Afro Blue
Now celebrating its 20th year of existence, Afro Blue—the dynamic vocal jazz ensemble from Howard University—has performed to wide critical acclaim. Singing music similar to the styles of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, The Manhattan Transfer, and Take 6, while adding their own unique sound, Afro Blue continues to maintain a standard of excellence from year to year. Their repertoire is an eclectic mix of musical styles from traditional and contemporary jazz favorites, modern jazz and R&B influenced original material, as well as the Spiritual and Gospel music.
Afro Blue has a rich performance history having reached the top four on NBC-TV’s a cappella group competition The Sing-Off, joinig the legendary Bobby McFerrin in selections from his Grammy-nominated VOCAbuLarieS album as part of the D.C. Jazz Festival, and appearing in concert multiple times with world-class jazz pianist and Howard university alumna Geri Allen. Afro Blue has been featured on NPR in a segment of All Things Considered, a Tiny Desk Concert, and an hour long Christmas special titled An Afro Blue Christmas which continues to air nationally during the holiday season. Afro Blue has established a continuing relationship with The John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts having participated in multiple concerts. Afro Blue has shared the stage with K.C. Artistic Directors for Jazz Dr. Billy Taylor and Jason Moran, as well as Marvin Hamlisch and The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops. In April 2018, Afro Blue appeared as the featured artist in two sold out shows in the KC Jazz Club as part of the Breakout Artist Series. Afro Blue has performed several times at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY and appears on the 2020 release of Ella 100: Live at the Apollo with Patti Austin and the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. This past spring, Afro Blue was invited to perform at a sneak preview of the finale episode of the ABC TV hit Blackish featuring a panel discussion including the cast members of the show. The VIP event was held at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in March, 2022. In fall 2022, Afro Blue participated in the evening feature concert on Oct. 2nd, and a special workshop with Eric Whitacre on Oct. 3rd, as part of the Sound Health Summit at the Kennedy Center. Afro Blue was showcased at the Cafe Mocha Radio “Celebrate THEM: Our HBCU Joy” concert at the National Museum for African-American History and Culture on October 18th, and performed for a VIP Reception at the Underground Railroad Exhibit at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore on October 20th.
Since its existence, Afro Blue has received numerous Student Music Awards (SMAs) by DownBeat Magazine and members of the ensemble have been recognized for their stellar solo work. Afro Blue director Connaitre Miller was awarded the prestigious “Jazz Education Achievement Award” by DownBeat Magazine and Jazz Times Magazine traced the history of Afro Blue in the feature article “How Afro Blue Happened.”
In 2020, Afro Blue released their latest album We Shall Overcome. In his album review posted on All About Jazz, Jack Bowers writes “As vocal groups go, Afro Blue has to be at or near the top of anyone’s list. And there’s no doubt it is enunciating jazz, albeit of a slightly uncommon variety. But, no matter its guise or purpose, the music speaks for itself, and its rating rests on individual and collective excellence.” Afro Blue has released 6 additional recordings and is also featured on the John Blake Jr. recording of jazz spirituals titled Motherless Child.
Afro Blue albums are available on digital platforms. Contact the ensemble directly for physical copies.