Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Big Band Holidays

Ekep Nkwelle, a 24-year-old Cameroonian-American jazz vocalist, has carved her musical path from the vibrant streets of Washington, DC, to the heart of New York City’s jazz scene. Her journey through the esteemed Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University, and The Juilliard School has been extraordinary. 

The power of her voice has resonated with jazz luminaries such as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, and Peter Washington, along with young stars like Emmet Cohen and Endea Owens, leading to countless collaborations. Her performances have graced iconic venues nationwide, from the illustrious Radio City Music Hall, where she shared the stage with classical virtuoso Lang Lang in collaboration with Disney, to The Library of Congress, Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and The Strathmore. Her presence has also illuminated major festivals, including Newport, Montclair, Hudson, and DC jazz festivals. 

The year 2023 marked a pinnacle in Ekep’s career as she was honored with the prestigious Juilliard Career Advancement Grant, a testament to her artistry and character, nominated by none other than jazz master trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. This recognition followed her enchanting performance on NPR’s “Tiny Desk,” showcasing her unique arrangement of Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits & Dreams” in 2022. Continuing her ascent, Ekep collaborated with the illustrious 3x GRAMMY and Tony award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater during the fourth year of her exclusive, all-women artistic residency, The Woodshed Network. 

As one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s newest rising stars, Ekep Nkwelle is poised to shape the future of jazz. With a burning passion for music, her artistry knows no bounds as she endeavors to share her soulful melodies with audiences worldwide. 

Robbie Lee is a New York City-based pianist, vocalist, composer, and educator whose spectacular ability to merge his equal talents makes him one of the most exciting emerging artists to date. Beginning his musical journey at age 12, Lee fell in love with the music of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington, – all influences that have merged into his unique and once-in-generation artistic voice.  

A graduate of both The Juilliard School and The Manhattan School of Music, at 27 he has already shared the stage with his mentors, such as world renowned jazz icons Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Herlin Riley, Bruce Barth, Matt Wilson, and Brice Winston. As both a leader and a sideman, Robbie has graced several world-class stages, including Dizzy’s Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland, The Lincoln Center, and Joe’s Pub. With a growing collection of awards and accolades to his name, Robbie continues to inspire, uplift, and warm the hearts of audiences and his peers alike.