INSTRUMENT(S) : Guitar
COLLEAGUES : Philip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire), MadTV (Fox), Sheila E., Bobby Womack and Carlos Santana, The Gap Band, Ronnie Laws, Najee, Keiko Matsui
2019 PERFORMANCES :
APR 5-6 - The Chicago City Life Center - Chicago, IL
APR 27 - John Ruffin's Theater 47 - Chicago, IL
MAY 3 The Birchmere Theater - Alexandria, VA
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
MAY 9-11 - Dimitriou's Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
MAY 12 - San Manuel Casino - Highland, CA
JUN 2 - Newport Beach Jazz Festival - Newport Beach, CA
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
JUN 8 - Spaghettini - Seal Beach, CA
JUN 30 - "Live at The Fenway" Jazz Series - Dunedin, FL
JUL 6 - Caprock Jazz Festival
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
JUL 13 - The Soiled Dove Underground - Denver, CO
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
SEP 14 - St. James Live Jazz Concert Series
Battery Park, Atlanta, GA
SEP 20 - Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, TX
w/ Soul Patrol feat. Larry Braggs & Tom Braxton
OCT 1st -7th - Algarve Jazz Festival - Faro Portugal
OCT 10 - Jazz Trax Catalina Jazz Festival - CA
OCT 19 - Spaghettini - Seal Beach, CA
w/ Soul Patrol feat. Ellis Hall & Tom Braxton
OCT 26 - The Empress Theatre - Vallejo, CA
w/ Soul Patrol feat. Larry Braggs & Tom Braxton
APR 5-6 - The Chicago City Life Center - Chicago, IL
APR 27 - John Ruffin's Theater 47 - Chicago, IL
MAY 3 The Birchmere Theater - Alexandria, VA
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
MAY 9-11 - Dimitriou's Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
MAY 12 - San Manuel Casino - Highland, CA
JUN 2 - Newport Beach Jazz Festival - Newport Beach, CA
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
JUN 8 - Spaghettini - Seal Beach, CA
JUN 30 - "Live at The Fenway" Jazz Series - Dunedin, FL
JUL 6 - Caprock Jazz Festival - Lubbock, TX
JUL 13 - The Soiled Dove Underground - Denver, CO
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
SEP 14 - St. James Live Jazz Concert Series
Battery Park, Atlanta, GA
SEP 20 - Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, TX
w/ Soul Patrol feat. Larry Braggs & Tom Braxton
OCT 1st -7th - Algarve Jazz Festival - Faro Portugal
OCT 10 - Jazz Trax Catalina Jazz Festival - CA
OCT 19 - Spaghettini - Seal Beach, CA
w/ Soul Patrol feat. Ellis Hall & Tom Braxton
OCT 26 - The Empress Theatre - Vallejo, CA
w/ Soul Patrol feat. Larry Braggs & Tom Braxton
2020 & UPCOMING PERFORMANCES :
JAN 10 - Tangier Theater + Cabaret - Cleveland, OH
(Najee featuring special guest Blake Aaron)
FEB 14 - The Empress Theater w/Paul Taylor & Brian Simpson - Vallejo, CA
MAR 27 -29 - Berk’s Jazz Festival (w/Soul Patrol) - Reading, PA
MAY 10 - 15 - Mallorca Jazz Festival (w/Soul Patrol) - Mallorca, Spain
MAY 31 - Spaghettini (w/Soul Patrol) - Seal Beach, CA
JUN 7 - Longs Peak Ampitheater (w/Soul Patrol) - New York
JUL 10 - Balcones Heights Jazz Festival - San Antonio, TX
AUG 8 - Spaghettini - Seal Beach, CA
DEC 19 - Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, TX
NOTEWORTHY :
”Fall For You” #1 on Billboard, SmoothJazz.com, Smooth Jazz Network and Groove Jazz/Radio Wave
”Groovers and Shakers” (feat Darren Rahn) #1 on Billboard, Smooth Jazz Network and Groove Jazz/Radio Wave
“Encantadora” (feat Najee) #1 on Billboard
”Drive” #1 Groove Jazz/Radio Wave (all of 2019), #9 on Billboard
“Groove-O-Matic” #1 on Groove Jazz/Radio Wave, #5 on Billboard
“You’re the Only One for Me” (feat Spencer Day) #5 on Billboard
"Groove-O-Matic" #1 on Groove Jazz/Radio Wave, #5 on Billboard
"You’re the Only One for Me" (feat Spencer Day) #5 on Billboard
"a genius on the guitar" ~The Los Angeles Times
"a guitar player's guitarist" ~Critical Blast
"...captivates the senses from the first note and never lets go…” ~AllAboutJazz.com
"a perfect blend of Jazz, Latin, R&B and Funk." ~The Atlanta Daily World
"...one of the greatest treasures as a guitarist,” ~Najee
"amazingly talented" ~Dave Koz