Two rising jazz stars cross paths (again) in the Bay Area this weekend

"The paths of two of the most exciting young vocalists in jazz keep converging in interesting places. Most conspicuously, in 2023, Tyreek McDole, 25, and Ekep Nkwelle, 26, encountered each other when McDole became only the second male singer to win the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in New Jersey. Nkwelle placed third. I remember watching Tyreek perform and he just killed that blues, Nkwelle said on a recent video call with McDole."

"Their itineraries cross again in the Bay Area in the coming days, when Nkwelle plays a three-night run at UC Davis's Mondavi Center, Feb. 12-14, with a trio led by the brilliant 27-year-old pianist Julius Rodriguez. She performs with the same group Feb. 15 at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society and Feb. 16 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. McDole plays four shows at SFJAZZ Center Feb. 12-13 with an acoustic quintet featuring the rising 25-year-old piano star Caelan Cardello."

"HVLT, pronounced high voltage, is an electric group that explores more jazz-rock fusion, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett and Alice Coltrane sounds, said McDole, who also plays keyboards and uses a sampler in the group, so you hear the voices of Miles and Geri Allen. The Black Cat engagement marks HVLT's first performances outside of New York City. The group is built on Michael Shekwoaga Ode, a great drummer pushing the music forward, McDole said."

Tyreek McDole, 25, and Ekep Nkwelle, 26, are emerging jazz vocalists whose careers intersect through competitions and overlapping concert dates. McDole won the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition as the second male winner; Nkwelle placed third. Nkwelle plays Feb. 12–16 in the Bay Area with a trio led by pianist Julius Rodriguez. McDole appears Feb. 12–13 at SFJAZZ Center with an acoustic quintet featuring pianist Caelan Cardello, and Feb. 27–29 at Black Cat with HVLT, an electric jazz-rock fusion band. HVLT blends Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett and Alice Coltrane influences, uses samplers and electronic elements, and is anchored by drummer Michael Shekwoaga Ode.

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