Results for "Theo Croker"

Theo Croker

Born: July 18, 1985

Theo Croker is a Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and producer who continually pushes the boundaries of jazz, neo-soul, and hip-hop. He has collaborated with artists including Jill Scott, Ari Lennox, J. Cole, and Common, crafting a sonic identity that is both expansive and deeply personal.

Born and raised in Florida, Croker picked up the trumpet at age 11, inspired by his grandfather, Grammy-winning jazz trumpet legend Doc Cheatham. He later attended Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied under Donald Byrd and Gary Bartz. After graduating, he spent seven years in Shanghai, becoming the first artist-in-residence at the historic Peace Hotel Jazz Club. Splitting his time between Shanghai and New York, he immersed himself in diverse musical collaborations that shaped his signature sound.

Detroit Jazz Festival 2026: A Gathering in a Great Jazz City

by Paul Rauch
September 15, 2026

Detroit Jazz Festival 2026 Hart Plaza Detroit, MI September 4-7, 2026 Thursday evening is when artists, media and event staffers begin to file into the Detroit Marriott, arriving from points around the globe. The common purpose is the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival, an annual tradition on Labor Day weekend. The ...

Classic Jazz from Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, and Others; Recent Releases from Chris Hazelton, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and more

by David W. Daniels
July 21, 2026

In addition to the musicians named in the title, this edition of Exploration features music from Atlanta based performers Joe Alterman, Karla Harris, and Melvin Jones. Our nod to birthdays for the week includes Theo Croker, Angelique Kidjo, Alan Dawson, and others. Playlist Charles McPherson “Explorations" from McPherson's Mood (Prestige) 00:00 Jimmy Smith “Mustard ...

Sullivan Fortner: Leave That In There

by Andrew Schinder
July 17, 2026

Pianist Sullivan Fortner is on a roll. Already one of the most respected contemporary jazz pianists, Fortner leveled up in 2025 with the Grammy-winning Southern Nights (Artwork Records, 2025), a tribute to his New Orleans heritage that was a critical and commercial smash. Along with the collaboration albums Wildflowers Vol. 1 (Edition Records, 2024) (with vocalist Kurt Elling) and Play ...

Sullivan Fortner: Nothing's Ever Finished

by Andrew Schinder
July 9, 2026

Modern jazz musicians are often faced with the impossible, and frankly unfair, task of honoring the music's history and traditions while adding modern elements and contemporary facets to make a 125-year-old musical genre sound fresh. This burden falls even more acutely on musicians hailing from, or who are particularly associated with, the City of New Orleans. ...

Take Five with Saxophonist Bernell Jones II

by AAJ Staff
June 19, 2026

Meet Bernell Jones Originally from Memphis, TN, Bernell Jones II is an NYC-based genre-fluid saxophonist and songwriter. His music showcases a variety of influences from his upbringing such as gospel, jazz, blues, r&b, etc. As a performing artist, he has worked alongside artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Olivia Dean, Wyclef Jean, Philip Harper, Eric Bellinger, ...

Hannah Marks, Helen Sung, Eva Cortés, Lakecia Benjamin & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
June 8, 2026

This broadcast closes out the month with new music from Hannah Marks, Helen Sung, Eva Cortés and Lakecia Benjamin, with birthday shoutouts to Peggy Lee, Miles Davis (100!), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Alexa Tarantino, Samantha Boshnack, Theo Bleckmann, Yissy Garcia, Mala Waldron, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Ann Hampton Callaway and Lynne Arriale, among others. Happy listening and please support ...

Gary Bartz: Damage Control

by Marco Iacoboni
May 7, 2026

"Ntu" in lingua bantu significa unità in ogni cosa. Tempo e spazio, vivi e morti, forze visibili e invisibili, fuse in un'unica visione filosofica e spirituale, profondamente legata alla cultura africana e afroamericana. Il progetto Ntu Troop di Gary Bartz si è evoluto naturalmente dallo spiritual jazz al movimento B.A.M. (Black American Music), fondendo elementi  soul, ...

Dream Manifest

By Theo Croker

Label: Dom Recs / Star People Nation
Released: 2025
Track listing: prelude 3; one pillow ft. Estelle & Kassa Overall; 64 joints ft. Tyreek McDole; up frequency (higher) ft. MAAD; light as a feather ft. Gary Bartz & Natureboy Flako; high vibrations ft. Malaya & D'LEAU; crystal waterfalls; we still wanna dance ft. D'LEAU; postlude 3.

it's complicated...

By China Moses

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2025
Track listing: Another night (It's just); Another night (it's just) coda; I can be happy (I can be blue); My part of town (for Mama); It's okay (i'm not alone); Silence (sirens) prelude; Silence (sirens); Broken (pour Alberte); Nowhere to hide; Better (it is what is it).