Elevating Art, Sound, and Style

Born and raised in the soulful heart of Kansas City, Richardson’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance. For over a decade, he has emerged as one of the most acclaimed and versatile jazz musicians of his generation, collaborating with luminaries such as Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, and Jason Moran, and participating in Grammy-nominated projects that elevate the art of improvisation to new heights.

As a leader, Richardson has released six acclaimed albums, with his 2016 Blue Note Records debut, Shift, featuring an all-star ensemble including Pat Metheny and Jason Moran. His groundbreaking 2020 release, Afrofuturism, challenged the status quo and redefined genre boundaries, solidifying his position as a creative trailblazer.

In 2025, Richardson will unveil his blues PEOPLE quintet, poised to release a new album that promises to push the boundaries of jazz further than ever before. This project exemplifies his relentless pursuit of innovation, while his brand-new contemporary solo project, Logan’s Run, marks a thrilling departure into the world of pop music. This ambitious endeavor blends spoken word, saxophone, synths, and vocals, offering a deeply personal exploration that will challenge perceptions of his artistry.

Kojo Melché Roney emerges as if struck from the pure fire of tradition—a young man molded in the searing lineage of jazz drumming, yet wide-eyed and unafraid to dismantle it, to make it his own. With every beat, he moves through the landscapes of Blakey’s intensity, Elvin Jones’ ferocity, and the thunder of Tony Williams, but Kojo doesn’t just play jazz; he summons it, as though the whole weight of jazz history sits in his grip, willing itself into new shape. Under his father, Antoine Roney’s watchful guidance, and in the echo of his mother, Nia Love’s artistic force, Kojo’s rhythmic voice matured.

Now, as Kojo ventures into his own artistry with Psychedelic, his first album as a bandleader, he steps forward as a pioneer of sound and vision, wielding his drumsticks like brushes, painting stories that pulse with vibrancy and ambition. His cinematic endeavors, including Golden Ghosts, don’t merely document his journey—they’re a testament to the power of his generation’s voice, of music as an epic, multifaceted narrative. Kojo stands as a beacon of young virtuosity, drawing in musicians, young and old, who see in him the elegance and power of what jazz can become.

Ben Williams, a Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist and native of Washington, D.C., has steadily risen as one of the most celebrated and versatile bassists of his generation. Known for his powerful compositions and keen sense of social responsibility, Williams has cemented his place within Black music’s tradition of artistic activism. Emerging as a force in jazz after winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2009, Williams has performed and recorded with musical luminaries like Pat Metheny, Lauryn Hill, George Benson, Robert Glasper, and Nicholas Payton. His early records, State of Art (2011) and Coming of Age (2015), both released on Concord Records, demonstrated his technical brilliance and innovative spirit, blending jazz, R&B, and hip-hop.

Now, Williams’ latest project, Between Church & State, deepens his commitment to social change and artistic innovation. The project—a film and album—follows Williams as he explores his family’s legacy of activism, rooted in the Black church and Washington’s halls of power, with connections to Dr. Martin Luther King. In this journey of personal and historical discovery, Williams examines themes of spirituality, addiction, police brutality, anxiety, and Afro-futurism, weaving these issues into a moving narrative of resilience and self-reconciliation. The live concert experience of Between Church & State combines a screening of the documentary with live performances by Williams and his band, who use music and spoken word to immerse audiences in the story’s impact. Featuring collaborators like Kamasi Washington, Chief Adjuah (Christian Scott), Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Keyon Harrold, the accompanying album brings Williams’ talents as bassist, vocalist, and composer to new heights, supported by Justin Brown on drums, Brandon Coleman on keys, Hailey Niswager on sax, Sasha Berliner on vibraphone, and Andrew Renfroe on guitar. This immersive project places Williams at the forefront of modern Black music and continues the tradition of artists who dare to speak truth through their art.