Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah is an American jazz trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer. He has been nominated for six Grammy Awards and is a two-time Edison Award winner. He has been named the Jazz FM Innovator of the Year and the Jazz Journalists Association Trumpeter of the Year

Festival Alumni: 2014 & 2017

A contemporary soul singer with a powerful voice and expressive skills refined in New York, this artist blends a modern taste distinct from a laid-back style yet deeply rooted in history. Born in Japan and having moved to New York alone, Nao’s encounter with soul music led to a pivotal moment where her heart synchronized with the Sam Cooke classic, inspiring her to create music that resonates deeply with people’s emotions. Despite being Japanese, she has a soulful voice reminiscent of Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, combined with a strength of character forged through life experiences as an outsider and overcoming adversities.

Braxton Cook (born March 27, 1991 in Boston, Massachusetts)is an Emmy Award-winning, two time GRAMMY Award winning, NAACP Image Award-nominated artist, known for his world-class skills as an alto saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and composer. With a blend of jazz, soul, and alt-R&B, he has carved out a unique, melodic sound that has made him one of the most exciting voices of his generation.

Festival Alumni: 2015 & 2017