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

9 concerts

Dru Hill is an American contemporary R&B group formed in Baltimore in 1992, known for rich harmonies and a soulful blend of R&B, hip-hop soul, and gospel. Their albums Dru Hill (1996) and Enter the Dru (1998) include hits like Tell Me and In My Bed.

Chris Botti

55 concerts

Portland, Oregon-born jazz trumpeter Chris Botti is known for a romantic crossover sound. He rose as a sideman with Paul Simon and Sting, topped jazz charts with When I Fall in Love and won a Grammy for 2012’s Impressions.

Marcus Miller

9 concerts

Brooklyn-born jazz bassist Marcus Miller blends funk, R&B, and contemporary jazz. A former ’70s session ace and key member of Miles Davis’ ’80s band, he won a Grammy for 2001’s M² and topped jazz charts with Renaissance and Afrodeezia.

Najee

4 concerts

Born in New York’s Greenwich Village, Najee is a saxophonist and flute player known for crossover jazz and R&B. His Grammy-nominated Najee’s Theme (1986) hit No. 1; Tokyo Blue went gold. A two-time NAACP Award winner, he’s worked with Prince and Chaka Khan.

En Vogue

2 concerts

Oakland R&B vocal group formed by producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy. Debuted with Born to Sing (1990) and scored Top Ten hits including Hold On, My Lovin’ and Don’t Let Go (Love); earned multiple Grammy nominations.

Bilal

3 concerts

Philadelphia-born progressive R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Bilal broke out with Top Ten debut 1st Born Second (2001) and the single "Soul Sista." He earned Grammy nods for "Little One" and won for Kendrick Lamar’s "These Walls."

Take 6

7 concerts

Take 6 are an a cappella group rooted in gospel, doo wop, and jazz-influenced singing groups. Their debut Take 6 (1988) went platinum, won jazz and gospel Grammys and three Dove Awards, and led to work with Spike Lee and Quincy Jones.

Keith Sweat

2 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

4 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

3 concerts

Indianapolis R&B trio formed at Indiana Univ.; smooth harmonies/new jack swing, Babyface & L.A. Reid hits “Ready or Not,” “Can’t Stop” (Grammy-nom). Platinum debut.

Tom Browne

5 concerts

Multi-gold album artist Tom “Jamaica Funk” Browne is a Billboard “Best Of” awards recipient with over four decades of recordings and 20+ solo projects. Signed to GRP Records, he scored hits like Funkin’ For Jamaica and Thighs High.

AverySunshine

3 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

Brooklyn-born rapper Big Daddy Kane (Antonio Hardy) rose in the late ’80s, joining Marley Marl’s Juice Crew. His 1988 single “Raw” and albums Long Live the Kane and It’s a Big Daddy Thing yielded classics like “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’” and “Smooth Operator.”

Eric Benét

10 concerts

Milwaukee-born R&B singer Eric Benét first signed with EMI in 1991. His 1996 album True to Myself earned acclaim, and 1999’s A Day in the Life produced his first #1 single with Tamia, “Spend My Life.” Co-founded JBR Creative Group in 2023.

Will Downing

5 concerts

Will Downing, dubbed The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, has a 30+ year career with 21 albums. Known for baritone R&B interpretations like I Go Crazy, plus originals A Million Ways and duet Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This with Rachelle Ferrell.

Teddy Riley

2 concerts

Born in Harlem, Teddy Riley is the “King of New Jack Swing” producer/songwriter behind platinum hits for Guy and Blackstreet. Blackstreet’s debut went platinum and Another Level spawned the million-seller “No Diggity”; he also produced Joe’s chart-topping “Stutter.”

Samara Joy

16 concerts

Bronx-born jazz vocalist Samara Joy sang in her church gospel choir and discovered jazz at SUNY Purchase. Winner of the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, she released Samara Joy (2021) and Verve debut Linger Awhile.

Esperanza Spalding

2 concerts

Portland, Oregon-born bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding is a Grammy-winning contemporary jazz artist. Her album Esperanza topped the contemporary jazz chart; she won Best New Artist (2010) and earned a second Grammy for Radio Music Society.

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 1974 by jazz legend Donald Byrd at Howard Univ., The Blackbyrds fused jazz-funk & R&B; hits “Walking in Rhythm,” “Rock Creek Park,” “Happy Music”; scored "Cornbread, Earl and Me"; backed B.B. King, Mandrill & Roberta Flack; sampled club classics.

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.