Brian Culbertson is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and keyboardist blending jazz, funk, pop, and new age. He broke through with 1997's Secrets and topped jazz charts with albums like It's on Tonight and Bringing Back the Funk, collaborating with stars like Bootsy Collins and Candy Dulfer.
Born in Philadelphia, R&B legend Patti LaBelle rose to fame as the leader of the Bluebelles and the trailblazing 1970s funk trio LaBelle. Launching a successful solo career, she earned Grammy Awards for the albums Burnin and Live! One Night Only, alongside major hits like On My Own.
Born in Los Angeles, R&B and soul singer Leela James debuted with 2005s A Change Is Gonna Come. Known for her gritty vocals and personal songwriting, she has released several Billboard-charting albums and earned award nominations, collaborating with artists like the Roots, Kanye West, and Moby.
Kenny G is a renowned saxophonist known for his iconic sound and signature curly hair. With a four-decade career and 75 million albums sold worldwide, he released his 19th studio album, New Standards, inspired by classic 1950s and 1960s jazz ballads.
Formed in Philadelphia by rapper Black Thought and drummer Questlove, the Roots are a progressive hip-hop band known for live instrumentation and acclaimed albums like Things Fall Apart. They earned a Grammy for You Got Me and became a prominent late-night television house band.
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.
Based in Portland, Oregon, High Step Society is a seven-piece band formed in 2015. Known for their EDM-infused jazz and energetic festival performances, they have shared stages with acts like Beats Antique and Dirtwire.
Black Violin is a genre-defying duo featuring Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, who merge classical strings with modern beats. Winners of Showtime at the Apollo in 2005, they earned Grammy nominations for their album Take the Stairs and the song The Message.
CeeLo Green is an Atlanta-born singer and songwriter who rose to fame as a member of the influential hip-hop group Goodie Mob. He later achieved massive global success as a solo artist and as half of Gnarls Barkley, winning multiple Grammy Awards for hits like Crazy and Fuck You.
