Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
January 18, 2025
Kev Choice - Musical Director
Kev Choice is a pianist, M.C., producer, composer, educator, band-leader, and community advocate, hailing from Oakland, CA. He started studying piano and rapping at age 11 at Oakland's Westlake Junior High and graduated from Oakland’s Skyline High School. He went on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and a Master's Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, both in Piano Performance.
Kev has worked with artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Michael Franti, Goapele, Too Short, Ledisi, The Coup, Zion I, and more. As a solo artist, he has produced 5 solo albums, including Social Distancing (2020), Oakland Riviera (2014), Love and Revolution (2015), 88 Steps to Eternity (2016), Social Distancing (2020), and collaboration projects with producers DJ Fresh and DJ Basta. He was commissioned to compose a work for the Oakland Symphony, Soul Restoration Suite (2018), and in 2020 wrote a piece for San Francisco Symphony entitled “Movements”. He continues to compose, arrange, and perform with both orchestras.
Kev was co-chair of the Instrumental Music Department at Oakland School For The Arts from 2016-2022. He currently is vice-chair of the City of Oakland's Cultural Affairs Commission, is on the Board of Directors for the Oakland Symphony, and is a Cultural Strategist with the Oakland’s Communications Department uplifting Oakland’s motto “Love Life”. He is currently a Project Coordinator with Elevate Oakland, a music education non-profit serving Oakland Public Schools.
RyanNicole - Host
CA State Assembly-recognized Ryan Nicole Austin (RyanNicole) is a multi-hyphenate creative, activist and Rainin Fellow who is a Grammy-nominated feature and Kennedy Center artist, TEDx speaker, & has written for ESPN and the NBA. The equity advocate is an award-winning founder of Worth.AI artist rate calculator, and creator of housing justice documentary: The Haven Project. As a playwright, Ryan has been commissioned by the American Conservatory Theater, New York’s Public Theater, National Performance Network, and National American Musical Theater Festival & has an upcoming world premier of a tech-forward musical, CoFounders in May 2025. She is a proud third generation Oakland native where she resides with her husband and two children.
Adji Cissoko
ADJI CISSOKO was born in Munich, Germany and is of Senegalese descent. She trained at the Ballet Academy Munich and graduated with a diploma in dance. Cissoko attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in New York City on full scholarship, before joining the National Ballet of Canada in 2010. In 2012 she was awarded the Patron Award of Merit by the Patrons’ Council Committee of The National Ballet of Canada. Cissoko joined Alonzo King Lines Ballet in 2014.
Since then she’s originated many central roles and guested for galas worldwide. Cissoko has given multiple masterclasses and taught classes around the world as part of the company’s outreach program. In 2020, she became certified in health/life coaching and ABT’s National Training Curriculum. She also is a 2022 recipient of the Toulmin fellowship. Cissoko choreographed her first piece “AZIZ “ for Ballet X .Her latest piece “Beyond“, set on Nashville Ballet 2, premiered at their annual gala in 2024.
Andrew Park - Trybe Executive Director
Andrew Park is the co-founder and executive director of Trybe, a community based non-profit organization in Oakland. Andrew is an immigrant from Korea who arrived in Oakland Chinatown in 1979, and attended Lincoln Elementary School. His family moved to East Oakland where he graduated from Skyline High, then attended Peralta colleges, received his BA in History with an English Minor from UC Davis, and earned a Doctor of Ministry from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Andrew is an ordained minister and has served in various clergy positions including as a chaplain at Highland Hospital. Andrew has held various professional and director roles including as board member of Harbor House Ministries, vice-chair of the city’s Community Development Block Grant, administrator at the University of California, Berkeley, and chairing multiple neighborhood and parks groups. Andrew co-founded Trybe in 2005 and the organization has grown from a small grassroots volunteer-run organization to an annual budget of $4,000,000 with 40 staff.
Trybe's mission is to bring people together through building and serving, primarily through youth/community development. Andrew ran for Oakland city council in 2014 garnering 20% of the vote as a first time candidate in a crowded and qualified field. He received the California Assembly Community Service Award in 2009 and 2021 (Swanson, Bonta), the Chancellor’s Community Service Award in 2014 at UC Berkeley, an Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ AAPI Proclamation in 2017, and the Jefferson Award in 2024. Andrew holds a black belt in TaeKwonDo and in his free time, enjoys playing basketball, swimming, cooking, and going on road trips with his life partner, Alexandra and four children.
Awesöme Orchestra Collective
Awesöme Orchestra brings together Bay Area music-lovers for orchestral adventures. The exciting energy and sound of 100+ musicians playing together is just one of the many factors that make us awesome. What makes us different is that we bring classical music out of the symphony concert halls and into the streets, parks, and rock venues of the Bay Area; we take orchestral music out of films and video games and bring the music to the fore. Our sessions are open to any musicians who want to join us. Visit www.awesomeorchestra.org for info about how to sign up to play.
Chika Di
Colombian-born, California-based, Recording Artist and Songwriter Diana Trujillo aka Chika Di, developed her solo career during Covid in 2020. Chika Di's sound blends traditional Latin, electronic, Afro, and pop, while showcasing her powerful Colombian vocals. Her music has resonated on popular TV series like "Euphoria" , ”Generation +" , "Beautiful Wedding" (Movie), Fox Sport (Copa de Las Americas ), and most recently an appearance/sync in a McDonald’s commercial. Her debut album released in early 2024 is currently on the first round ballot of the Grammys.
Dee Dee Simon
Ms. Dee Dee Simon, a native of Oakland, California and a fulltime nurse at San Quentin State Prison for 19 years, will tell you, she was born to sing. Her skills are compared to the Sassy vocal ability of Patti Labelle, the Richness of Glady's Knight, the Fire of Chaka Khan, the Edge of Tina Turner and the Pureness of Whitney Houston. This Songwriter, Thespian, and Executive Producer has been labeled the Soul of the Bay. Singing since the age of 4 years old, she honed her skills in the Church and built her foundation. She has opened for Regina Belle, Gladys Knight, Faith Evans, Jeffrey OsBourne, Morris Day and The Time, and many more. She is the win er of the Steve Harvey National Sing off competition at the Hoodie Awards. After judging her, Kevin Hart said it best, "I choose Dee Dee". Jaheim said when asked to describe Dee Dee's vocal ability, "She's up there with Patti LaBelle ringing them' bells...I am speechless". Steve Harvey said, "that girl can SANG". With her 56 Bay area Black Music Awards, Northern California's Best Female Vocalist, reigning Entertainer of the Year, Narada Michael Walden's " Re Re Powerhouse Award" named after Ms Aretha Franklin, and the Jackie award from the Jackson Mississippi music awards for Best National Female entertainer of the year, she continues to justify her existence in this industry. In 2023, she became the 89th season winner at the oldest talent
show in the world, Amatuer Night At The Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York putting her in their books forever. Recently 2024, she became a Top Ten finalist in America's Got Talent. She sings with all of her heart and soul and leaves it all on the stage because that's all she knows. Ms. Dee Dee Simon!
Destiny Muhammad
Destiny collaborations, curations and commissioning include: Grace Cathedral Christmas Concert Series Stanford Jazz Festival featured Artist, Santa Cruz Symphony Recital Series, a San Jose Jazz Fest Jazz Aid Commissioned Artist, Guest/ Collaborator with Composer Marcus Shelby for Zaccho Dance ‘The Peoples Palace’ and featured on KQED Podcast & Sunday Music Drop
Destiny is an Elected Governor of the The Recording Academy, San Francisco Chapter, SFJAZZ Teaching Artist, ASCAP Songwriter Awardee, Chamber Music America/ Doris Duke Foundation Performance Plus Awardee and California Arts Council Legacy Fellow.
SōLauren
Lauren “SōLauren” Adams is an Emmy award winning artist and arranger, a singer-songwriter, musician, and producer from San Francisco, CA, Ohlone Territory. Her work includes but is not limited to curating healing spaces with community advocates and healers like her band SOL Development, The BEimaginative Collective, and Arise Wellness. It is in these spaces that SōLauren creates timeless music embedded with ancestral and spiritual wisdom that has aided many listeners in their healing journeys.
She graduated from Hampton University with a B.S in Music Engineering & Technology, and has used that knowledge to educate young people in classrooms all over the country! With 17+ years of experience teaching Music and Theater to elementary and middle school students, SōLauren is currently the Music & Arts Director at The Way, a faith based space focused on social justice issues and community healing.
Howard Wiley & Band
Born in Berkeley, California, Howard Wiley displayed a unique musical talent from a young age saying, “the first time I picked up the saxophone, it became a part of me, like an additional limb. I knew I had found my purpose.”
Wiley’s love of jazz and arranging led him to fuse his jazz sounds with funk. Ever the soulful live musician, he has built a strong reputation for presenting jazz shows ‘that you can dance to’. He successfully fuses jazz with funk, gospel and soul, creating a never-before heard sound on the saxophone.
In March 2021, he was awarded a commission to create new works for the San Jose Jazz New Works Fest, which he debuted live in April 2021. An in-demand live performer, Wiley has toured internationally, recorded, and performed with artists including Miss Lauryn Hill, Sheila E, Cory Henry, Christian McBride, Chester Thompson and more. He is one of the resident saxophonists for Miles Mosley & The West Coast Get Down, and has performed worldwide with a vast array of artists. Over the years as a solo artist, Wiley has performed at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s, North Sea Jazz Fest, Blue Note Club, Madrone Art Bar, Cape Town Jazz Festival, the Grammy Museum, Yoshi’s Oakland, Malcolm X Jazz Festival, Sonoma Jazz Festival, Smalls NY, and SXSW, to name a few.
Currently, along with writing/recording his latest solo project, his extensive touring schedule, and his weekly residency at Mama Kin in San Jose, Howard will be a Resident Artistic Director for the San Francisco Jazz Festival, presenting new music and performing multiple shows over two seasons with his core band and several very special guest artists. Additionally, he will participate in the SFJ educational series of events. Past SFJ Resident Artist Directors include Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Esperanza Spalding, Regina Carter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Bill Frisell, and Jason Moran.
Sundra Manning
Sundra Manning is a Grammy-nominated Pianist, Keyboardist, Hammond B3 Organ player and Producer. Respected for her wide-range musical versatility, She brings a funky, fresh and gritty approach to her playing that is unique and special. Sundra has recorded, written, and performed around the world with artist such as Larry Graham featuring Prince, H.E.R., Lalah Hathaway, Raphael Saadiq, Peter Tork of the Monkeys, Bobby Womack, Ledisi, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pete Escovedo, MC Hammer, Peabo Bryson, EnVogue, Avery Sunshine, Miko Marks, Black Women Rock among others. Sundra has produced and/or written songs for HBO films, Sony pictures, Bose Corp., Warner Brothers Films, Potter Barn, Kohl’s and many more.
Terrence Brewer
Terrence Brewer is an instructor of Music History and Music Performance, San Francisco University High School Instructor of Music History and Music Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music Presenter / Curriculum Curator / Clinician / Performer, SFJAZZ.
“For the past fourteen years, I have been a presenter, performer, and teaching artist for Living Jazz programming (Jazz Camp, Jam Camp, In the Name of Love MLK Tribute) and, for three years now, I have a child who has participated in (and loves!) Living Jazz programming (Jam Camp). With the retirement of Stacey Hoffman and the onboarding new of Exec Director Lyz Luke, whom I respect tremendously and I believe will do a phenomenal job of guiding the future of the organization, I felt so overwhelmingly compelled to be involved at the deepest levels possible, contributing all I can to the future and continued growth of an organization in Living Jazz that I love profoundly and which has given so much to me and my family.”
SFJAZZ High School
All-Stars & Alumni
A free, pre-professional training program for current Bay Area high school-age jazz musicians, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars rehearse and perform throughout the school year at the SFJAZZ Center, receive mentorship and clinics with leading jazz professionals, record a professional studio album, and appear at prestigious music festivals and competitions. The skilled young musicians comprising our award-winning Big Band continue to earn accolades wherever they appear, including four consecutive wins at the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, numerous Downbeat Awards, first place in The Charles Mingus and Portland Jazz Forward festivals, and so many more. The current All-Stars will share the stage with Alumni of the program along with students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music RJAM program (Roots, Jazz, and American Music).
Oaktown Jazz Workshops
Oaktown Jazz Workshops is a non-profit, community based, cultural education organization dedicated to passing on the tradition of jazz music to young people through music instruction, educational presentations and live concerts.
Founded by the late great trumpeter Khalil Shaheed in 1994, Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ mission is to provide youth – particularly underserved youth – with the support, opportunity, and agency to build their skills, creativity, and confidence within the uniquely American art-form of jazz music. Our intergenerational community of teachers, mentors, and storytellers challenge youth from all backgrounds to develop the skills and discipline needed to succeed in any field they choose to pursue.
Oaktown Jazz Workshops' Performance Ensemble features young musicians ages 12-18 who perform a variety of exciting and challenging jazz classics. Our young musicians learn from professional master musicians and perform for audiences throughout the Bay Area.
