Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Kogod Theatre
Though he is signed to the venerable jazz-specialist Verve Records, the composer, percussionist and pianist Julius Rodriguez's speedy rise to fame among a set of younger fans seems the sort of glow-up you might expect from a DJ or rapper. Perhaps that's unsurprising for a performer who has played alongside artists such as A$AP Rocky and Meshell Ndegeocello, but Rodriguez has never been one to follow the common path. At the age of 25, the Juilliard-trained prodigy's debut LP, Let Sound Tell All, exploded on the scene with a vibrancy that NPR called, "so dynamic that even the umbrella of jazz couldn't quite contain its essence." Swirling within the nexus of hip-hop, jazz, soul, pop, blues and electronic dance music, Rodriguez's work transcends expectations with confidence and panache. For his newest album, Evergreen, the artist states that he hopes to, “carry on the importance of prioritizing the music itself, rather than letting a genre or label create a preconceived connotation of the music. The genre is me.” As long as Rodriguez continues creating the beautifully memorable melodies and intriguing rhythms he's become known for, that's more than enough.
Presented by Clarice Presents. This performance is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.