Eastwood Blend - Behind Our Harmonious Collaboration with Kyle Eastwood

We have long believed that when one door closes, a window opens. This was true during the pandemic - so I guess you can say we are eternal optimists and one of our company mantras is, “When life gives you lemons, make coffee!”

With lots of time on our hands and little to do for the first time - ever, we had the opportunity to slow down and reflect. One afternoon we sat and socially distanced in our backyard with Kyle and Cynthia Eastwood, catching up on life, travels, and music. As mutual coffee lovers the conversation naturally turned to our favorite caffeinated beverage. 

Kyle, a celebrated bassist and composer, spends a considerable amount of time performing in venues around the world. He shared his affinity for the smooth Italian espresso he enjoyed at his favorite European cafes. At that moment, inspiration struck and with Kyle “jazzed” by the idea, the custom blend process began with meetings, cuppings and tastings with our team including master roaster, Rory Phares and director of all things coffee, Tina Muia.

The goal was to create something elegant, smooth and delicious that captured the flavor profile of the espresso Kyle longed for, while also being versatile enough for Cynthia to enjoy as a drip or iced coffee. After Kyle’s many visits to our roasting facility, Eastwood organic blend was born. 

Quickly becoming a beloved bestseller, Eastwood hits all the “high notes’ you would expect in a very versatile blend. The certified organic beans originating from Africa, Central and South America have a dark chocolate, ripe berry, and toasted almond profile and it can be enjoyed using every possible brewing method. Eastwood is roasted medium to ensure there is no bitterness, only a smooth symphony of flavors. 

Kyle’s distinguished musical career and personal connections to Carmel have woven a unique musical tapestry. Lucky for us, Kyle and his talented bandmates are performing this month at the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) held annually at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. This is the same venue where the Monterey International Pop Festival debuted in 1967 where Jimi Hendrix, the Who, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding all performed. The venue has a storied history and the MJF doesn’t disappoint if you love jazz.

On September 29th the Kyle Eastwood Quintet will perform tracks from their just-released Eastwood Symphonic album on MJF's Jimmy Lyons Stage accompanied by a symphony orchestra. According to Kyle, "This latest album is a tribute from a son to his father, an actor, director and musician.” It is a musical journey through Clint Eastwood’s most iconic films and scores, many of which Kyle has composer credits along with numerous great composers like Lalo Schifrin, Ennio Morricone, and John Williams just to name a few.

Eastwood Symphonic Album Cover Art

Now having recently watched a performance of this concert online filmed at Auditorium de Lyon on Arte.tv, this is truly a very unique marrying of a jazz quintet and symphony orchestra resulting in a musical expression unlike anything ever done before. If you want to see how it all went down, watch the behind-the-scenes-making of Eastwood Symphonic to appreciate the scope of this endeavor. It features Kyle Eastwood on Bass, Quentin Collins on Trumpet, Brandon Allen on Saxes, Andrew McCormack on Piano, Chris Higginbottom on Drums, and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra - with the legendary arranger and conductor, Gast Waltzing, directing the effort.

Eastwood Symphonic, Performance at Auditorium de Lyon

Marissa Mayer was right when she said, "When you need to innovate, you need collaboration." Whether it's a new coffee blend or an new album, we truly excel when we seek out others to elevate our game to the next level. 

To learn more about Kyle’s musical journey, upcoming global tour dates, and his upcoming performance at the 67th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, we encourage you to check out KyleEastwood.com and Carmel Magazine’s Fall Issue: “All About That Bass”.