Capital Jazz Fest Columbia Tickets - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Gerald Albright

2 concerts

Born in South Central Los Angeles, award-winning contemporary jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright is also a bassist and session player. His debut Just Between Us (1987) cracked the Top 200; Verve collab Pleasures of the Night hit No. 1.

Dru Hill

8 concerts

Formed in Baltimore in 1992, American R&B group Dru Hill rose to fame with hits like Tell Me, In My Bed, and How Deep Is Your Love. Known for their soulful harmonies and defining 1990s sound, the group spans over three decades, featuring members like Sisqó.

Chris Botti

49 concerts

Chris Botti is a Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer from Portland, Oregon. Known for his romantic sound blending jazz and pop, he gained early acclaim touring with Paul Simon and Sting. He has released numerous chart-topping albums, including When I Fall in Love and Impressions.

Marcus Miller

9 concerts

Brooklyn-born bassist Marcus Miller is known for his contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B. After gaining acclaim in Miles Davis's 1980s band, he launched a successful solo career, winning a Grammy Award for his 2001 album M². He is also a prolific film composer and producer.

Najee

4 concerts

Najee is a Grammy-nominated saxophonist and flautist from New York known for his crossover jazz and R&B sound. Gaining prominence with his 1986 debut Najee's Theme, he has released numerous chart-topping albums and collaborated with Prince, Chaka Khan, and Stevie Wonder.

En Vogue

3 concerts

Formed in Oakland by producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, Grammy-nominated R&B vocal group En Vogue debuted in 1990 with the platinum album Born to Sing. Known for hits like Hold On and My Lovin, the group achieved multi-platinum success with Funky Divas and EV3.

Bilal

2 concerts

Philadelphia native Bilal is a progressive R&B and neo-soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his versatile voice. His acclaimed albums include 1st Born Second and Airtight's Revenge. He won a Grammy for Kendrick Lamar's These Walls and frequently collaborates with major artists.

Take 6

6 concerts

Formed in Alabama by college students, the a cappella group Take 6 blends gospel, jazz, and doo wop. Their platinum-selling 1988 debut won multiple Grammy and Dove awards. Known for their intricate vocal arrangements and collaborations with legends like Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones, they later turned independent.

Keith Sweat

3 concerts

Harlem, New York-born R&B singer, songwriter, and producer, a pioneer of new jack swing. Broke through with 1987 debut album Make It Last Forever (triple platinum) and hit “I Want Her,” plus classics “Twisted” and “Nobody.” Member of LSG.

Bob James

5 concerts

Marshall, Missouri-born, Grammy-winning pianist, composer and producer who helped create smooth/contemporary jazz. His 1978 album Touchdown featured “Angela,” the Taxi theme. Co-founded Fourplay and has collaborated with Quincy Jones and Nathan East.

After 7

4 concerts

Formed in 1987 in Indianapolis by Kevon Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds, and Keith Mitchell, contemporary R&B group After 7 achieved massive success with their platinum self-titled debut and gold follow-up Takin' My Time. Known for hits like Ready or Not and the Grammy-nominated Can't Stop, they collaborated closely with Babyface and L.A. Reid.

Tom Browne

5 concerts

Multi-gold album artist Tom Browne is best known for hits like Funkin For Jamaica and Thighs High on GRP Records. With over twenty solo projects, the acclaimed musician has collaborated with industry luminaries including Bob James, Roy Ayers, and George Benson, maintaining an active international touring schedule.

AverySunshine

5 concerts

Avery Sunshine (born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania) is a singer, pianist and composer rooted in the church. Best known for Billboard #1 “Call My Name” from The Sunroom; won ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Song of the Year with Dana “BigDane” Johnson.

Big Daddy Kane

5 concerts

Born Antonio Hardy in Brooklyn, hip-hop artist Big Daddy Kane joined the Juice Crew and debuted with the 1988 album Long Live the Kane. Known for his rapid rhyming and smooth persona, he released notable albums like It's a Big Daddy Thing and later dabbled in acting.

Eric Benét

10 concerts

Four-time GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Eric Benét is known for his signature falsetto and hits like Spend My Life With You featuring Tamia and Sometimes I Cry. Spanning over three decades, his career also includes co-founding JBR Creative Group.

Will Downing

5 concerts

Will Downing is a renowned R&B baritone known as The Prince of Sophisticated Soul. With a 30-year career, 21 albums, and his own record label, he is known for hits like A Million Ways and Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This with Rachelle Ferrell. He also hosts The Wind Down radio show.

Teddy Riley

1 concert

Harlem-born producer Teddy Riley pioneered the new jack swing genre. Known as the King of New Jack Swing, he achieved platinum success with groups Guy and Blackstreet, famously producing the chart-topping hit No Diggity. He has also collaborated with Michael Jackson and Mary J. Blige.

Samara Joy

20 concerts

Bronx native Samara Joy won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in college. She released her breakout album Linger Awhile in 2022 and won a Grammy for her 2024 album Portrait, co-produced with Brian Lynch.

Esperanza Spalding

2 concerts

Grammy-winning bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding is known for her cross-pollinated contemporary jazz approach. Born in Portland, Oregon, she became the youngest faculty member at Berklee College of Music. She has released acclaimed albums like Chamber Music Society, Radio Music Society, and the Grammy-winning Twelve Little Spells.

José James

3 concerts

Minnesota-born jazz singer with a rich baritone, José James blends contemporary jazz with soul, funk and more. Debuted with The Dreamer (2008); No Beginning No End (2013) topped Billboard’s jazz chart. Finalist in 2004 Monk Vocalist Competition.

Urban Guerilla Orchestra

1 concert

The JoGo Project

TLC

Atlanta R&B/pop trio TLC (Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas) became one of the biggest-selling female groups ever, winning Grammys for CrazySexyCool and FanMail with hits “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs.”

Atlantic Starr

Formed 1976 in White Plains, NY, Atlantic Starr are smooth R&B/pop masters of harmonies and ballads; hits “Secret Lovers” and #1 “Always” made them 80s icons.

Capital Jazz Fest

The Headhunters

Formed 1973, The Headhunters are jazz-funk pioneers known for best-selling ’70s classics “Chameleon,” “Watermelon Man,” “Palm Grease”; led by Mike Clark & Bill Summers.

The Blackbyrds

Formed in 1973 by Donald Byrd with Howard University students, the jazz-funk band the Blackbyrds achieved mainstream success with the 1975 hit Walking in Rhythm and three gold albums, including City Life and the Grammy-nominated Unfinished Business.

Frank McComb

Frank McComb, born in Cleveland, Ohio, is a soul and jazz vocalist, keyboardist, and producer. Renowned for his authentic artistry and powerful vocals, often compared to Donny Hathaway, he has collaborated with Prince, Chaka Khan, and Branford Marsalis. His album "Straight From The Vault" won a SoulTracks Readers Choice Award. He received an Indie Soul Award for "We Were Made For Us" and was honored with an Indie Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.

Brownstone

Brownstone, signed to Michael Jackson’s MJJ Epic in 1993, is best known for “If You Love Me” (Nicci Gilbert-Daniels), sampled by Tory Lanez, Future & Metro Boomin.