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Jua

Incredible how it’s been over ten years since Jua Howard was making quite a name for himself in neo-soul circles, crooning in velvety tenor tones reminiscent of Luther Vandross and Donny Hathaway in clubs from New York City to London. “Anticipation”, his 2007 self-released debut CD of mostly original mid-tempo tunes and ballads, was picking up play on Smooth Jazz and R&B stations. Yet Jua, who uses only his first name professionally (Swahili for “sun”), was having second thoughts about his musical direction. The Chicago-born singer says, “With the R&B neo-soul scene, everything started to sound the same.”

While living in the Washington D.C. area and working for Howard University, Jua gigged as a background vocalist with the legendary Blackbyrds, the band best-known for such 1970s hits as “Walking in Rhythm” and “Happy Music.” “Jazz was clearly a big part of their foundation,” he says of the Blackbyrds.

“Singing with them made me think seriously about pursuing a career in jazz.”

During the summer of 2009, Jua moved to the San Francisco area and enrolled at Berkeley’s Jazzschool Institute, now known as the California Jazz Conservatory. As one of the inaugural students in their Jazz Vocals program, he became the first recipient of the Conservatory’s Mark Murphy Vocal Jazz Scholarship, named for veteran poll-winning singer Murphy. Jua also studied privately with vocal coach Raz Kennedy, formerly of Bobby McFerrin’s “Voicestra”, while there.

In June 2014, Jua emerged as a unique and highly emotive jazz vocal stylist with the release of his sophomore recorded project “Colors of Life.”

Currently residing on the East Coast, Jua continues songwriting, performing and working on his next project.

Awards

Mark Murphy Vocal Jazz Scholarship Recipient 2009 - California Jazz Conservatory (Berkeley, CA)


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Recording

Guitar Legend Juan Carlos Quintero Releases New Album 'Desserts'

Guitar Legend Juan Carlos Quintero Releases New Album 'Desserts'

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

As with all good meals, the sweets are the most memorable! It’s no wonder that guitar legend Juan Carlos Quintero’s critically acclaimed chart-topping 2022 release, Table For Five, segues so effortlessly to the sequel—the new album, Desserts… Quintero’s new album expands the music menu producing tasty treats while skillfully blending authentic grooves – originating from South American & Caribbean regions – culminating in a thread of meaningful performances honoring the beauty and breadth of Latin-Jazz traditions! Enticing gems include “The ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's birthday today!

Christian Scott, also known as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (born March 31, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a two-time Edison Award winning and Grammy Award nominated trumpeter, composer and producer. He is the nephew of jazz innovator and legendary sax man, Donald Harrison, Jr. His musical tutelage began under the direction of his uncle at the age of thirteen. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's birthday today!

Christian Scott, also known as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (born March 31, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a two-time Edison Award winning and Grammy Award nominated trumpeter, composer and producer. He is the nephew of jazz innovator and legendary sax man, Donald Harrison, Jr. His musical tutelage began under the direction of his uncle at the age of thirteen. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's birthday today!

Christian Scott, also known as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (born March 31, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a two-time Edison Award winning and Grammy Award nominated trumpeter, composer and producer. He is the nephew of jazz innovator and legendary sax man, Donald Harrison, Jr. His musical tutelage began under the direction of his uncle at the age of thirteen. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative ...

1

TV / Film

Sorting Out the Tijuana Sound

Sorting Out the Tijuana Sound

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Did you watch The Queen's Gambit, the Netflix mini-series about the female chess champ, starring Anya Taylor-Joy? Whether you did or didn't, there's a scene in episode 4 ("Middle Game") where lead character Beth Harmon and her step-mom fly down to Mexico City to a tournament. In the background was the brilliant use of Mexican Highway as background music Following the episode, I must have received two dozen emails from readers begging to know what Herb Alpert & the Tijuana ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Jazz Musician of the Day: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's birthday today!

Christian Scott, also known as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (born March 31, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a two-time Edison Award winning and Grammy Award nominated trumpeter, composer and producer. He is the nephew of jazz innovator and legendary sax man, Donald Harrison, Jr. His musical tutelage began under the direction of his uncle at the age of thirteen. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative ...

5

Performance / Tour

Juanito Pascual And The New Flamenco Trio Fall Tour

Juanito Pascual And The New Flamenco Trio Fall Tour

Source: Jazz Beyond Borders

Lovers of great guitar can look forward to the return of Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio to venues in various cities on the East Coast and the Midwest. His sound is a truly masterful and organic blend of traditional and contemporary flamenco plus influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead to Miles Davis and J.S. Bach, performed with virtuosity and passion. A versatile virtuoso guitarist/composer/improviser, Juanito Pascual has been called “one of the hottest flamenco guitarists in recent ...

4

Festival

Nice Jazz Festival and Jazz at Juan les Pins 2018

Nice Jazz Festival and Jazz at Juan les Pins 2018

Source: All About Jazz

The Cote d'Azur, France's legendary playground, celebrated the first jazz festival 70 years ago but the concept did not become an annual event until the early 1970s. Set beside the impossibly blue Mediterranean, jazz festivals are celebrated all along the coast from Cannes to Monte Carlo. Here we look at two major events in July, Nice Jazz Festival and Jazz at Juan les Pins, Antibes. The first jazz festival was organized by Jacques Herbey in Nice in February ...

5

Recording

Richard Howell "Coming Of Age - Mangaku" Introducing Elé Salif Howell with Special Guest Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah

Richard Howell "Coming Of Age - Mangaku"  Introducing Elé Salif Howell with Special Guest Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

"I have the deepest respect for his musical abilities. He walks in the same path as the great ones: Joe Henderson, Don Myrick to be mentioned in the same light. I have a great belief in his talents. He will continue to make contributions in the time to come."—Maurice White-founder of Earth Wind & Fire. Coming Of Age Mangaku Introducing Elé Salif Howell with special guest Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah featuring: Frederick Harris, Charles McNeal, Ravi Abcarian, Danny Armstrong, and ...

3

Performance / Tour

Drummer/Composer Juan Carlos Polo CD Release Concert at Smoke Jazz Club on February 1

Drummer/Composer Juan Carlos Polo CD Release Concert at  Smoke Jazz Club on February 1

Source: Juan Carlos Polo

Official CD release concert will be held on February 1st at Smoke Jazz Club Insomnio was recorded and produced in NYC with New York-based musicians under the record label One Trick Dog Records. Drummer and composer Juan Carlos Polo will present his debut album Insomnio on February 1st at the world-renowned Smoke Jazz Club. With Insomnio, Polo demonstrates his skills as band leader and composer, including eight original tunes. The album features the participation of several up-and-coming New York based ...

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