Melanie Charles + WhoAllGonBeThere

Two boundary-pushing forces from New York’s underground scene unite for an unmissable double bill of jazz, soul and hip hop driven by deep grooves, fearless experimentation, raw energy and resistance.

Melanie Charles — Brooklyn-born vocalist, flautist, composer, and activist — is a genre-fluid trailblazer whose metamorphic fusion of jazz, soul, experimental sounds and Haitian roots is powered by a fierce commitment to social justice. Lauded by The New York Timesand NPR, and widely respected by her peers, Charles’ singular style has drawn her collaborations with prolific artists Gorillaz, The Roots, Wynton Marsalis, and more. For this festival exclusive, Charles is joined by longtime collaborators: IGNABU, a multidisciplinary artist and sonic shapeshifter, and Paul Wilson Bae, the quiet mastermind behind the boards for artists like SZA and Kassa Overall. Together, they create a sacred space where jazz ancestry, radical innovation and activism converge.

Closing out the night is the dynamic and electrifying WhoAllGonBeThere — a collective featuring some of the most innovative minds in jazz, hip hop and R&B. Led by Blue Note saxophonist-producer Marcus Strickland, the group includes GRAMMY-winning bassist-vocalist Ben Williams, keyboardist-arranger Chad Selph, lyrical powerhouse JSWISS and explosive drummer Jharis Yokley. Individually, they've collaborated with icons like Lauryn Hill, Solange, Robert Glasper and Elvis Costello. Together, they deliver freestyle fire and thunderous beats, unleashing the raw, soulful spirit of hip hop and jazz with nothing held back.