Premium Blend performs original compositions that are rooted in the hard bop tradition, while incorporating modern grooves and harmonies for a 21st century audience. The quartet performs regularly in the Indianapolis area and have released three albums S.O.A.P.(Sum of All Parts), The Road, and Vices (to be released summer of 2019).

Premium Blend formed in 2007 and is led by saxophonist Jared Thompson. Thompson is supported by guitarist Ryan Taylor, drummer Brian Yarde, and keyboardist Steven Jones. This configuration, comprised of keen musicians and composers in their own right, gave way to two poignant albums and a wave of new followers. In 2015, the band released their first album S.O.A.P. (Sum of All Parts) and in 2016 they were heavily featured in the award-winning Heartland Film Festival documentary \”Go Get Your Horn.\” In 2017, Premium Blend released their sophomore album \”The Road\” which took on a more socially conscious tone with heavy influences from R&B/hip-hop while still maintaining the band’s hard-bop roots and was heavily featured in the “Chatterbox” documentary debuting at the 2017 Indy Film Festival and is currently touring the U.S. The bands influences include the music of Sonny Rollins, Joshua Redman, Herbie Hancock, Wes Montgomery, and Freddie Hubbard. Premium Blend has been nominated for NUVO’s “Best Jazz” category four consecutive years and is set to release their 3rd album “Vices” in Summer 2019.