Did you miss me? First live guest on Jazz Adjacent!
It's been months I haven't sent one these out and for good reason... I have decided to live in joy (and music).
Hey there,
How have you been? I've been good. I have been working. Singing. Like a lot. Like a lot a lot. But before I get into that…
Yes the world is on fire. And I do my best, privately, to contribute to the safe keeping of my liberties obtained for me by many of my ancestors and elders. I don't think you come here for anything else than musical levity. So that being said…
Jazz Adjacent Shows
JA00725
I had my very first live guest on my East Village Radio show today: Alexis Lombre
For me personally Alexis Lombre is an artist that fully represents what it is to be "Jazz Adjacent". Singer songwriter pianist producer… She is from South Side Chicago started piano at 9, honed her piano skills before even really paying attention to her first instrument, her voice. Took her talent to Ann Arbor where she went to college and soaked up the Detroit sound, after graduation in the beginning of the pandemic she moved to NYC and now lives in LA. She is a multi-instrumentalist who loves improvisation. And has been working professionally since the age of 14. When I say this woman can play! Her talent has brought her to work with Lizz Wright, Terrace Martin, Jon Batiste, D Nice (for any of y'all familiar with Club Quarantine), Nicole Mitchell, Jamila Woods, the AACM Great Black Music Ensemble, Laurin Talese, Junius Paul, Makaya McCraven, Donald Harrison, Bobby Watson, Buster Williams, Wadada Leo Smith, Dee Alexander, J Moss, Cece Peniston, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Nona Hendrix and many more (I know you are tired of reading names) and tomorrow April 18th she will share the stage with her mentor, Georgia Anne Muldrow, at Roulette BK part of an incredible NYC live residency organized by Four One One (look them up they are doing incredible arts work). There is also an album listening session tonight Cassette Queens with Melanie Charles and Dj Ooochild.
I have been a fan since seeing her last year at Winter Jazz Fest NYC. Her song "Boundaries" has become an anthem of my friend circle. She is the niece we have always wanted holding down the fort that Patrice Rushen and Roberta Flack built (and I don't say that lightly)
The stars aligned and Alexis and I were in NYC at the same time so I invited her to hang out with me and hangout we did!
You can listen back here
I recorded this mix in my apartement in Paris. C’est très chic je sais.
Concerts
I have been in Vienna & St. Pölten with the wonderful Tonkunstler Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart (Boston Pops) performing my original songs from my upcoming album. I was in St. Barth for the boutique Books and Jazz Festival run by lovely couple, Christian and Corinne, upon the invitation of French Soul singer Thomas Khan. What a lovely place to be and bring arts and culture to! They do a remarkable job!
Next up New Orleans! Playing the famous Sweet Lorraine’s April 26th and Jazz and Heritage Festival with the Larry Sieberth Special Edition at the WWOZ tent. A first for me! I also will be heading to Germany for JazzFest Bonn, Unterfarht Munich, Women in Jazz in Halle and Konin in Poland and then back in the US for a gig with Howard Wiley at SF Jazz.
This is truly a lifestyle.
Enjoy the music and I will not let so much time pass before giving more news.
Take care and thank you for reading and supporting. Music is definitely the magic.
China