SAVE THE DATE!

STEFON HARRIS & Blackout

 Stefon Harris & Blackout, led by the visionary vibraphonist Stefon Harris, is a pioneering force in contemporary jazz. Harris has been named DownBeat Critics Poll Vibraphonist of the Year multiple times and has been heralded as “one of the most important young artists in jazz” (Los Angeles Times). The band, characterized by a stellar lineup of musicians, seamlessly blends funk, R&B, and global influences, transcending traditional jazz boundaries. With influential albums like Sonic Creed (named Jazz Album of the Year by WBGO – the world's #1 jazz station) and Urbanus (Grammy-nominated), Stefon Harris & Blackout showcase a dynamic interplay of intricate arrangements and soulful improvisation, solidifying their status as trailblazers in the modern jazz landscape. Their performances promise an electrifying fusion of tradition and innovation, leaving an indelible mark on audiences and further shaping the evolving narrative of jazz expression.

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• Stefon Harris - Vibraphone and Marimba

• Alicia Olatuja - Vocals

• Jaleel Shaw - Saxophone

• Christian Sands - Piano

• Dezron Douglas - Bass

• Terreon Gully - Drums 

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AKUA DIXON & Quartette Indigo

Cellist-Composer-Conductor-Educator, Akua Dixon has been at the forefront of improvising string players since 1973. She is the first cellist to win the Downbeat Critics Poll. A multi laureate of the National Endowment for the Arts in composition and performance, Akua is considered “amongst the treasures of contemporary jazz” (New Jersey Star Ledger).

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She has toured the world performing with her Grammy Award-winning string quartet, Quartette Indigo, ”jazz’s leading string quartet” (Boston Globe). Akua’s string arrangements can be heard on the five-time Grammy Award-winning album, THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL and Aretha Franklin’s Grammy nominated, A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE. She has performed with Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, etc. Akua has performed at concert halls and Festivals in the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean.

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• Akua Dixon, Cello-Composer-Bandleader

• Meg Okura-Violin 1

• Charisa Dowe Rouse-Violin 2

• Eddie Venegas-Viola

• Calvin Jones-Bass​​​​

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MELVIS SANTA & Jazz Orishas​​​

Grammy Nominee Melvis Santa is known for her multidisciplinary artistry. Vocalist, composer, actress, and educator born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Melvis made a splash at 14 when she founded the all-female collective Sexto Sentido, a project that jazz great Chucho Valdés deemed as “the best Cuban vocal quartet of the past 30 years.” In 2010 Melvis spread wings and became one of the lead vocalists of seminal Cuban Timba-Funk fusion band Interactivo, led by Roberto Carcassés. Later she went solo and formed her own group. Her debut album as a bandleader, Santa Habana (Bis Music) obtained a Cubadisco nomination in 2012.

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Jazz Orishas tells stories that center female intuitiveness, rooted in Melvis’ culture, life experiences and artists who inspire her journey. The track list is made of original compositions and poems written by herself, who leads with graceful vocals and expressive piano performance throughout the entirety of the album. As a result, the music is utterly personal and embodies multiple dimensions. The lyrics explore Afrocubanismo poetry infused with jazz poetry, inviting the listener to a bilingual, far reaching experience.

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• Josh Evans, tpt

• Leandro Pellegrino, gtr

• Jason Maximo Clotter, bass

• Rafael Monteagudo, drs

• Onel Matos, congas

• Myself o piano, vocals and batá drums

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KEVIN NATHANIEL & Spirit

The Spirit Ensemble has established itself as the primary source of music that traverses the African Diaspora. The enchanting sounds of the mbira, kora, bala, steel pan, and bamboo flute comprise the essênce of Spirit's sound and provide the foundation for rhythmic travels. Spirit Ensemble! One of the very few bands ever to fuse the many facets of African Global

Music seamlessly and make it all swing.

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• Kevin Nathaniel, mbira, vocal

• Hasan Bakr, djembe, vocal

• Salieu Suso, kora, vocal

• Victor See Yuen, percussion

• Colette Michaan, flute

• Marcus Steele, steel drums

• Bill Dotts, bass​

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MELVIN "TIGER' VINES SEXTET

A noted composer, band leader, painter, and sculptor, Tiger has performed with: Sun Ra Arkestra, Bassist Jymmie Merritt, and others. The Harlem Jazz Machine, his former band, could be heard weekly for over a decade at Harlem’s world-famous St. Nicks Pub & Paris Blues. Join him for an After-Festival Jam Session at Tom Bosco's Inwood Farm restaurant to continue the evening's magic!

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• Melvin “Tiger” Vines - flugelhorn/trumpet

• Okaru Hoshino Love-Lace, vocals

• Jack Glottman, piano

• Lonnie Plaxico, bass

• Victor Jones, drums