Erykah Badu

“Snarky Puppy” is a pretty hard name to forget. But it was not too long ago that the mysterious title of the Brooklyn-based band was only being thrown around amongst its fervent cult following. That all changed in December when the collective was nominated for a Grammy Award in the …

Christian Scott was born to Cara Harrison and Clinton Scott III and also has a twin brother, Kiel. At the age of 13 he was given the chance to play with his uncle, jazz alto saxophonist, Donald Harrison. By 14, he was accepted into the New Orleans Center of Creative Arts where …

 Casey Benjamin is a Grammy Award winning saxophonist, vocoderist, keyboardist, producer and songwriter from South Jamaica, Queens, New York City. He attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and the The Zoloft online Music in Manhattan. He is one half of the funk pop …

Jazz pianist, keyboardist, producer and composer Marc Cary holds tight to his roots in Washington, D.C.’s go-go music scene, but they represent only one more element to fuse with the many other musical forms he explores. Cary’s interests run from Indian classical to Malian music to hip-hop. He started his career …

The diatonic harmonica has long been associated with the Blues styles of artists such as Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson. However, Frederic Yonnet defies expectations and brings the harmonic into new roles and settings within diverse styles of urban jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. His philosophy is one of challenging …

Singer Alicia Olatuja’s mix of jazz, classical, gospel and pop brought national recognition for her performance at the Presidential Inauguration ceremony. It’s the “breath taking” voice of a classically trained, mezzo-soprano who has drawn the most critically acclaim notice since the inauguration. Originally from St. Louis Missouri, Olatuja is a …

Talk to any Atlantan of a certain age and they inevitably wax nostalgic about the mid-to-late 1990s – with good reason.  The city was simmering with soulful possibilities, creative verve overflowed and iconoclasts seemed to dwell on every block.   Jason Orr tapped into this energy and created the preeminent showcase …

Using an instrument many have owned but few have mastered, urban jazz harmonicist, Frédéric Yonnet’s musical skills and stage presence crush every preconceived notion you’ve ever had about the harmonica. Regarded for decades as the choice instrument of street musicians and loners who wanted to express themselves through country music …

Jazz pianist, keyboardist, producer and composer Marc Cary holds tight to his roots in Washington, D.C.’s go-go music scene, but they represent only one more element to fuse with the many other musical forms he explores. Cary’s interests run from Indian classical to Malian music to hip-hop. He started his …

Jason Moran is a Houston, Texas-born pianist and composer. His eclectic styling has led to a successful run of over fifteen years, as both sideman and band leader. In this time, Moran has received considerable praise for his fluid play, which encompasses various styles, blending them into one definably distinctive …

Roy Hargrove is a Grammy-Award winning trumpeter. In a career that has spanned over 25 years, Hargrove has worked with some of the most significant acts in and out of jazz, including Herbie Hancock, Stanley Turrentine, Christian McBride, D’Angelo, Common, and Erykah Badu. Hargrove maintains a consistent touring schedule, playing …

Director, film maker and photographer Andrew Shapter is the creative force behind the critically acclaimed documentary “Before the Music Dies”. The film, which profiles artists like Erykah Badu, The Roots, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews and Branford Marsalis, was inspired by the need to give musicians a voice in an industry …