Meet the 20 artists chosen for the 2023 commissioning grant.
Drummer Brian Andres has performed with many greats including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Little Anthony and the Imperials, Tony Award winner / Broadway star Faith Prince and television and movie star Woody Harrelson.
Vocalist, composer, lyricist and Berkeley Law graduate Tiffany Austin combines classic jazz tradition with a deep love for blues, spirituals, contemporary soul, and a storyteller's knack for narrative.
22-year-old non-binary, queer Oakland native B DeVeaux is a rising singer who studied at the Oakland School of Arts and was mentored by the likes of Kehlani, Daveed Diggs and Ledisi.
As a drummer / songwriter / producer, DRUVVY explores soundscapes and musical genres without limits. In June 2022, DRUVVY released his 15-track instrumental project “Brand New Ancient Rhythms” and is at work completing a new project to be released later in 2023.
Bassist/composer Frunkyman is a graduate from SJSU’s Jazz Studies Masters program and has worked as a studio musician for projects including Genius: Picasso, FIFA 2018, Drifting Dragons, and the Video Game Awards 2018.
San Jose-raised Jackie Gage creates a soft blend of jazz and folk music. She’s opened for artists including Tony, Toni, Toné; José James, Darlene Love & Digable Planets; performed with artists Marc Cary, Kim Nalley, Lyrics Born, Richie Goods and Jerome Jennings.
SF Bay Area-based Kira Hooks is a Filipina-Caucasian singer/songwriter. As a child growing up in the U.S., The Netherlands, Nigeria, Scotland, and China, Hooks developed a multifaceted notion of home and is reflected in her fluid blend of jazz, contemporary R&B, and folk.
Kava Jah is a conscious roots reggae artist who writes, records and sings his own songs. Under the strong influence and example of his father, Kava started playing multiple instruments at a young age but soon found his love for the guitar as his first instrument.
San Francisco native Martin Luther McCoy refuses to confine himself to any one creative pursuit. An essential catalyst on the Bay Area's fertile 1990s neo-soul scene, he may be best known for his work with the seminal hip-hop collective The Roots.
Dawan Muhammad is an ethnomusicologist, jazz composer, arranger, performer and producer with over 50 years of professional experience. His artistry in music is rooted in the creative traditions that have established jazz as a universal language; a world class art form.
Harpist Destiny Muhammad has curated concerts for Grace Cathedral’s Christmas Concert Series, SFJAZZ’s Tribute to jazz harp legend Alice Coltrane, SF Symphony’s SOUNDBOX Series.
Hailing from the East Bay, Oddity is a sonic storyteller seeking refuge in the intersections of jazz, hip-hop and neo-soul. A transgender woman of color, Oddity’s story is one of resiliency and rebirth where she discovers beauty and cultivates peace by centering love, against all odds.
Saxophonist Tony Peebles is tenor saxophonist and a founding member of the Pacific Mambo Orchestra, performing on every track of its 2014 Grammy Award-winning debut album, including a solo on "Muevete Con Prisa."
Born and raised in San Francisco, bassist Marcus Phillips has played for artists like Leela James, Ledisi, Tony Toni Tone, Keyshia Cole, Eric Benet, Goapele, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson. He is currently the bassist for Grammy Award nominated, R&B /soul singer Kem.
A San Jose native, Latin jazz pianist / composer Michelle Pollace’s latest album, New Beginning, has garnered accolades as well as airplay on nearly 200 satellite, public and college radio stations. It also made the “most added releases” list in JazzWeek.
Adam Shulman is a jazz pianist who’s collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as Stefon Harris, Willie Jones, Miguel Zenon, Bobby Hutcherson, Bria Skonberg and Marcus Shelby, among others.
A multifaceted artist from Oakland, 23-year-old Stoney Creation is involved in an array of art mediums including singing, DJing and graphic design.
Only 16 years old, Skylar Tang has emerged as one of the nation’s top high school trumpet players, performing in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation programs, the Vail Jazz Workshop, and NYO Jazz.
Drummer and vibraphonist Dillon Vado can be found playing with many of his own projects including The Table Trio, as well as playing vibes for singer Amy D. and drumming/composing for Never Weather.
Conceived as a direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Jazz Aid Fund provides direct support to Bay Area musicians and stimulates one of their most important activities—the creation of new work.
Building on a lead gift by Jan DeCarli, SJZ’s Board of Directors established the Fund, providing a grant for each of the selected artists to create a new work. Artists are chosen through recommendations from a broad cross section of the Bay Area music community, including critics, presenters, artists and curators. Since 2021 we have provided 80 Bay Area musicians with over $100,000 in grants and performance fees.
We’ll premiere all of these new works on social media and in our New Works Fest April 14-29, 2023. Join our email list to stay up on all developments in the program.
Mark ArroyoArchish ArunKeshav BatishRon E. Beck Robbie BensonWilliam BohrerChris CainBobi CéspedesGiulio Xavier CettoKev ChoiceAmy D.Lee DynesTammy HallBrian HoJames JacksonKasey KnudsenMelecio MagdaluyoMild MonkAsh MaynorJustin Ouellet Fernando Barocio SalcedoJavier SantiagoIan SantillanoJohn SantosEdward SimonTen SpencerAneesa StringsAdam TheisMonique ValenzuelaClaudia Villela Vân-Ánh VõHoward WileyKevin Wong
Aaron GermainASTUBen GoldbergBennett Roth-NewellBrian SheuCaroline ChungCava MenziesChris "Kid" AndersonDame DrummerDavid LechugaGary MeekJavier CabanillasJeff KolhedeKalil Amar WilsonKenya MosesKim NalleyKristen StromLilan KaneMichael "Tiny" LindseyMike AubergMike BlankenshipNoah (of Noah and the Arkiteks)Patrick WolffRen GeisickSylvia CuencaValerie TrouttJuanita Harris
– Amy D., grantee
New Work Fest 2023 — April 14-29
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As a musician / songwriter / producer, DRUVVY explores soundscapes and musical genres without limits. This freedom allows him to craft unique experiences for the listener on recording and at live shows. He is well known as a drummer for his signature grooves and musicality and has performed in over thirty countries, backing notable artists such as Childish Gambino, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, 79.5, De La Soul, MF Doom and Yaasin Bey. In June 2022, DRUVVY released his 15-track instrumental project “Brand New Ancient Rhythms.” He is currently on the road with Adi Oasis for her Lotus Glow Tour providing drums and backing vocals. A Brooklyn native, he currently splits time between Oakland, CA and Brooklyn, NY, and is at work completing a new project to be released later in 2023.
Adam Shulman is a jazz pianist who’s collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as Stefon Harris, Willie Jones, Miguel Zenon, Bobby Hutcherson, Bria Skonberg, Marcus Shelby, among others. As a composer and arranger, Shulman has released four albums and arranges music for cabaret star Paula West.
A San Jose native, Latin jazz pianist / composer Michelle Pollace’s latest album, New Beginning, has garnered accolades as well as airplay on nearly 200 satellite, public and college radio stations. It also made the “most added releases” list in JazzWeek. The album received the coveted “CD Discoveries of the Week” by Marc Myers of JazzWax.com.
Kava Jah is a conscious roots reggae artist who writes, records and sings his own songs with his band Kava Jah & The Remedy. Under the strong influence and example of his father, Growing up in Jamaica, Kava started playing multiple instruments at a young age but soon found his love for the guitar as his first instrument. In 2007 he entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Popular Song competition where he received an award, creating momentum towards his first international performance in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he performed for the Military in observance of Jamaica’s Independence Day. In addition to leading his own band, Java has toured extensive with I-Kronic. He has performed at Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, The Northwest World Reggae Festival (OR), Grand Central Park (NYC), BB Kings (NYC) and many other venues across the US and internationally in Costa Rica, Anguilla and St. Marten.
Vocalist, composer, lyricist and Berkeley Law graduate Tiffany Austin combines classic jazz tradition with a deep love for blues, spirituals, contemporary soul and a storyteller's knack for narrative.
She's performed on renowned stages such as Birdland and Dizzy's Den in NYC, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and SFJAZZ. Nothing But Soul, Austin's debut album from 2015, earned rave reviews for its bold recasting of Hoagy Carmichael standards. Her sophomore album, Unbroken (2018), was hailed by All About Jazz as a "fully formed masterpiece." In 2020, she performed with titanic tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders as part of an all-star concert at Zebulon Café. In 2021, she was organist / Black Jazz Records leader Doug Carn's special guest at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest. In 2022, she was named a Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Seed Commissions Artist.
A multifaceted artist from Oakland, 23-year-old Stoney Creation is involved in an array of art mediums including singing, DJing and graphic design. Stoney strives to use these art forms to connect with her community, and share perspectives and her healing truths to guide people into understanding their own individual freedoms.
SF Bay Area-based Kira Hooks is a Filipina-Caucasian singer/songwriter. As a child growing up in the U.S., The Netherlands, Nigeria, Scotland, and China, Hooks developed a multifaceted notion of home and is reflected in her fluid blend of jazz, contemporary R&B and folk.
Kira’s harmonic arrangements reflect a sense of romantic idealism while her voice and gentle acoustic guitar work create a comfy living room atmosphere in any venue she performs in. She has been highlighted in The New York Times, Insider, and Shout Out LA.
kirahooks.com
Drummer and vibraphonist Dillon Vado can be found playing with many of his own projects including The Table Trio, as well as playing vibes for singer Amy D. and drumming/composing for Never Weather. As a sideman, he’s worked with the Oakland Samba Revue, The Electric Squeezebox Orchestra and the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, among others.
22-year-old non-binary, queer Oakland native B DeVeaux is a rising singer who studied at the Oakland School of Arts and was mentored by the likes of Kehlani, Daveed Diggs and Ledisi. They held the top spot in OSA’s premier ensemble, Vocal Rush (International Competition for High School Acapella, 4x champions).
Only 16 years old, Skylar Tang has emerged as one of the nation’s top high school trumpet players, performing in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation programs, the Vail Jazz Workshop and NYO Jazz. Skylar has been selected for the Jazz Education Network’s Young Composer Showcase and she won the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Big Band Composing and Arranging Contest. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra recorded and performed her piece, and NPR featured Skylar winning the award.
Throughout the years, Tony has performed in many different genres with such artists as: Fred Wesley (James Brown), The Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Karl Denson, Don Carlos, Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), Wil Blades, Tommy Igoe Big Band, Kenny Washington, John Lee Hooker Jr., Karl Perazzo (Santana) and Doc Severinsen to name just a few. Tony has toured Europe, Africa, North and South America with reggae legend Don Carlos, and has played numerous major music venues and festivals.
He holds a BA in Music Theory from the University of Pennsylvania, and a MM in Jazz Saxophone Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. In addition to his performing career, Tony has taught the popular Jazz: Style and History course at the University of Pennsylvania, a wide variety of music enrichment programs at the elementary and high school levels, as well as private saxophone and improvisation lessons for students of all ages.
Bay Area based bassist and composer, Frunkyman (aka Miguel Leyva) has recently graduated from SJSU’s Jazz Studies Masters program. He spends his time working as a session musician, arranger and composer for different media outlets. Mostly, cinematic projects in Los Angeles where he obtained an undergraduate degree in media composition at CSUN. Projects he’s been involved include: Genius: Picasso, FIFA 2018, Drifting Dragons, and the Video Game Awards 2018.
His passion for jazz and funk has compelled him to create and hone the Frunkyman sound concept /experience for the past year. The cosmically eccentric sound adornedwith elaborate funk convolutions and electronic elements have been a new sound in the Bay Area with notable performances at Blues and Brews Festival, San Jose Museum Of Art, and San Jose Jazz Summer Fest.
Frunkyman on Instagram
San Francisco native Martin Luther McCoy refuses to confine himself to any one creative pursuit. An essential catalyst on the Bay Area's fertile 1990s neo-soul scene, he continues to serve as a conduit for socially conscious music.
On the cusp of releasing his fourth full-length studio album, a self-titled LP focusing on original material, Martin Luther also tours as lead singer with the interdisciplinary alt-art-rock performance group Moon Medicin, a project led by keyboardist and internationally acclaimed visual artist Sanford Biggers.
In some circles Martin Luther is best known for his work with the seminal hip-hop collective The Roots. Many others discovered him through his incendiary performance starring in Julie Taymor's 2007 film Across the Universe. He's performed with Dave Matthews, Jill Scott, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others.
If there's one thread connecting all of Martin Luther's endeavors it's his grounding in the verdant soil of African-American culture, a soul-steeped presence that leaps off of stages, screens and bandstands.
Harpist Destiny Muhammad has curated concerts for Grace Cathedral’s Christmas Concert Series, SFJAZZ’s Tribute to jazz harp legend Alice Coltrane, SF Symphony’s SOUNDBOX Series. She has shared the stage with Jazz Masters Denise Perrier, Omar Sosa, and Blue Note Artist Ambrose Akinmusire. In 2022, Destiny was named the Artist in Residence at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.
Drummer Brian Andres has performed with many greats including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Little Anthony and the Imperials, Tony Award winner / Broadway star Faith Prince and television and movie star Woody Harrelson. As a bandleader, he’s led projects such as The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel and Trio Latino; the latter released their debut album Mayan Suite in May 2020 and it remained in the “Top 10” on the CMJ Jazz Charts for 11 weeks. Brian is a contributor to DRUM! Magazine, and has been voted into the “Top 20” in the Drummers category in the DownBeat Readers Poll.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Marcus Phillips was introduced to music at a young age and played a few different instruments growing up in his grandfather's church. As he got older, he found a love for bass and has traveled the world playing for artists like Leela James, Ledisi, Dave Hollister, Mary Mary, Tina Campbell, Tony Toni Tone, Eric Roberson, Mike Phillips, Keyshia Cole, Joe, Eric Benet, Mali Music, Iyanla Vanzant, Goapele, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson.
He is currently the bassist for Grammy nominated, R&B /soul singer Kem. His personal projects Perspective, a solo bass project, and Covered, a collection of R&B classics with a twist, are both available on all digital streaming platforms.
Bio coming soon
San Jose-raised Jackie Gage creates a soft blend of jazz and folk music. She’s opened for artists including Tony, Toni, Toné, José James, Darlene Love and Digable Planets; performed with artists Marc Cary, Kim Nalley, Lyrics Born, Richie Goods and Jerome Jennings; shared stages with Theo Croker and Terri Lyne Carrington; and toured the world with her original music.
Jackie is currently recording an album with Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer Jesse Harris (Norah Jones, Lizz Wright, Maya Hawke), and released her single "Green" in October 2022, focused on climate justice and the devastating impact of corporate greed on our planet. “Green” has garnered praise from KQED and placements with the Putumayo and Turkey’s Radyo Voyage.