There are very few artists whose sound can capture the sentiments of a generation. The Brooklyn-born-and-raised Melanie Charles is one of these artists. Over the past few decades, she has made a name for herself through dynamic engagements with jazz, soul and R&B. Her bold genre-bending style has been embraced by a range of artists including Wynton Marsalis, SZA, Mach-Hommy, Gorillaz and The Roots. In 2021, she appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk and stunned with her eclectic style. Through it all, she has remained committed to making music that pushes listeners to consider new possibilities — both sonically and politically. Make Jazz Trill Again, a project that she launched in 2016, demonstrates her allegiance to everyday people, especially the youth, and is focused on taking jazz from the museum to the streets. “I love jazz, I really fell in love with it deeply. But I was interested in young people interacting with it,” Charles says. The album Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women is reflective of Charles’ tremendous versatility and imagination as an artist, but also of her deep care for community. 

Queens native Linda EPO’s musical journey is a testament to the rich tapestry of her Haitian and Mexican heritage reflected in the vibrant fusion of genres that define her sound. Growing up amidst the diverse musical landscape of NYC, Linda’s artistry transcends borders, captivating audiences worldwide with an eclectic repertoire spanning jazz, funk, R&B, Caribbean, and Latin music.

She has performed at Swing Wespelaar in Belgium and Zomerparkfeest in the Netherlands with grammy-nominated Heritage Blues Orchestra and has supported soul-rock band On the Sun on tours as backup vocalist and keyboardist. Recent notable performances include Birdland in NYC with Berta Moreno’s La Troupe Tumaini, El Teatro Juárez de Guanajuato in Mexico with Nixtaband, and The Hudson River Museum Summer Festival and Live at the Gantries with her own ensemble. She is the recipient of an artist excellence award from the Municipal Institute of Culture, Art and Recreation of Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico at the 20th Irapuato Jazz Fest. She has also worked as a teaching artist at the 92Y and with Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Thursday July 24 @ 6:30PM
58 7th Avenue, Brooklyn

Camille Gainer is a native New Yorker who has established herself with a rich career poised with artistic ability and versatility. She began playing drums and other instruments such as guitar, violin and piano at the age of 11. She then went on to study with master drummer Michael Carvin. She credits Michael with opening her up to all styles of playing and most notably being aware of the feeling and language of different styles and her sight-reading prowess. Her diligence and preserverance earned her a full scholarship at Brooklyn’s Long Island University. Where she got to study with other greats such as Keith Copeland. Camille has gone on to work with such luminous artist as Roy Ayers, lonnie Liston Smith, Roberta Flack, Jean Carn, Noel Pointer,Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Chuck Mangione, Marc Cary, Christian McBride, Michael Urbaniak, Ursula Dudziak, Melky Sedeck, Worl-a-Girl, Capelton, Lt.Stitchie, Tanya Stephens,Sugar Minott, M.C. Shan and the Juice Crew All-Stars of which she was the musical Director, Monifa, Heavy D, Angela Bofill, Weldon Irvine, Joan Jett, Onaje Allen Gumbs, leni Stern and kelis, J.T. Taylor,Les Nubians and Cyndi Lauper, Alicia Keys and Wayne Brady.

Known as a “go to” pianist by many musicians, Lafayette Harris Jr. currently performs and records with legendary saxophonist Houston Person where he has recorded on three of Mr. Person’s CDs. Lafayette has toured with some of the greatest musicians of all time including the legendary Max Roach; jazz, funk pioneer, trumpeter Donald Byrd; trombone plunger master Al Grey; John Gordon’s Trombones Unlimited that featured: Slide Hampton, Al grey and Curtis Fuller, amongst others; and the Duke Ellington Legacy Orchestra. He has recorded and toured with four-time Grammy nominee – the late, great, Ernestine Anderson. Lafayette is currently a regular member of Archie Shepp’s band. He also records and performs with his own bands that include Lonnie Plaxico, Jazzmeia Horn, Willie Jones III, Peter Washington and Lewis Nash. Lafayette has been the musical director for dance tap organization, Taplogy, since 2013 where he orchestrates and conducts the diverse musical ensemble. Since then, Lafayette has released nine CDs including his newest, “You Can’t Lose With The Blues,” which was #1 for two weeks on the Jazzweek Jazz Chart in February 2020, and remained on the top ten for 14 weeks.

Mary Orji is a visionary tenor saxophonist, composer, and poet whose music blends spiritual jazz, hip-hop, and neo-soul into a powerful expression of faith and identity. As the leader of The Mary Orji Visionaries Collective, she creates immersive, soul-stirring experiences rooted in her Christian beliefs and Nigerian heritage. Her work invites listeners on a journey of awakening, healing, and divine connection.

Instagram: @maryorjiofficial

Thursday July 31 @ 6:30PM
58 7th Avenue, Brooklyn

Amina Scott, born and raised in Oakland, CA, is an upright and electric bassist, educator, composer and arranger. Her interest in music began at an early age when her grandmother began giving her piano lessons. From then, her love and passion for music has yet to cease, playing electric bass when she was 12 years old and was soon playing gigs with local bands in Oakland. In 2017, Amina was chosen to become a fellow at Ravinia Steans Institute of Music where she was coached by Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, and Nathan Davis. New Orleans. Additionally, Amina leads her own band and she has performed and toured with various artists including Nicholas Payton, Joanne Brackeen, Don Vappie, Ingrid Jensen, Herlin Riley, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Randy Brecker, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, and more.

Amina continues to forge her own path as a trailblazing artist, ranging from many musical influences, she is able to express her journey into Black womanhood and capture the trials and tribulations of her career thus far. While staying true to the musical lineage as well as herself, Amina is able to captivate audiences around the world with her music and her story. As an educator, she currently holds positions at Loyola University New Orleans and University of New Orleans. Her debut album Where The Wild Seed Grows is out now on all platforms.

Thursday August 7 @ 6:30PM
58 7th Avenue, Brooklyn

Brooklyn-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Charles Turner has taken the New York City scene by storm. His project Charles Turner & The House of Spilata combines live jazz music with a DJ playing house, disco and R&B.

Turner has held residencies, hosted, and performed at venues such as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Smoke Jazz Club and the historic Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. He has performed internationally at Pizza Express in London, Sunside Sunset in Paris, Sala Claomores in Madrid, and more venues abroad from Seoul, South Korea to Wellington, New Zealand. Turner’s sophomore album “Single & In Love,” produced by Grammy award winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., has received critical acclaim and continues to play all across the world. A graduate of Berklee College of Music graduate, he extended his educational value by teaching at The American School of Modern Music in Paris, France in 2017 & 18. He has also participated in “Jazz for Young People” at JALC and conducted Masterclasses in various high schools and universities such as N.Y.U.

Charles’s passion to bring swing and jazz to listeners of all generations and backgrounds proceeds through his band and project Charles Turner & Uptown Swing. Bringing the Swing and Spirit of Harlem to music lovers and dancers around the world, the band extends music from the swing era to present under the umbrella of swing. As a vocalist, composer, and educator, moving forward to bring this incredible music to the people, Turner holds the torch of the past and brings it along with him to present day for all to experience, embrace, and enjoy.

Thursday August 14 @ 6:30PM
58 7th Avenue, Brooklyn