Keyon Harrold

Award-winning trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Keyon Harrold is touring in support of the GRAMMY-nominated recording 'Foreverland' on the Concord label. This is an outstanding crossover album with a bevy of collaborators. British R&B vocalist Laura Mvula sings on the title track, 'Foreverland'. Emerging young singer Malaya is featured on 'Don't Lie'. Common and Robert Glasper contribute to the song 'Find Your Peace', and GRAMMY-winning musician, producer, and singer-songwriter PJ Morton lends a wistful vocal to the nostalgic single 'Beautiful Day'. The single 'Beautiful Day' has been receiving worldwide radio play.
Keyon Harrold first came into the International spotlight for his work as the trumpet voice behind the GRAMMY-winning Don Cheadle film 'Miles Ahead', and his critically acclaimed album, 'The Mugician', (Sony Legacy / Mass Appeal). As a bandleader, he has created a compelling new statement with a riveting mix of jazz, Afrobeat, soul, spoken word, hip-hop, blues, rock, and even American folk. As a soloist, his distinctly warm trumpet sound simmers in the middle register, creating drama without aggrandizing and mesmerizing live audiences with an emotionally charged concert presentation. Wynton Marsalis has stated, "Keyon Harrold is the future of the trumpet".
In addition to being one of the leading voices in Jazz Music, Keyon Harrold has collaborated with many of the top hip hop and pop artists, including Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Eminem, Maxwell, and Anthony Hamilton, and rock legends Keith Richards and Jeff Beck. These experiences broadened his musical horizons beyond jazz to include funk, Afrobeat, R&B, rock and roll, and hip hop.
He is currently touring with an ensemble that is making one of the strongest artistic statements of any musical group today, rooted in jazz music, the band freestyles and solos with authority, and weaves the spectrum of African American music into a sonic expression that can best be described as Bop Pop Hip-Hop Jazz!!! Audience members often reference his concerts as among the best they have ever attended.
In addition to performing with his band, he can appear as a featured soloist with Big Bands and Orchestras. Additionally, he has several special concert programs, including a Duo with Jason Moran (video link), the “Jazz And The Birth of Hip Hop” with special guests MC Black Milk, Chris Dave, & Georgia Anne Muldrow (video link) is also available.
The Critics Speak:
… The Mugician (Sony Legacy) is a collection of thoughtful and wide-ranging compositions… Harrold’s pop sensibilities and activist leanings shine through on the album, which is tied together by its catchy melodies – a rarity in critically acclaimed circles of modern jazz. – Natalie Weiner, Rolling Stone