Communiqué
Grammy-winning “Robert Glasper” and duo “Domi & JD Beck” bring next-generation jazz to AUSTIN CITY LIMITS – July 12 at 10 pm
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“Robert Glasper/Domi and JD Bec”
Saturday, July 12 at 10:00 pm
Austin City Limits continues with an hour spotlighting a pair of acts steering jazz in new directions: five-time Grammy Award-winner Robert Glasper, nominated for a pair of 2024 Grammy Awards, brings his celebrated Black Radio series to life on the ACL stage joined by Grammy-decorated special guests; sharing the hour is eclectic, next-generation jazz duo DOMi and JD BECK, nominated for a 2023 Best New Artist Grammy; making their ACL debut with songs from their debut NOT TiGHT.
Keyboardist Robert Glasper operates on parallel paths, one in which he’s one of the most celebrated jazz pianists of the last two decades, and the other in which he’s an acclaimed R&B producer and bandleader. An in-demand collaborator, he is the musician of choice for some of the world’s most iconic artists, notably playing keys throughout Kendrick Lamar’s landmark 2015 To Pimp A Butterfly. Combining his passions, his genre-shattering Black Radio series racked up multiple Grammy Awards, and found the Houston native collaborating with singers and rappers from across the musical spectrum. Glasper is joined for this performance by a trio of featured artists including R&B singers Emily King and Yebba, alongside rapper D Smoke, accompanied by his three-piece band of bass, drums and DJ. 2024 Grammy-nominee King takes the stage for the soulful ballad “What Love Can Do.” Glasper improvises a fleet-fingered piano intro that leads into “Shine,” from his Black Voices III, 2023’s Grammy-winner for Best R&B Album, as D Smoke delivers a shining verse. Grammy-winning Yebba takes the stage for the majestic “Over,” accented by funky grooves; King and Smoke add harmonies and freestyle rapping. Yebba makes the song’s refrain, “Hoping that this love ain’t over,” soar from hook to mantra, as the ensemble ends the set to wild applause from the crowd.
As with any other venerable musical tradition, jazz welcomes the occasional shake-up. Mixing hip-hop inspired rhythms, lush chordings, and a singular sense of style, DOMi & JD BECK are the latest act to combine twenty-first century energy with old school improvisation. Featuring their acclaimed debut album NOT TiGHT as the centerpiece of a sparkling set, the irreverent pair bring virtuoso technique, accessible melodies, and an impish sense of humor to their ACL debut. Doubling on piano and keyboard, Paris-born DOMi and Dallas-native drum ace BECK perform highlights including the effervescent title track. The duo’s music finds both humor and greatness in harmonic complexity, rhythmic shiftiness, and speed.
“Once again – as seems to happen every few years – jazz is experiencing a renaissance with a new generation of artists and fans,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Robert Glasper already has a reputation as a genius musician/producer/composer/collaborator, and DOMi and JD BECK bring a youthful energy and rebellious spirit to a sound that is truly all their own.”