Enjoy an exhilarating evening and kick off Memorial Day Weekend with pianist Robert Glasper and vocalist Baby Rose. Presented by Atlanta Jazz Festival Inc., the concert will take place on Friday, May 23 at 8 pm at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. To purchase your tickets, click HERE.
Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts 5 Grammy wins and 12 nominations across 11 categories, an Emmy Award for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary “13th” with Common and Karriem Riggins, and a Peabody Award for his Composition of “Mr. Soul!”
Evolution is Glasper’s hallmark. His breakout crossover album Black Radio changed the face of the genre and set a new expectation for what popular music could be. The album won him the Grammy for best R&B album and established him as the musician of choice for some of the world’s most iconic artists; notably playing keys throughout Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, winning another Grammy for the elastic track “These Walls.” The ongoing Black Radio series has since become Glasper’s calling card, upholding a place at the heart of a trailblazing community: from long-time sonic brothers Mos Def and Bilal to legends including Ledisi, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu.
Baby Rose makes healing music for the aimless and heartbroken. The Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and producer’s uniquely rich voice naturally lends itself to her powerful, smoke-filled ballads lamenting lost loves and broken futures. “I make music to help myself get through things,” she says. The piercing honesty and vulnerability she brings to her lyrics in turn helps others process their feelings and find a place of healing.
Growing up in Washington DC, the artist, born Jasmine Rose Wilson, first realized the power of her voice by reading original poems at family gatherings. Despite being bullied for her lower vocal register throughout her childhood and teen years, she ultimately found comfort in songwriting and singing while playing her piano, inspired by artists like Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and Janis Joplin — strong women who also possessed unique voices.
The 48th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to educate and entertain a diverse audience of jazz fans and to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians. The festival is funded through corporate sponsorships and by Atlanta Jazz Festival Inc, a 501(c)(3) cultural, non-profit organization. This year’s festival will take place over Memorial Day Weekend from May 24-26 in beautiful Piedmont Park. The festival is FREE and open to the public. For more information, including the artist lineup, The Jazz Spot, park rules, and transportation options, visit the website at atljazzfest.com.