Sister Nancy
@ECHOPLEX
Often credited as the world’s first female dancehall deejay, Sister Nancy (née Ophlin Russell-Myers) has been an integral and beloved part of Jamaica’s dancehall scene for more than 20 years. Her 1982 single “Bam Bam,” sampled by such American hip-hop heavyweights as Lauryn Hill and Too $hort, is an internationally revered classic. In 2007, Sister Nancy released her second album, Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof. Ever the businesswoman, she enjoys a full-time career as an accountant in New Jersey and continues to perform occasionally at venues all over the world. Tonight, the Kingston native will be featured at the Dub Club event “Saturday Night Rub-a-Dub”. The show also features dancehall veterans Tristan Palma and Tippa Lee. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Alice Russell
@ FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
Citing jazz and soul music greats like Minnie Ripperton, Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan as influences, Suffolk County native Alice Russell has been crafting a rich vocal tapestry since age 9. Her stellar range and soul-stirring delivery commanded our ears in 2005 with her Tru Thoughts debut, My Favourite Letters. Throughout the late 2000s, the British soul-singer, now in her late 30s, toured the United Kingdom extensively with labelmate and longtime collaborator Quantic and quickly became a salient part of the underground U.K. music scene. Internationally renowned for her penetrating live performances, Russell released her fifth studio effort, To Dust, in February. Tonight’s performance features the respected Plug Research multi-instrumentalist and producer Shafiq Husayn and his Dove Society. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Juvenile
@TRU HOLLYWOOD
A native of NOLa’s infamous Magnolia Projects, rapper and bounce music forerunner Juvenile rose to international hip-hop acclaim in 1998 with his first major-distributed release, 400 Degreez. The infectious, Mannie Fresh–produced “Back That Azz Up” peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1999, making Juve and Cash Money affiliates The Hot Boys internationally celebrated rap icons. In 2008, Juve’s life was permanently changed by the murder of his 4-year-old daughter and her mother in their home. In 2012, the resilient star released his 10th studio album, Rejuvenation. Also an actor, he starred alongside Christopher Walken in the 2013 action crime drama The Power of Few. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Rihanna w/ A$AP Rocky, Illy Da King, Nicki Minaj and Wiz Khalifa
The Barbadian pop rebel joins forces with musical cohorts Nicki Minaj, Wiz Khalifa, Illy Da King and A$AP Rocky for the Los Angeles stop of her Diamonds World Tour. Although recently panned by some critics and fans for a very public reunion with former abuser Chris Brown, she remains unapologetic. In a January interview with Rolling Stone, the free-spirited star explained: “We value each other. We know exactly what we have now, and we don’t want to lose that. He doesn’t have the luxury of f—ing up again.” Her 2012 release, literally called Unapologetic, yielded the Billboard Hot 100 hits “Diamonds,” “Stay” and “Pour It Up.” —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) is one of the music world’s more prolific figures. An accomplished actor, passionate social activist, practicing Muslim and beyond-adept emcee, he first captured our hearts and ears in 1998 as one half of the legendary Rawkus Records outfit Blackstar. His 1999 solo debut, Black on Both Sides, yielded the unforgettable tracks “UMI Says,” “Got” and “Ms. Fat Booty,” among others, proving to be a widely apotheosized hip-hop classic. Notorious for his audacious and witty social commentary, the multiple Grammy Award winner is in the process of finishing OMFGOD, an album produced entirely by much-celebrated Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh. A master of spirited live performance, Bey can hype a crowd like no other. Wear comfortable shoes. — By Jacqueline Michael Whatley
@ Catalina Jazz Club
Known around the globe for her dexterous, six-octave vocal range and unique, midperformance facial expressions, Rachelle Ferrell spent much of the ’80s and early ’90s lacing background vocals for the likes of George Duke and Patti LaBelle. While her 1990 debut, First Instrument, acquired a generous amount of buzz, it was the 1994 ballad “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This,” featuring Will Downing, that proved to be her breakout moment in the United States. Over the course of her lengthy career, Ferrell has collaborated with an array of jazz and R&B legends, including (but are not limited to) Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke and Terence Blanchard. Also March 7, 9 & 10. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Vikter Duplaix
Seasoned songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and deejay Vikter Duplaix has collaborated with some of music’s most celebrated artists — in fact, it’s a fateful friendship with respected Philly deejay-producer King Britt that convinced Duplaix to expand his horizons and venture into the dance/house genres. In 2005, Duplaix established the Los Angeles-based “Kiss ‘n’ Grind” party with DJs Garth Trinidad (of KCRW) and Rashida. The long-running monthly wrapped a star-studded East Coast tour in December. “Make a Baby,” from Duplaix’s sophomore release, Bold and Beautiful, scored a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Details about a forthcoming solo project are hard to come by, so tonight’s attendees best be ready for anything. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Ike & Tina 1977 “I Smell Trouble”
Solange with Jhene Aiko
It can be difficult for musicians with uber-famous musician siblings to step out of familial shadows and have their art judged on its own terms. In fact, Solange, she of the famous Knowles family, is one of the few artists who’ve managed to accomplish the former. Her 2008 sophomore release, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, showcased her talent as a songwriter and vocalist, forcing the music world to acknowledge the brand she created sans papa or big sis. Her more recent True EP, released in 2012, found critical acclaim. Not just musician but trendsetter, Solange’s change of hairstyle in 2009 unintentionally made her a figure of the natural-hair movement. Opening tonight’s show is lauded Los Angeles underground songwriter-vocalist Jhene Aiko. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
Cody ChesnuTT
This Atlanta-born singer and multi-instrumentalist may be best remembered for his gutsy 2002 debut, The Headphone Masterpiece. In that same year, ChesnuTT gained greater public visibility when an alternate version of his infectiously soulful “The Seed 2.0” featuring The Roots gained immense popularity in Europe. Despite a few quietly released projects in subsequent years, 2012’s Landing on a Hundred was the first full-length from the talented musician in more than a decade. In an October interview with The Guardian, the womanizer-turned-family man explained: “I had been living in a rock & roll hideaway in L.A., having an affair with two women, and I was already married.” That level of drama, explored in Landing on a Hundred, is as good a reason as any to take some time off. —Jacqueline Michael Whatley
