe – Bar Harbor, ME

Jazz aficionados and curious listeners alike are in for a rare and thrilling musical experience as guitarist Ryan Blotnick and saxophonist/clarinetist Mike McGinnis co-lead an all-star quintet for an intimate night of boundary-pushing jazz at Sassafrass Café in Town Hill, playing two sets – 6:00 & 7:30, come for one or stay for both!

Joining them on stage will be Ellsworth native and Berlin-based saxophonist Jeremy Viner, French-Brazilian bassist Gui Duvignau, and genre-blending percussionist Hamir Atwal. This ensemble brings together some of the most adventurous voices in modern jazz, fusing influences from Maine to Berlin to New York City and beyond.

Blotnick and McGinnis’s musical connection began through Maine’s close-knit creative scene and deepened through shared mentorship under harmony guru Paul Caputo in NYC. Their individual paths have crisscrossed through Europe and the U.S., culminating in this highly anticipated collaboration.

Fresh off a stint performing together in Berlin, Blotnick and Viner reunite on stage with a deep musical rapport built on years of exploration and mutual respect. Their set will feature a mix of bold originals and fresh takes on jazz standards—showcasing dynamic improvisation, conversational interplay, and a reverence for jazz tradition paired with a push into the future.