guitarist/composer/producer/performer

Sean Blackman’s unique World Music style is influenced by Armenian
folk, both South and West African music, along with Brazilian
Jazz and Flamenco. And of course, growing up in Detroit --
Jazz, Blues, Rock and Soul. 

Blackman works with Detroit’s finest musicians as well as a variety
of local and internationally renowned artists. He performs over 100
shows a year in the Motor City at festivals, night clubs, corporate
events and private parties and always brings a cross-culture
approach to the music.

His styling has refined through touring the U.S. and his travels in
Brazil, Peru, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Greece by submerging
himself in the native cultures of music and dance.


Blackman has independently produced five albums of original music, including his latest CD, In Transit. This all acoustic record consists of musicians that hale from Senegal, Brazil, Armenia and the U.S. The diverse cultures within this ensemble weave a common thread through musical history that has influenced one another over time, though together is a modern-hybrid of old world sounds that cross cultures, creating a new voice in World Music.

The instrumentation on In Transit is nylon string guitar, kora (21 string African harp), up-right bass, clarinet, kanun (76 string Armenian zither) and duduk (Armenian reeded flute), all backed by a six-piece percussion ensemble including four vocal tracks. 

Blackman’s musical conception for this project attracted the participation of internationally acclaimed musicians M’baye dieye Faye and Assane Thiam of Youssou N’dour’s group, Nanny Assis of Vinicius Cantuaria’s group and Detroit’s jazz legend, Wendell Harrison; as well as technical support from Jerry Boys, the Grammy award winning sound engineer of The Buena Vista Social Club, who recorded, mixed and mastered this album.

In Transit’s live show is a multi-cultural, multi-modal production, set for the theatre. This ensemble is dedicated to creating the highest quality, most entertaining, educational and enlightening performance with the goal of expanding the viewer’s knowledge and interest in music and culture throughout the world.

Blackman has been honored with six Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding World Instrumentalist, World Recording, World Artist, and Jazz Writer.

He also held position as chairman of entertainment for prominent Detroit music festivals such as Dally in the Alley and the Birmingham African Fest. He helped launch and direct Birmingham’s prestigious Armenian Fest and has worked as creative director of entertainment for corporate events for Red Bull, Chrysler and the grand opening of the McNamara Terminal at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport – one of the nations most state-of-the-art terminals.

As an established world jazz musician, Blackman continues to compose and produce new material that links different genres of music with dance and theatrical performance. Whether on the streets of Brazil, in front of thousands at a theatre concert in Detroit, or inside a smoldering hidden nightclub, Blackman's music is disciplined from a lifetime of training, yet his raw passion makes every note seemingly intimate.