Huntertones Goes Back to Old-School

By Veronica Johnson I Oct. 20, 2026

Huntertones, from left, Josh Hill, Chris Ott, Jon Lampley, Adam DeAscentis, Dan White and John Hubbell.
(Photo: Karston Tannis)

Huntertones returned to the old-school way of recording for its latest album, Transmission. All six bandmates were in one room with no headphones, no isolation booths — just musicians with their instruments ready to make some organic music for the masses. In an era where artificial intelligence can compose melodies, software can correct every missed note and albums are often assembled one track at a time, Huntertones moved in the opposite direction. Saxophonist Dan White noted the ensemble’s decision to embrace that unpredictability.

“In the beginning when folks were recording for the gramophone and LPs and all that, it was everybody in one room,” said White via Zoom from Aspen, Colorado. “They had the horn, and if you wanted to be louder, you stepped closer to it. You want to be softer, you’d be literally further away from the mic. And I think the reason that we’re doing that and gravitating towards that is because this is a band. We’re not afraid of the collective. It’s our chemistry and the way that we hear the harmony. The way that we hear the beat is different. And that diversity is a strength, so we’re capturing that, not trying to polish and control every little minute detail by isolating each other. Instead, we want to be in it together, you know, in the sauce.”

That philosophy explains why Transmission is able to seamlessly move between jazz, funk, soul, reggae and pop influences without sounding unfocused. Rather than chasing stylistic variety for its own sake, the band treats every influence as another color on the palette.

For 10-plus years, Huntertones has easily navigated the genre-less journey of composing and performing tunes that inspire and keep people dancing. Whether collaborating with Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Cory Wong, Louis Cato or members of Snarky Puppy and Lake Street Dive, Huntertones has built a reputation for bringing more than instrumental chops to the table. The band — made up of White on saxophone, trumpeter Jon Lampley, trombonist Chris Ott, bassist Adam DeAscentis, drummer John Hubbell and guitarist Josh Hill — writes, arranges and shapes music alongside its collaborators, becoming creative partners rather than hired horn players. The music is also a culmination of their travels together, experiences and love for one another.

White described the group’s seventh studio album as “certified organic, human music,” a collection of performances shaped not by technology but by musicians reacting to one another in real time.

Their old-school mindset wasn’t born overnight. During sessions for the band’s previous project, Engine Co., Huntertones experimented with recording live in one room. The result captured an energy the band and its audience found impossible to recreate through more conventional studio methods. When it came time to make Transmission, there was little debate on whether this approach would translate on wax.

“Engine Co. didn’t intend on being an album for us,” said White. “It started out as a session, but it ended up being such a favorite of not only ours, but also our audience. With folks, it’s a conversation, just like the show. You know, we’re not just playing to the audience. We’re playing with the audience. The more energy they give us, the more we’re listening. Our ears are open.”

The band also filmed the entire session, which led to 10 live studio videos that accompany the album, allowing listeners not only to hear the music but also to watch its creation.

Huntertones collaborated with Lake Street Dive vocalist Rachael Price for a soulful interpretation of Bonnie Raitt’s “Thank You,” while Elling appears on an expansive reimagining of Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman.” Yet White insists the guest appearances were never about adding recognizable names to the track list. They were about inviting trusted collaborators into the band’s creative process.

Price recorded live in the room with the band, surrounded by musicians rather than separated behind studio glass. Elling’s contribution came remotely while the band traveled through Canada, with arrangements evolving through phone calls and exchanged recordings in real time. Even from hundreds of miles away, the collaboration retained the spontaneity for which Huntertones is known.

For a group that has spent more than a decade touring together, chemistry has become its defining characteristic. Huntertones started out at The Ohio State University, searching for opportunities to play outside the classroom. Too young to perform regularly in clubs, band members began hosting house concerts on Hunter Avenue, the street that eventually inspired the band’s name. What started as informal gatherings quickly grew into legendary campus parties, convincing the musicians they had something worth pursuing.

After graduation, the band relocated to Brooklyn. Rather than remaining isolated as a single band, Huntertones became part of an ever-expanding network of musicians, working alongside everyone from Lake Street Dive to Cory Wong while continuing to develop its own identity. Those experiences have taken the band to 26 countries, including State Department cultural exchange tours that White considers some of the most meaningful experiences of his career.

“The further we get from American culture,” White says, “the stronger the music connects. And it’s such a privilege to be able to visit a new country and have something to give the people and not just be a tourist, because that’s when you actually get to find the good. Somebody shows you, ‘Let’s go here after the show,’ and you get to see a jam session or see some other music or eat the best food or see the most beautiful art and connect with people.”

As for what’s next, the band is working on its next album and writing new music as well as prepping to play the new album live. As each member pursues outside projects, they continually return with fresh ideas, new influences and expanded musical vocabularies.

Despite the band’s growing resume, White believes Huntertones’ longevity comes down to listening and being part of something bigger than yourself.

“I think the most important thing is having a big-tent mentality and not being a purist and believing in just two types of music, good and bad,” he said. “Really, making it from an honest place and trying to find some truth in what we’re putting out doesn’t necessarily attract people. But the way in which we play, interactive and inviting folks and higher energy — I think that may be part of the hook.” DB