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As part of NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival and Year-Round Centennial Celebrations Honoring Sarah Vaughan
Tickets are now on sale. Sunday, November 19 @ NJPAC, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ. Reserve online at NJPAC.org or by calling 888.466.5722.As part of NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival (November 3-19), the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) today announced the top five finalists of the 12th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Pulled from a record 280+ submissions representing 37 countries, these gifted young contestants from around the world represent the next generation of great jazz singers. The top five finalists are:
Bianca Love
trumpet and vocalsb.1994
Bianca Love, a seasoned artist, graces the world stage with her vocals, trumpet and guitar prowess. Hailing from New Orleans, her musical journey began with influences spanning Charlie Parker, blues, soul and the traditional sounds of her hometown. Love’s deep appreciation for the Black American music tradition shapes her artistic identity. She debuted in 2018 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with Jesse McBride and The Next Generation, and has shared stages and recorded with revered artists in cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Los Angeles. Collaborations with musicians such as Maurice Brown, Marcus Gilmore, Ben Williams, Takahiro Izumikawa, Lawrence Fields, Michael Ode, Joe Blaxx, Kermit Ruffins, and others have enriched her musical tapestry.
A native of St. Cloud, Florida, Tyreek McDole captivates audiences with his velvety voice and polished delivery. Since his singing career began at 18, he’s been compared to legends such as Andy Bey, Johnny Hartman and the illustrious Joe Williams. McDole made his vocal debut at the acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition where he won the Outstanding Vocalist Award. Since then, McDole has graced the stage with some of the best in the business including NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz, Rodney Whitaker, Theo Croker, Nicholas Payton, Ted Nash, Russell Hall, Jonathan Michel, Eric Reed, Carl Allen and many others. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, McDole plays in venues and performance spaces across the U.S. and remains a sought-after vocalist in New York City.
Ekep Nkwelle is a Cameroonian-American jazz vocalist living in New York City (originally from Washington, DC). She has trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University and The Juilliard School, and worked alongside jazz masters such as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut and Peter Washington. She was also featured at Radio City Music Hall with renowned classical pianist Lang Lang in a collaboration with Disney. She has performed at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center and Newport and Montclair Jazz Festivals, but most notably, she was featured in 2022 on NPR’s Tiny Desk singing her arrangement of Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits and Dreams.” Nkwelle is one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s rising stars, and with her artistry, she strives to display her passion for music all over the world.
With extensive performing experience in the world’s leading jazz clubs and collaborations with the likes of Michael Bublé, Quincy Jones and His Orchestra, Jeff Goldblum, Bobby McFerrin and Seal, London-based Emma Smith has created a reputation as a powerful and expressive artist on the global jazz scene. Last year marked the release of Meshuga Baby, her first solo album in 10 years. The album has been received with critical acclaim, racking up millions of streams since its release, receiving multiple award nominations and global radio support. The album title is a nod to Smith’s proud Jewish heritage. Inspired by the likes of Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, Freddie Hubbard, Barbra Streisand, Anita O’Day and Oscar Peterson, Smith is a fresh and swinging jazz voice who sparks joy among the masses.
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