CYRUS CHESTNUT WITH EKEP NKWELLE

A masterful jazz pianist and Baltimore native, Cyrus Chestnut balances his lithe technical skill with a robust, soulful style that speaks to his deep gospel roots and love of swinging hard bop. Raised in the church, he learned how to infuse his swinging, classically trained style with a warm gospel sound, a style that first marked his work as a sideman, backing legendary vocalists Jon Hendricks and Betty Carter, as well as with instrumentalists like Donald Harrison and Wynton Marsalis. The future is bright with great possibilities for Cyrus.

Ekep Nkwelle is a 24-year-old, Cameroonian-American, jazz vocalist from Washington, DC, living in New York City. A part of the promising future of jazz, Ekep Nkwelle is one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s latest rising stars, and with her artistry, she strives to display her passion for music all around the world. She has worked with jazz masters such as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Wynton Marsalis, and Peter Washington, as well as young, well-respected musicians such as Emmet Cohen and Endea Owens.

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MALA WALDRON

One Breath Rising presents: Mala Waldron & Soulful Sound

The Mala Waldron & Soulful Sound (the Soulful Sound Quartet) is a group of internationally acclaimed jazz virtuosos headed by jazz vocalist/pianist/composer Waldron, the daughter of renowned pianist/composer, Mal Waldron and goddaughter of Billie Holiday. The group has been performing together for 20 years locally and abroad in such places as China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Italy, among others.  Their repertoire is a sophisticated blend of soulful jazz originals and arrangements of Mala’s favorite composers. Their style is flavored with the influences of many genres including Latin/Jazz, Calypso, Gospel, R&B and Pop.  The band features:  Steve Salerno on guitar, Michael T.A. Thompson on drums, and Marcus Mclaurine on bass.

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MALA WALDRON QUARTET

Pianist, vocalist and educator Mala Waldron comes to Stony Brook, NY for the Harbor Jazz Festival and hits the Jazz Loft Lawn for an evening performance with her quartet.

A native of NYC whose first paid gig was playing keys and singing back-up vocals with a local R&B band, “Liquid Pleasure” at the Elk’s club at age 15.  Shortly after joining, the band was signed to RCA records Midland International.

She later enrolled at SUNY, Old Westbury study African-American Music Makanda Ken McIntyre, Richard Harper, Andrei Strobert, Warren Smith and Amina Claudine Myers, earning a Bachelors Degree.

The Band: Mala Waldron ~ Piano | Michael T.A. Thompson ~ Drums | Marcus McLaurine ~ Bass | Steve Salerno ~ Guitar

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KEBBI WILLIAMS

Grammy award winning tenor saxophonist Kebbi Williams is one of contemporary music’s whirlwind improvisers. The imaginative multi-instrumentalist/ composer/producer/arranger/teacher resists categorization. His innovative sound dives, blends and jumpstarts all music genres. Kebbi bends it to his will with his robust, distinct blasts.  His playing and compositions create a sound that is uniquely and undeniably his own. Avant-garde jazz, hip-hop, Afro-beat, gospel, electronica, classical and fiery rock are all loops that Kebbi interweaves with passion and edge.

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The Jazz Voyager

Since I’ve been hanging out in the Big Apple for two weeks, I thought I’d head upstate to Tarrytown for a change of seasons and take in the fall colors that are always so beautiful. This week I’ll be at the Lyndhurst Mansion overlooking the Hudson River on the land that was originally hunting grounds of the indigenous Lenape/Munsee tribe that were the first inhabitants of the Hudson Valley. I’m traveling to this location to partake in the Summer Concert Series promoted by the Jazz Forum Arts.

The concert series is free but there is a ten dollar fee to enter the estate. Little expense to view the grounds and be entertained by swing/bop vocalist Nancy Kelly who is headlining this evening. I love being introduced to new places and performers I’ve never heard before. This should prove to be an amazing time.

Lyndhurst is located at 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. For more information visit https://www.jazzforumarts.org.

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