Mulatu Astatke is a well-known composer, arranger and musician from Ethiopia who plays the piano, organ, vibraphone and percussion. He is also recognized as the father of Ethio-jazz, a distinctive fusion of pop, modern jazz, traditional Ethiopian music, Latin rhythms, Caribbean reggae and Afro-funk. He spent a large portion of the 1970s extending the boundaries of Ethiopian music by working both domestically and... read full bio
Anna Phoebe is a violinist and composer who works on multi-genre solo and group projects. She is also a broadcaster with a show on Soho Radio and a member of the Ivors Academy Board of Directors. Her most recent solo album, Sea Souls, explores the relationship between the sea and the human psyche via a rich musical palette inspired by the... read full bio
Cha Wa's debut album with Single Lock, a reputable Muscle Shoals and New Orleans-based record company, is titled My People. In order to create a map of the South's varied musical identity, Single Lock has devoted itself to teasing out the threads and throughlines of the creative tradition in Southern music, from young torchbearers like Cedric Burnside and St. Paul... read full bio
Sammy Johnson, often known as Sammy J, is an Australian who uses his Polynesian and Maori heritage to inspire and encourage others via his music. Sammy's music is invigorating and captivating, fusing passionate lyrics with tropical reggae, soul, and jazz moods. Sammy, who is now located in the United States, seems to have taken off in the market, selling... read full bio
Pigments, the debut joint album by multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Spencer Zahn and New Orleans electro-revival dynamo Dawn Richard, explores the theme of self-discovery via dance, community, and self-expression via the prism of the city's contemporary arts scene. The project is a single, lengthy work that moves through multiple “movements” led by five lead instruments: clarinet, saxophone, guitar, strings, and... read full bio
The American funk group The Meters was founded in 1965 in New Orleans by drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, bassist George Porter Jr., guitarist Leo Nocentelli, and keyboardist Art Neville. From the late 1960s to 1977, the group released and performed original music. They were also important backing musicians for musicians such as Allen Toussaint, Robert Palmer, Lee Dorsey, and Dr. John.... read full bio
Amaro Freitas is leading the way in creating the new sound of Brazilian jazz in the seaside city of Recife, located in the hot state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil. The gifted young pianist has a strong connection to his hometown. Apart from the intense carnival rhythms of frevo and baião, Amaro's powerfully percussive approach to jazz is as influenced... read full bio
Marcus Miller's M2 Wins Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album M2, a new Marcus Miller recording from Cleveland-based Telarc International, has received the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. One of the most critically acclaimed albums released in 2001, M2, was produced by Marcus Miller and featured performances by a roster of luminaries that included Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis,... read full bio
Rick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpet player and renowned vocalist. Rick has been playing trumpet since he was just a child. Rick got his start by playing in several bands including Avenue Blue, which was led by guitarist Jeff Golub. His richly melodic playing style has attracted a multitude of fans since the release of his first album, Intimate... read full bio
In the history of Jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold out concerts all over the world, with members personally chosen by him, for nearly thirty years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James Count Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and... read full bio
Popular for his work hosting ESPN's Summer and Winter X Games, NBC's Red Bull Signature Series, E!'s Daily 10, and his cultural reporting in South Africa during the FIFA World Cup, Selema Masekela is a respected commentator, journalist, musician, and producer. Presently, Selema is executive producing and hosting the much-awaited VICELAND documentary series, VICE World of Sports. The show transports viewers... read full bio
British singer-songwriter Rumer has had an incredible career since her debut album Seasons of My Soul debuted in the Top 3 of the UK Albums Charts, went platinum in sales, and earned her a MOJO Award for Best Breakthrough Act in addition to two BRIT Award nominations. She is also a highly regarded songwriter, having written global hits like "Slow"... read full bio
Chicago’s Finest is made up of former band members of Chicago, Danny Seraphine and Bill Champlin, along with Emmy Award Nominated artist Marc Bonilla, one of the top five finalists on The Voice, Will Champlin, and bassist, producer and vocalist, Rob McDonald (known as Rob McBass). Chicago’s Finest was born to represent the roots of the city of Chicago. The... read full bio
Cory Henry is an American R&B and soul musician, singer-songwriter, musician, pianist, organist, and music producer from Brooklyn, New York. He rose to fame being a member of Snarky Puppy and since then, has left the group to pursue a solo career. Henry had a passion for music since a young age and he learned how to play both the... read full bio
By transforming a New Orleans brass band into a punked-out hip-hop giant of groove and purpose, Youngblood Brass Band defies convention in an exuberant, loud and fiery way. The ten-person band, which has its roots in Madison, Wisconsin, has been spreading its crash course in genre-bending all over the world. What other band can boast that their music has been played... read full bio
When they first appeared in the early '90s, Stereolab quickly established themselves as one of indie music's most distinctive and influential acts with their hypnotic rhythms and seductive vocals. The ensemble, which was led by Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier, honored pop music genres that were typically excluded from the history of rock, such as bossa nova, lounge-pop and movie soundtracks.... read full bio
Abraham Alexander, who was born in Greece to parents of Nigerian ancestry, emigrated to Texas with his family when he was 11 years old in an effort to flee the racial tensions they experienced in Athens. Alexander infuses his music with a vibrant enthusiasm and irrepressible spirit, finally giving way to songs that radiate palpable hope, even when his lyrics... read full bio
Producer Na'el Shehade's sleek Chicago house-infused production style and vocalist Via Rosa's soulful delivery, which is influenced by jazz's improvisational nature and the playful patterns of hip-hop and bossa nova, came together to create the multicultural partnership known as DRAMA. The two blur the distinctions between R&B and dance-pop, heartbreak and ecstasy, in order to capitalize on the complimentary dynamics... read full bio
Isaac Waddington, a singer-songwriter who now resides in London and is originally from Portsmouth, has a classical music background. He spent his formative years singing with the Chichester Cathedral Choir and was awarded the renowned "BBC Young Chorister of the Year" award. Isaac has drawn musical inspiration for his new EP, Dirty Mile, from some of his most important musical role... read full bio
The Southeast Symphony & Chorus in Los Angeles and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra both employ American conductor Anthony Parnther as its music director and conductor. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, Simfnica de Barcelona I Nacional de Catalunya, Jacaranda — Music at the Edge, Hear Now Music Festival, Mann Center Festival Orchestra, Pittsburgh Microtonal... read full bio
