Richmond Jazz and Music Festival

There’s excitement in the air as we kick off the 10th annual Richmond Jazz and Music Festival! Presented by Altria, the East Coast’s premier music and culture festival is bringing the best of jazz, funk, R&B and hip-hop to the River City.

The festival begins on Thursday, August 8th with three huge shows:

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), the Dominion Energy Jazz Café at VMFA features eclectic jazz in the Atrium.

The funkier food truck and brewery scene at Hardywood

Park Craft Brewery showcases the mountain music-meets-Dixieland sound of Dharma Bombs.

And at the historic Hippodrome Theater, Grammy winner PJ Morton brings the bayou sound to Jackson Ward to headline a party like no other—‘Homegrown at the Hipp! Opening for PJ on Thursday night is Sam Reed, a breathtaking Richmond talent ready to break through.

On Friday night, we welcome you to a unique and intimate performance with one of jazz’s biggest stars, as Gregory Porter takes the stage at Dominion

Energy Center. Local favorite, The Charles Owens Trio, will open the show.

And on Saturday and Sunday, Maymont serves as the unique backdrop for performances from legends of jazz, soul, blues and hip-hop.

The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival, now in its 10th year, continues to be an ideal music and culture destination for jazz lovers and music aficionados from around the world.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MUSIC AND CULTURE

LETTER FROM

ear Friends, The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival is back for our 10th year!

Here’s another chance to enjoy beautiful sights and melodic sounds as world-class musical performers gather in our beautiful city for a jam-packed weekend of music, food and fun.

On Thursday night, performances kick off the festival at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, local favorite Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, and Homegrown at the Hipp at Jackson Ward’s historic Hippodrome Theater. On Friday night, we've lined up Gregory Porter, one of jazz's biggest stars, for an intimate show at the Dominion Energy Center, presented by Dominion Energy. Finally, it’s the two-day main event, Saturday and Sunday, on the breathtaking grounds of Richmond’s gem, historic Maymont.

Since our debut in 2010, the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival, presented by Altria, has become one of the largest and most heralded jazz festivals on the East Coast. We’ve attracted some of the best musicians from around the world, including Gladys Knight, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, The Roots, Kamasi Washington, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, The Isley Brothers and hundreds more.

Thanks to loyal patrons like you, and our generous partners, we’ve been able to offer the very best in music, food, wine and culture for a decade.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Altria, who joined us at the very beginning to bring this amazing experience to life each and every year. Thank you, too, to our stage sponsors, Virginia is for Lovers and Dominion Energy, as well as Virginia Lottery and Richmond Region Tourism who have also been with us for ten years.

We’re also thankful for all of our amazing corporate sponsors: WestRock, Richmond Region Tourism, 14 Hands Wines, Virginia Lottery, GRTC, Richmond BMW and Maymont, and our media partners: NBC12, Summit Media, Virginia's Home for Public Media, Entercom, Radio One and Richmond Free Press.

Each year, the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival contributes to the community that has been so supportive of us. This year, a portion of the festival proceeds will benefit the Maymont Foundation and the Blue Stone Education Foundation.

We’re excited to make the 10th Richmond Jazz and Music Festival our best yet, and we look forward to sharing yet another truly unforgettable experience with you all. Thanks for joining us!

Sincerely,

Anderson East

Lean On Me: José James

Celebrates Bill Withers

58 59

PJ Morton

Immanuel Sutherland

Suyapa Marquez

Charmayne Vincent

Cynthia Monroe

David Horne

Tamera Harris

Kim Arnold

Sergeant Coretta Monts

Captain Douglas Clevert

56 57 62

The BB King Blues Band featuring Michael Lee Cautious Clay

Gina Honeycutt

Kym Grinnage

Parke Richeson

Tawheed Haroon

Brelan Hillman

Frances Burruss

Whitney White

Kenneth Johnson

61

Frédéric Yonnet

63 65

60 67

The Yuko Mabuchi Trio

Sherry Winston

The Jack Wilkins Quartet

Local Artists

Jennifer Williams

INCLEMENT WEATHER PSA

In the case of high winds/severe storms/lightning, you will be notified via the PA system and large video screens when we will evacuate the grounds at Maymont. We ask that all guests leave the grounds in an orderly fashion. Please use the Main Gate and the Upper Hampton Street Gate as exit points.

Please familiarize yourselves with the exits upon arrival to the grounds. GRTC shuttles will be available to transport you back to your vehicle. Please do not seek shelter on the grounds.

ill Scott — one of neo-soul’s most recognizable and talented voices — started out as poet.

Questlove of the Roots got wind of Scott’s talent and invited her to the band’s Things Fall Apart studio sessions, which led to her co-writing one of The Roots’ biggest hits, “You Got Me.”

The Philadelphian eventually released her critically acclaimed debut album, Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1, in July 2000. The album cracked the top 20 Billboard 200 and was No. 2 on the R&B/hip-hop charts. Her breakout record, “A Long Walk,” was Grammy-nominated for Best Female Vocal Performance.

And so began Scott’s rise to stardom.

Her two subsequent albums, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2 (2004) and The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3 (2007), both debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200.

Scott picked up acting — namely starring in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?, Hounddog and HBO series, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

Her next two albums, The Light of the Sun (2011) and Woman (2015), both went No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Over the course of her nearly two-decade long career, Scott has nabbed three Grammy wins and 13 nominations. During that time, she’s worked alongside Grammy-winning artists such as Robert Glasper, Common and Lupe Fiasco, to name a few.

aze Featuring Frankie Beverly has established a trust fund with music lovers worldwide.

Fans know when they attend a Maze concert, they will be treated to an evening of honest, raw soul music.

And that’s how it has been for more than 40 years. Nothing has changed. The band has stayed in its lane, continuing to do its thing, bringing quality music from the heart night after night.

“They know what they are going to get with us,” says Beverly, of the group’s audiences. “They trust us as musicians. You’ve got to be a good live act. You’ve got

to know how to entertain. It goes beyond having hit records. You have to know how to present the music on stage.”

Maze’s fans are familiar with the band’s rise to fame. A native of Philadelphia, Beverly grew up singing in church and later formed a group called The Butlers when he was a teenager. He later changed the name to

Frankie Beverly’s Raw Soul. The band’s star began to rise in the mid-‘70s when Marvin Gaye caught their show in the San Francisco/Oakland area. He took them on the road as his opening act and urged them to change their name from Raw Soul. Another band member came up with the name Maze and the rest, as they say, is musical history.

arrived

1977 with a string of hits including “Happy Feelings,” “Lady of Magic,” “While I’m Alone,” and “Workin’ Together.”

“Our honesty comes through,” Beverly continues. “We don’t compromise on being honest with our music and being honest with our approach to our music.

We are honest with our fans and I hate to use that word ‘fans’, because they are more than that to us. They are our family. They believe in us night after night, year after year. And you can’t ever lose with your family’s support and love. And we recognize that and love them for loving us.”

THERE’S ENERGY IN DIVERSITY.

With a talented workforce of over 19,000, we’ve found that bringing all kinds of people together makes us stronger, smarter and more innovative. We believe a diverse team is an opportunity to explore new ideas and deliver our best to every community.

tlanta indisputably set the pace for modern hip-hop. However, Big Boi set the pace for Atlanta, and by proxy, the culture at large. If the genre of hip-hop ever gets its own Rap Mount Rushmore, a legacy as the region's foremost wordsmith, funkiest gentleman and resident ATLien certainly guarantees a place for the rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor and philanthropist born Antwan André Patton. You can often find him in your favorite rapper's Top Five, and with good reason. Over two decades since he first crash landed, it's nearly impossible to escape his influence. Of course, he made history as the preeminent spitter of the Dungeon Family and one-half of OutKast. The legendary duo sold 25 million albums and garnered seven Grammys, becoming the first and only hip-hop artist in history to win the Grammy for Album of the Year upon release of the 2003 RIAA diamond-certified, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

His half, Speakerboxxx , set the stage for what has become an equally impressive solo run. He made his proper introduction as a solo artist in 2010 with Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. A modern classic, it captured No. 3 on

the Billboard Top 200, graced year-end lists from Time, Paste and VIBE, and landed on Pitchfork’s “100 Best Albums of the Decade ‘So Far’.” 2012’s Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors maintained his momentum fueled further by the 2015 Phantogram collaboration, Big Grams . However, he reached a new level on Boomiverse in 2017. Beyond verbally acrobatic bangers such as “In The South” (feat. Gucci Mane & Pimp C), “Mic Jack” (feat. Adam Levine, Scar, & Sleepy Brown), and “Kill Jill” (feat. Killer Mike & Jeezy), the MC landed “the biggest hit of his solo career” — according to Rolling Stone — in the form of “All Night.”

Big Boi kicked off 2019 by taking the stage alongside Maroon 5 and Travis Scott at the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, followed by the release of two new tracks “Doin’ It” (feat. Sleepy Brown) and “Return of the Dope Boi” (feat. Killer Mike and Backbone).

Beyond his countless contributions on wax, he personally signed, supported and shepherded superstars a la Janelle Monáe and Killer Mike. He also co-owns and operates Stankonia Studios in Atlanta.

tanley Clarke’s artistry has been honored in every way imaginable: gold and platinum records, multiple Grammy Awards, multiple Emmy nominations, virtually every readers’ and critics’ poll in existence. He was Rolling Stone magazine’s very first Jazzman of the Year and bassist winner of Playboy’s Music Award for ten straight years. Clarke received Bass Player Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of Guitar Player Magazine’s Gallery of Greats. He’s been voted Downbeat Magazine’s Readers’ and Critics’ Poll for Best Electric Bass Player numerous times. He was honored with the key to the city of Philadelphia, a doctorate from Philadelphia’s University of the Arts and had his hand impressions added to Hollywood’s Rock Walk. In 2011, he also received the prestigious Miles Davis Award for his overall body of work.

Clarke’s spellbinding dexterity on the bass got noticed whenever and wherever he performed. He was soon signed to Nemperor Records, cofounded by The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein. The release of his self-titled Stanley Clarke in 1974 and the widely regarded School Days two years later, took the world by storm, transforming the bass into a melodic and harmonic lead instrument like never before. Clarke’s hypnotic, innovative approach to playing the instrument liberated the bass from the back to the front of the stage. In the

process, he became the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell out shows worldwide and have recordings reach gold status. His talent and success directly influenced and inspired a whole generation of bassists who followed in his footsteps.

As composer, orchestrator, conductor and performer, Clarke has some 70 film and television credits to his name and he’s scored blockbuster films such as Boyz ‘N the Hood, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, The Transporter, Romeo Must Die, Passenger 57, Poetic Justice, Best Man Holiday, and The Five Heartbeats among others. He also scored the Michael Jackson music video, “Remember the Time,” directed by John Singleton. Clarke has been nominated for three Emmys and he won a BMI Award for Boyz ‘N the Hood. In 2014, he accepted an invitation to become a member of the exclusive Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Perhaps the thing that Clarke is most proud of is the role of his band — The Stanley Clarke Band — as a showcase for the musicianship of established and developing artists over the years. This long list includes talents like keyboardist Deron Johnson, bassist Armand Sabal-Lecco, violinist Mads Tolling, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, as well as its current members, keyboardist Cameron Graves, drummer Mike Mitchell and pianist Beka Gochiashvili, the latter of whom joined the band at 17 and 16 years old, respectively.

merging in the early ‘90s, Shaggy was the biggest crossover success in dancehall reggae. He wasn't shy about lifting hooks wholesale from pop hits of the past — a chart-ready blueprint similar to that of hip-hop stars like Puff Daddy — but he also had fairly eclectic tastes, giving his records a musical variety lacking from other dancehall stars. As a result, Shaggy became one of the few reggae artists to top the album and pop singles charts in America, not to mention several other countries where he's had even greater success.

Shaggy was born Orville Richard Burrell on October 22nd, 1968, in Kingston, Jamaica, and was nicknamed after the Scooby-Doo character. At 18, he joined his mother in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, NY, and soon began performing with the local Jamaican-style sound system, Gibraltar Musik. A steady income proved to be a more pressing matter, however, and in 1988, Shaggy joined the Marines. Stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, he continued to pursue music in his free time and often made the drive back to New York for recording sessions. At 20, he cut his first single, “Man a Mi Yard” (backed with “Bullet Proof Buddy”) for producer Don One's small label.

Shaggy resumed his sessions in New York in 1991, and covered the Folkes Brothers' ska hit, “Oh Carolina.” It was an instant smash, vaulting all the way to the top of the British pop charts early the next year and doing the same in several other European countries.

Pure Pleasure , his debut album with Virgin Records, was released in 1993, and included many of his early singles.

Now firmly a star in Europe, Shaggy went on to conquer the U.S. with his next album, 1995's Boombastic. The title track was an inescapable hit, selling over a million copies. It reached No. 3 and No. 1 on the pop and R&B charts, respectively, and it was also his second U.K. chart-topper. “In the Summertime,” the flip side of the American single release of “Boombastic,” climbed into the U.K. top five as a follow-up. Meanwhile, the album went platinum, spent a full year at No. 1 on Billboard's reggae album chart and won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album.

In the years to follow, Shaggy landed a new deal with MCA and rewarded them with one of the biggest-selling reggae albums ever. Hot Shot , released in 2000, gained steam after a radio DJ in Hawaii downloaded the track “It Wasn't Me” (featuring Rik Rok) from Napster and began playing it on his show. Soon it was an international hit — topping U.S. and European pop charts. Its follow-up, “Angel” — a rewrite of the country hit, “Angel of the Morning,” featuring Rayvon on vocals — also went straight to No. 1 in the U.S. and U.K.

Over the last several years, Shaggy has maintained a steady output and released several albums that have fared well on the charts, including standouts Lucky Day (2002), which went gold, and Intoxication (2007).

orn in Los Angeles in 1971, Porter grew up in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. It was through his mother's record collection that he fell under the spell of Nat King Cole, learning early on how to imitate him. Along with singing, he was also a gifted athlete and left high school with a football scholarship to San Diego State University. However, after an injury to his shoulder derailed his sports career, he moved to Brooklyn where he worked days as a chef while performing in local jazz clubs. It was during this period that he met saxophonist, composer and pianist Kamau Kenyatta. Kenyatta quickly became Porter's mentor, introducing him to flutist Hubert Laws.

Known for his warm baritone vocals, Porter rose to acclaim in the 2010s with his earthy, crosspollinated brand of jazz, soul and gospel. A gifted singer of standards as well as more contemporary soul material, Porter earned favorable comparisons to his idols Nat King Cole, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. He announced his arrival by picking up a Grammy nomination for his 2010 debut, Water. After signing to Blue Note, he gained even wider notice for his third album, 2013's Liquid Spirit, which hit No. 2 on the jazz charts, won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album and garnered more than 20 million streams — making it one of the most streamed jazz albums ever. Although his original songs are his main focus, Porter often returns to his roots, such as on his 2017 tribute album, Nat King Cole & Me

ver the years, Peter White has maintained a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. Armed with an unparalleled combination of lyricism and energy, he combines elements of jazz, pop and classical guitar to create a sound that is singular and at the same time accessible to a broad audience.

As a child, he learned to play several musical instruments, including the clarinet, trombone, violin and piano. And of course, like so many youngsters growing up during the heyday of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, he gravitated to the guitar.

After 15 years as a backup musician and session player, White launched his solo recording career with the 1990 release of Reveillez-Vous (French for “wake up,” a title chosen by White in honor of his French mother). The album included

several unused songs that White had written for British folk singer Al Stewart and it became a favorite among contemporary jazz radio stations.

He maintained an ambitious release schedule through the ‘90s and beyond and also found time to appear on recordings by many of his friends: including Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Jeff Golub, Lee Ritenour, Kirk Whalum, Boney James and many others.

On the road, he has participated in numerous “Guitars and Saxes” tours with the aforementioned players and has established an annual “Peter White Christmas Tour” – the latter enterprise fueled by the success of his two highly regarded holiday albums, Songs of the Season (1997) and A Peter White Christmas (2007).

In a career that spans nearly four decades, over a dozen solo recordings and countless performances, White insists that it’s the faces in the crowd and the fans that keep the experience fresh.

one Thugs-n-Harmony is an American hip hop band from Cleveland, Ohio, formed in 1991. The group originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone.

Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Ruthless Records in late 1993. Bone Thugs debuted with the EP, Creepin on ah Come Up, which included the hit single, “Thuggish Ruggish Bone.”

In 1995, the group released its second album, E. 1999 Eternal, which included hits, “1st of tha Month” and “Tha Crossroads.” The latter — a tribute to the recently deceased Eazy-E — won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

in 1997. E. 1999 Eternal and “1st of tha Month” were nominated Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, respectively.

The group also released its third album, The Art of War, in 1997. E. 1999 Eternal and The Art of War both topped the Billboard 200 charts and went quadruple platinum. Creepin on ah Come Up also went quadruple platinum.

In the years to follow, the group released several platinum and gold albums.

Bone Thugs is the only group that has worked with now deceased artists 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Eazy-E and Big Pun. The editors of About.com ranked them No. 12 on their list of the “25 Best Rap Groups of All Time” and MTV called them “the most melodic hip-hop group of all time.”

ver since the New Orleansborn, Oakland-raised R&B/soul songstress’ 2000 debut, Soulsinger, Ledisi has garnered an impressive 12 Grammy Award nominations and sold millions of records worldwide.

In 1995, she formed her own group, Abinade (named after her middle name, which means “to bring forth luck” or “my mother is great” in Yoruba), which garnered a sizable following in the Bay area. Despite its popularity, the band couldn’t land a major record deal.

So Ledisi decided to go solo and over the last several years, she’s established herself as one of neo-soul’s mainstays.

Her fourth and breakout album, Turn Me Loose (2009), topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart, crossed into the Top 20 of the Billboard 200, and earned a pair of Grammy nominations.

Her subsequent albums, Pieces of Me (2010), The Truth (2014), The Intimate Truth (2015), and Let Love Rule (2017), debuted high on the Billboard R&B charts and also garnered her a handful of Grammy nods.

Along the way, Ledisi also took her talents to the big screen, starring as famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, in Ava Duvernay’s powerful Academy Award-nominated film, Selma (2014).

018 USA

Fellow and five-time Grammywinning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard has been a consistent artistic force for making powerful musical statements concerning painful American tragedies – past and present.

From his expansive work composing the scores for Spike Lee films, including: When the Levees Broke — a documentary about Blanchard’s hometown of New Orleans during the devastation from Hurricane

Katrina — to the epic Malcolm X; Inside Man, starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster; 25th Hour, starring Edward Norton and Philip Seymour Hoffman to the timely and latest Lee film, BlacKkKlansman, starring John David Washington, Adam Driver and Topher Grace, Blanchard has interwoven melodies that created strong backdrops to Lee’s stories.

Experimental, electric, and exotic, E-Collective consists of Blanchard on trumpet, Charles Altura on guitar, Fabian Almazan on piano and synthesizers, Oscar Seaton on drums and new addition

David “DJ” Ginyard on bass. With his latest Blue Note jazz album, Live (2018), which he is currently touring with his band, Blanchard addresses the staggering cyclical epidemic of gun violence in this country. He delivers seven powerful songs recorded live in concert that reflect the bitter frustration of the conscious masses, while also providing a balm of emotional healing. With a title that carries a pointed double meaning, the album is an impassioned continuation of the band’s Grammy-nominated 2015 studio recording, Breathless

cclaimed vocalist

Lizz Wright is a steward of American music bringing brilliant color and vibrancy to singular original works and compositions by some of the greatest songwriters of our time. Wright has garnered widespread attention as one of the most venerable popular singers of her generation through the release of five critically acclaimed albums. From her breakout Verve debut album Salt , to her latest album, Grace, on Concord Records, Wright lives life filled with beautiful possibilities centered on the power of song.

Through an inimitable voice that The New York Times touts as, “a smooth, dark alto possessed of qualities you might associate with barrel-aged bourbon or butter-soft leather,” Wright sings with a soaring reflection of the cultural fabric of America. She lies beneath the script of human history transcending social divides with an offer of love and deep sense of humanity. Her music accepts the beauty of reality and a collective experience of belonging. For the listener, Wright’s songs embody a tradition that allows us to always feel at home, wherever we might be physically or emotionally.

At the age of 22, Wright made a name for herself nationally as

a vocalist with a touring concert tribute to Billie Holiday, where her poised performance stole the show. At 23, she signed with Verve Records for the release of Salt, which topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts. Her subsequent albums ( Dreaming Wide Awake, The Orchard, Fellowship, and Freedom & Surrender ) continued to top the charts and her single “Lean In” from Freedom & Surrender landed on President Obama’s 2016 Summer Playlist. NPR critic Ann Powers included Freedom & Surrender on her list of “Favorite Albums in 2015,” and the album has received rave reviews from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

ameo was founded, produced and led by drummer and Harlem native Larry Blackmon. Cameo’s debut 1977 album, Cardiac Arrest, included the hits “We’re Going Out Tonight” and “Rigormortis.” The group’s next two albums, We All Know Who We Are and Ugly Ego, helped establish Cameo with its core audience. However, it was its fourth LP, Secret Omen, including the hits “I Just Want To Be” and “Sparkle,” that began the group’s journey to a whole new

level of popularity and earned them their first of many gold and platinum albums.

Between 1980 and 1985, Cameo released seven LPs, spawning several Billboard Top Ten hits including “Shake Your Pants,” “Feel Me,” “Keep It Hot,” “Your Love Takes Me Out,” “Freaky Dancing,” “Alligator Woman,” “Flirt,” “Heaven Only Knows" and more.

In 1984, the group’s She's Strange album went No. 1 in both the United States and London, bringing both pop success and critical acclaim. 1985's Single Life album continued

the cycle of hits with groundbreaking singles, “Attack Me With Your Love” and “Single Life,” which kept people moving on dance floors everywhere.

In 1986, Cameo released its breakthrough album, Word Up , propelling them to worldwide superstar status. Word Up was Grammy-nominated for Album of the Year, which featured the group’s smash hits “Word Up” and “Candy.”

Cameo has maintained its core funkiness for nearly four decades. The group has sold more than 20 million records and continues to sell out venues worldwide.

lack Violin, led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin), also consists of DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes. The band uses its unique blend of classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes, while encouraging people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds to join together to break down cultural barriers.

Over the last several months, the band has performed for more

than 100,000 students in the U.S. and Europe, and it has partnered with Yamaha and NAMM (National Association of Music Manufactures) to continue supporting music education. Black Violin, alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Elton John, recently joined with Turnaround Arts to bring arts education to struggling schools in underserved communities. The program stems from the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts founded by President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2012.

In addition, the duo has composed

for a major FOX Television original Pitch, and it has been featured by ESPN as the official artist of the 2017 U.S. Open (tennis), and the 2016 and 2017 Heisman Trophy Award ceremonies They’ve also been featured on The Tonight Show, Ellen, The Wendy Williams Show, NPR and more.

The group has collaborated creatively with artists such as Kanye West, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys. The duo’s most recent album, Stereotypes , hit No. 1on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart and No. 4 on Billboard’s R&B Chart.

Principled. Balanced. Fair.

For more than a quarter of a century, the award-winning Richmond Free Press has boldly kept the faith with the high principles of the First Amendment in its unswerving commitment to community service and justice. To speak with credibility to our loyal readership that values fairness, there is only one choice:

o James was a self-made rebel by grade school.

Born Ronnie James Tucker in Stuttgart, Germany, he would jam out to the diverse sounds of Johnny Cash, Biggie, Tupac, Sly and the Family Stone and David Bowie, while his father — a military man turned preacher — tried to push church music into his ears. His defiant spirit soon changed that.

James spent his childhood in different corners of the country including Indiana, California, Hawaii, Oklahoma and eventually his current place of residence, New York.

Through his aunt, a former singer for Prince, James learned to embrace the idea of being different by discovering his musical muse in Purple Rain. He marveled at Prince’s ability to be himself and not care what anyone else thought.

James landed in a studio for the first time at 19 years old, but honed his songwriting prowess through the reading and writing punishments his mother would hand him for bad behavior. Soon, the blatant bada** was scribing from the perspective of a smooth operator. Whether reflecting on heartbreak in the first song he ever wrote, “Portrait,” or finding a deeper connection than sex on one of his EP cuts, “A.D.I.D.A.S.,” he would spin matters of the heart into poignant slow jams that went down smoother than his whiskey of choice, Jack Daniels.

In 2013, James took the independent route, performing at showcases throughout New York and collaborating with the city’s up-and-comers like Luke James and Wynter Gordon. He eventually rolled out a three-part EP, Coke, Jack and Cadillacs . The series highlighted James’ signature slick tongue, bada** vibe and soulful melodies, drawing comparisons to his musical idol, D’Angelo.

Now, he’s committed to remaining himself note-by-note, especially after signing to Mark Pitts’ ByStorm Entertainment/RCA Records, the home of his debut major label single “Permission,” and eventually his album, ELDORADO, inspired by New York — the place he calls his city of gold.

SCHEDULE

STAGE 2: SATURDAY SCHEDULE

SATURDAY SCHEDULE STAGE 3: SATURDAY SCHEDULE

1- THE TREY SORRELLS QUARTET | 12:30-1:45

2- THE LATIN JAZZ MESSENGERS | 2:15-3:30

3- THE YUKO MABUCHI TRIO | 4:00-5:15

5:15-6:30

5 6

5-LEDISI | 7:00-8:15

6- MAZE FEATURING

BEVERLY | 9:00-10:15

STAGE 2: SUNDAY SCHEDULE

1-CAUTIOUS CLAY | 1:30-2:45

2-STEPHEN MARLEY | 3:15-4:30

3- BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY | 5:00-6:15

4-CAMEO | 6:45-8:00

5-SHAGGY | 8:45-10:00

STAGE 3: SUNDAY SCHEDULE

rom blue-eyed soul to pop, R&B and standards, singer/songwriter Bobby Caldwell is truly one of the most respected artists in the music industry.

Born in Manhattan and raised in Miami, Caldwell came from a show business family. His mother and father both sang and were the hosts of one of the first musical variety programs on television, Suppertime. Bobby grew up listening to show tunes, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony

Bennett and The Beatles. These early influences are prevalent in Bobby's singing and songwriting.

As a singer, he has a successful career with numerous solo releases, which have earned accolades far and wide. His songwriting skills have earned hits not only for himself, but also for well-known artists like Chicago, Boz Scaggs, Peter Cetera and Amy Grant, Neil Diamond and Al Jarreau.

Caldwell's timeless classic, “What You Won't Do For Love” has been recorded and

sampled by more than 100 artists. Additionally, his song, “Open Your Eyes,” was sampled in the Grammy-nominated platinum rap hit, “The Light” by Common. In total, Caldwell's songs and samples have contributed to over 40 million sales, while artists as diverse as Boyz II Men, Tupac Shakur, Michael Bolton, Roberta Flack, Go West, Vanessa Williams and Notorious B.I.G. have all paid tribute to the blue-eyed singer in the slouch hat.

he second son of Bob and Rita Marley, eighttime Grammywinning musician and producer Stephen Marley was born on April 20, 1972. He began his career as a precocious six-year old singing, dancing, and playing percussion with his siblings in the Melody Makers. As a teenager, he assisted in the production of the Melody Makers’ albums, including their three Best Reggae Album Grammy winners: Conscious Party (Virgin Records, 1989), One Bright Day (Virgin Records, 1990), and Fallen Is Babylon (Elektra Entertainment, 1998).

The first project that brought Stephen’s production capabilities widespread attention was Chant Down Babylon (1999), where he audaciously manipulated his father’s original vocal outtakes from the 1970s Island Records’ sessions, splicing them into duets with hip-hop and R&B artists, while updating the Wailers’ richly textured one-drop rhythms with an assortment of samples, loops, and overdubs. Chant Down Babylon achieved its objective of bringing Bob’s music to a new generation of fans, earned a Grammy nomination, and sold more than one million copies worldwide.

Stephen later produced and contributed vocals to his brother Damian’s single, “Welcome to Jamrock,” which entered the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at No. 7, a record setting opening week for a reggae artist.

The success of “Welcome to Jamrock” increased the anticipation surrounding the release of Stephen’s first solo effort — Mind Control — which won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2007. In 2008, Marley released a refreshing version of the hit album with an acoustic version that gained the artist another Grammy for Best Reggae Album.

n unflinching, inimitable talent armed with a potent and husky voice, the grittyblues and soul-toasting singer has spent the past two years pounding the pavement in the wake of his breakout debut album, 2015's Delilah

His subsequent album, Encore (2018), was derived from East's steadfast belief that every song on the album must be worthy of closing out one of his notoriously epic live shows. “It was very much about trying to feel live and loose,” East says of the writing

and recording of Encore as well as its genre-blurring material that blends the boundary-pushing singer's equal-parts love of country-blues (“King For A Day”), soul (“Surrender”), pop (“All On My Mind”), and beatific balladry (“Cabinet Door”).

When stitching together Encore, East was as much about searching for outside inspiration as drawing from his own well of experience. “I think it's just the nature of wanting to tell stories,” the thoughtful, well-articulated singer says of his decision to collaborate with a bevy of world-renowned artists and songwriters on the album including Chris and Morgane Stapleton (“King

For A Day”), Ed Sheeran (“All On My Mind”), Avicii (“Girlfriend”) and Natalie Hemby (“This Too Shall Last,” complete with an electric guitar assist from Ryan Adams). “You want to hang out with people who have great stories,” he adds. “Especially people that have amazing craft.”

East tallied a Grammy nod for Best American Roots Performance for “All On My Mind” the following year.

Still, East is nothing if not the decidedly humble type. So much so that despite finding success in recent years, he says he's never been more appreciative for where

ften referred to as a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, New York City-based vocalist José James combines jazz, soul, drum ’n’ bass and spoken word into his own unique brand of vocal jazz. While he states his main influences as John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday, his sound on early 12” singles and in live performances brought to mind ‘70s jazz-soul icons like Terry Callier. His music felt more like an update of the fluid crossover

approach of Gil Scott-Heron, while also being distinctly his own. James released his full-length debut album, Dreamer, in 2008 on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood imprint. The album ended up earning him accolades worldwide for its blend of jazz, electronic soul, and pop styles. It placed at No. 21 in Jazz Times’ Top 50 for the year. Consequently, James was tapped to do numerous guest appearances on recordings by the Junior Mance Trio, Jazzanova, Nicola Conte, Basement Jaxx and Chico Hamilton, to name a few.

In commemoration of Billie Holiday’s 100th birthday, the singer he claimed, from the very beginning of his career, as his “musical mother,” James recorded nine songs written or associated with her. He fronted a band that included pianist Jason Moran, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Eric Harland. Yesterday I Had the Blues was produced by Blue Note label-head Don Was and released in March of 2015. In 2017, James was reborn as a powerful voice in contemporary R&B on Love in a Time of Madness

rammy Award and Dove Awardwinning singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, Morton Records founder and Maroon 5 keyboardist, PJ Morton, boasts collaborations with Adam Levine, Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes. He also has written and produced for BJ The Chicago Kid, Jermaine Dupri, Jazmine Sullivan, Monica and India.Arie, to name just a few.

As a solo act, he received his

first Grammy nomination for “Only One (featuring Stevie Wonder)” from 2013’s New Orleans . Two albums later, he received two more Grammy nominations for Gumbo (2017) and won Best R&B Album, beating out heavyweights Bettye LaVette and Charlie Wilson.

His 2018 offering, Gumbo Unplugged , featured The HamilTones, Lecrae and BJ The Chicago Kid, among others. The album — essentially the live version of Gumbo — was recorded in just one take over

the course of 40 minutes. “What you hear on the album is what we did that night,” Morton said. “That’s a very old school concept. We brought in the orchestra because the strings figured so prominently on the original. I wanted fans to see and hear how it’s really done in the studio though. On stage, it’s a different expression for me. There were so many special nights on the tour. I needed to capture that and give it to audiences. I’m really proud of what we did. This was all the real thing.”

or over half a century, B.B. King defined blues to the world. Today, Michael Lee and several original members of King’s band are still keeping his legacy alive and selling out shows all across the globe.

When King passed away in May of 2015, longtime manager Myron John rallied up King’s bandmates to keep the show going. By September of the same year,

the band was together and rehearsing regularly.

For the first few years, the band featured several high-profile guest lead guitarists and singers. And starting in the fall of 2017, Tito Jackson (formerly of the Jackson 5) toured as the band’s lead until this year. Today, the band is led by Lee — lead vocalist and guitarist.

The band caught wind of Lee during his run on NBC’s The Voice, namely for his cover of

King’s “The Thrill is Gone,” which landed a spot on the band’s first album, The Soul of the King (2019).

The band also consists of the following members: trumpeters James “Boogaloo” Bolden and Lamar Boulet, saxophonists Eric Demmer and Walter King, bassist Russell Jackson, guitarist and vocalist Wilbert Crosby and keyboardist Darrell Lavigne.

riginally from Cleveland, Ohio, Cautious began his artistic journey at the age of seven when he picked up classical flute. His studies led him deep into the worlds of blues and jazz and by the time he hit college in Washington, D.C., he added a number of other instruments to his

repertoire, in addition to songwriting and production. Clay burst onto the scene after remixing pop star Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes,” and three years later, he released his hit “Cold War” on Soundcloud.

Since the track’s release, he sold out his first live show; he’s featured on the soundtrack of Issa Rae’s popular show, Insecure; and he’s performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.

It’s that feel, that deep emotional intuition, that fuels Clay’s sound. Blending R&B, hip-hop and experimental indie, his productions are dark and engrossing, built upon a unique combination of organic instruments, digital programming and soulful vocals. He writes with unflinching honesty, engaging in deeply personal self-reflection with boldly vulnerable and vividly poetic lyrics.

rban jazz harmonicist

Frédéric

Yonnet plays an instrument many have owned, but few have mastered. Originally from France, Yonnet is regarded as one of the most talented and innovative harmonica players on the international music scene today.

His impressive style and electrifying stage presence have led to recordings, tours and performances with a wide range of musicians including Grammy winners and music icons Stevie Wonder and Prince, award-

winning songwriter David Foster, U.K. sensation Ed Sheeran, pop idols the Jonas Brothers, soul singers John Legend, Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, John Mayer and India.Arie, as well as The National Symphony Orchestra, and The Dayton Philharmonic. Rolling Stone magazine referred to Yonnet as “Prince’s killer harmonica player” and praise from other influencers affirms his mission to change the way music enthusiasts and the industry regard the “pocket” instrument.

Citing Stevie Wonder as a mentor and friend, Yonnet was honored when Wonder tapped him to

perform harmonica parts on the Songs in the Key of Life Performance Tour in 2014. Wonder performed the entire double album as a part of the 43-city tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of the most critically acclaimed album of his career.

While Yonnet enjoys the excitement of performing with some of the world’s greatest music legends, he knows that it’s the technical mastery of his instrument — along with innovative collaborations and solo projects — that will earn him recognition as one of the greatest harmonica players in the world.

Mabuchi started playing classical piano at the age of four in her hometown, Fukui, Japan. As a teenager, she was fascinated by American R&B, hip-hop, and blues and after hearing the music of Oscar Peterson and Herbie Hancock, she fell in love with jazz. After high school, she entered the AN Music School in Kyoto to study jazz piano under Kunihiro Kameda. After graduating from the conservatory, she began performing locally as a soloist and as a member of a local jazz trio.

In 2010, Yuko arrived in Los Angeles to study at the Music Performance Academy (MPA) in Alhambra, CA. While studying, she had the opportunity to showcase her talent at some of L.A.’s top venues: including the Catalina Jazz Bar, Downtown Biltmore Hotel, Pasadena Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series, the Crowne Plaza LAX and RedWhite + Bluezz in Pasadena.

Three years later, she returned to Japan and played a host of festivals and venues with her trio: the Jazz Spot J Shinjuku in Tokyo, the Fukui Jazz Festival (in 2014 and 2015), Osaka/Neyagawa Jazz Convention (2014), Jazz Spot Swing in Nagoya,

Mokkiriya and Riverside in Kanazawa and Keio Plaza in Tokyo.

She recently returned to the U.S. to promote her new CD, My Life (Vista Records) and she also serves as the accompanist at the Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory and Youth Symphony, a music program that trains youngsters in the south Los Angeles area.

The Yuko Mabuchi Trio, in addition to Mabuchi, includes bassist Del Atkins and drummer Bob Breton. Critics applaud Mabuchi for her free, expressive, yet structured approach to jazz.

herry Winston has performed at The White House for former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, and she’s been on Emeril Live, The Today Show, BET and many other national TV shows.

She has also been featured in the New York Times, Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, Odyssey Couleur, and other national magazines and newspapers.

Winston has performed with Stevie Wonder and she has opened for John Legend, Gregory Porter, Vanessa Williams, Maxwell, Sinbad, Patti Austin, Chaka Kahn and Peabo Bryson, among several others.

She’s been featured in several prestigious festivals around the world such as the DC Jazz Festival, Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival and the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, among others.

On the business side, Winston served as Columbia Records’ national director of jazz promotions. There, she shaped the careers of Miles Davis, George Michael, Hubert Laws and the Marsalis Brothers.

A graduate of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts School of Music and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Winston has also received a host of nationally recognized awards and distinctions.

uitarist Jack Wilkins has been on the international jazz scene since the early 1970s. His flawless technique and imaginative chordal approach have inspired collaborations with Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Bob Brookmeyer and Buddy Rich, among many others. A native of Brooklyn, Jack began playing guitar at age thirteen. His mentors included Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. Windows, his first album as a leader (Mainstream, 1973) has been critically acclaimed as a dazzling, seminal guitar trio work.

His later recordings: Call Him Reckless (1989), Mexico (1992), Merge (1995), Alien Army (1996), Keep in Touch (1996) and Trioart (1998) feature the Brecker Brothers, Eddie Gomez, Jack De Johnette, Al Foster, Phil Woods, Kenny Drew Jr. and many others. Project G-7 (1993), a two-CD set tribute to Wes Montgomery, features Kenny Burrell, Gene Bertoncini and Ted Dunbar, among others.

A consummate accompanist, Wilkins has played and recorded with renowned singers Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Morgana King, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Manhattan Transfer, Nancy Marano, Chris Conner, Cassandra Wilson and Jay Clayton. Wilkins was awarded an NEA grant in recognition

of his work and contribution to the guitar. He has been widely and prominently profiled in such publications as Guitar Player, Just Jazz Guitar Downbeat, 20th Century Guitar and Leonard Feather’s Jazz Encyclopedia. Wilkins was invited to the Smithsonian Institution as a part of the Blue Guitars exhibit, and he’s appeared on the P.S.I. first live jazz Internet concert. He was also featured on the J.V.C. Festival tributes to Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel.

Wilkins also teaches at The New School, Manhattan School of Music, New York University and Long Island University.

Community Idea Stations is now VPM, Virginia’s home for Public Media.

While our name has changed, our purpose and commitment remain the same: To educate, entertain, and inspire.

VPM.org

runswick is a 13-piece modern jazz ensemble that performs covers as well as original work and puts a new spin on the big band sound while remaining true to the jazz tradition. John Hulley, former NoBS! Brass Band and VCU pep band member, founded the group in 2012. Since then, they’ve released, Five Years , an album with all original songs.

THE TREY SORRELLS QUARTET

rey Sorrells of the Trey Sorrells Quartet has ranked on top charts and performed with the best artists in the jazz scene. Based in Washington D.C, Sorrells plays saxophone with the band Future Prospect, which was ranked #6 on the iTunes Jazz Charts for their debut album, The Climb, in 2016. Sorrells has worked with several distinguished jazz artists and groups, including Darin Atwater’s Soulful Symphony, Sue Ann Carwell, Deborah Bond, The Chuck Brown Band and Mark G. Meadows.

Sorrells discovered the expressiveness and soul of the saxophone when he was twelve years old. He went on to study jazz under Antonio Garcia, Skip Gailes and J. C. Kuhl at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned the John F. Kennedy Jr. Jazz Scholarship and travelled to Durban, South Africa several times as part of the International Jazz Exchange Program. He became attached to the hard-bop style jazz during his college years.

ERIN & THE WILDFIRE

ased in Charlottesville and led by Erin Lunsford, Erin & The Wildfire have performed their unique blend of rock, soul and funk at venues like Roosterwalk, Floydfest and Lockn alongside Soja, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Willie Nelson, Wilco, Widespread Panic and The Allman Brothers. Erin, an award-winning vocalist and songwriter, assembled three friends, Ryan Lipps on guitar, Matt Wood on bass and Nick Quillen on drums, and named the group after their fiery sound. The group has been together for six years, since their college days, and promote issues like female solidarity and body positivity.

PRETTYBLVCK

ormed in June of 2019 in Richmond, PrettyBLVCK’s message is one of empowerment, resilience, strength and love. With years of experience, natural talent, classical training and sisterhood, PrettyBLVCK is a group of women with big dreams for RVA’s women performersa collective of female voices, featuring some of the dopest names and faces on the Richmond band circuit. PrettyBLVCK is excited to make their stage debut at the 10th annual Richmond Jazz and Music Festival.

THE LATIN JAZZ MESSENGERS

he Latin Jazz Messengers combine latin jazz classics and jazzy arrangements from pop idols like Michael Jackson and The Beatles. Lead trumpeter Dr. Michael Davison, the director of the Cuban and jazz music programs at the University of Richmond, collected a mix of student and professional musicians to form the six-member band. Other members include J. C. Kuhl on tenor sax, Charlie Kilpatrick on piano, Santos Ramirez on percussion,

KENNEKA COOK

enneka Cook, a native Richmond vocal artist, got her start in church and school choirs and recorded music using just her laptop and microphone during college. Her influences include Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu, The Cardigans and Reggie Watts, who introduced Cook to the process of live looping, which she uses in her music.

Much of her work is informed by her love for the cosmos, which is evident in her debut album, Moonchild Moonchild touches on topics like technology, social interaction, femininity and spirituality. The album was recorded in a makeshift studio in producer Scott Lane’s living room and features several local musicians. Cook graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University as a criminal justice major and entered the music scene by attending open mic nights.

HE WWAY, is an instrumental trio, whose collective influences create a unique blend of jazz, funk, rock, pop, reggae, blues and R&B. The group consists of guitarist Brian Mesko, bassist Dane Alderson and drummer Forrest Young. All three had been playing in different bands for a number of years, but THE WWAY was formed

THE WWAY WEEKEND PLANS

eekend Plans is comprised of nine Richmond locals and VCU graduates, some of whom have shared the stage with the likes of Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles, Trombone Shorty and NoBS! Brass Band. Weekend Plans performs original music with jazz, R&B, funk, rock and hip hop. They’ve performed at many of Richmond’s venues, like The Camel, The Broadberry and Cary Street Café. Band members include founder Kayen Wilburn on trumpet and lead vocals, Zach Taylor on bass trombone, Chet Frierson on tenor saxophone, Nathanael Clark on alto saxophone,

LISAY

isay, “The Country Girl”, hails from Virginia by way of New Jersey. She got her start singing when she moved in with her aunt and uncle at age 16. At a Charm Pageant, she sang Natalie Cole’s “Our Love” — one of her idols — and a local manager took notice. The manager asked her to join his band comprised of high school students that needed a female singer. Since then, she has had a bug for singing. Blessed with a five-octave vocal range, Lisay is also a songwriter and producer who has won poetry and songwriting awards from Billboard, the Songwriters’ Association of Washington, D.C. and the National Poetry Society. She will have you mesmerized with her live show, which is full of energy. Lisay has opened up for a pretty impressive list of artists including the incomparable El DeBarge, Rachelle Ferrell,

Miki Howard, Christopher Williams, Meli'sa Morgan, Total, Blue Magic, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, Kid Capri and many more. This multi-talented artist has a new album soon to be released and is surely one to watch out for!