Composer

Pianist

Get ready for an epic night as the WCO dives into year two of our five-year project Musical Landscapes in Color with Convergence. Performed live and recorded for a spring album release, it celebrates the converging of contemporary voices of color by generation, gender, and style of composition. We begin with Fanfare and Fantasie by four-time Grammy nominee Patrice Rushen, followed by Umoja by renowned composer and flutist Valerie Coleman. The next piece Changes, by contemporary composer Andre Myers, reflects the ever-shifting landscape of the world we live in, and for the finale, movements from the Nope film suite by the prolific Michael Abels, a Grammy and Emmy nominee, and the recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

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Convergence

Capitol Theatre

Monterey Jazz Festival brings together 20 of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians from across the country to form the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (NGJO), directed by GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer Gerald Clayton. Established in 1971, tenure in this year's NGJO culminates in a main stage performance in September at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Combo

Monterey County Fairgrounds

Prepare to embark on an exhilarating and transformative musical odyssey. Witness the convergence of artistry, diversity, and compositional brilliance as we explore the depths of human expression through music. Join us to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and the visionary voices that have shaped our musical landscape.

Harmony in Black

Overture Center for the Arts

Embark on a transformative musical journey with Harmony in Black on October 13 in Capitol Theater. This recorded performance features compositions by Dr. William Banfield and renowned artist/composer Patrice Rushen. Join us as their works weave powerful narratives of equality and justice, drawing inspiration from historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and Paul Robeson. Experience the fusion of artistry, diversity, and brilliance that is Harmony in Black.

Patrice Rushen is one of the most sought after R&B artists in the music industry–a three-time Grammy Award nominee who has composed scores for movies and television. Her song “Forget Me Nots” was famously sampled by Will Smith and earned her a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1983.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

San Jose Jazz

Patrice Rushen’s music has accompanied some of the most iconic movie scenes as well as inspired Tik-Tok dance contests. Always soulful and deeply grooving, much of her most well-known music only hints at her jazz pedigree. A longtime leader on the Los Angeles scene, Patrice Rushen is a legend in the music industry, with major credits as a jazz performer, and film composer, as well as the music direction of major broadcasts (Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards) and tours (Janet Jackson), in addition to leading her own projects. Her brilliant playing has astonished audiences ever since Patrice was in high school, and can be heard on countless recordings, including her own Grammy-nominated releases

Sounds, Swing, and Groove ft. Patrice Rushen

Stanford University

The Albany Symphony, long known for celebrating the breadth of American culture through new music, continues its community-building work with Convergence, a three-year collaborative project through which the Symphony, Capital Region communities, and nationally acclaimed artistic partners join together in an exploration of three Black American art forms. Funded by the Carl E. Touhey Foundation, Convergence will build community-wide awareness of our contemporary world through artistic inquiry and musical creation.

American Music Festival: Convergence

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Join the Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music & Arts(Opens in a new window) for their annual concert fundraiser, Make Them Hear You. This year’s event will feature a full show with ten-time Grammy Award-winning, world-renowned a cappella group Take 6(Opens in a new window). Global award-winning artist/producer Patrice Rushen(Opens in a new window) will receive this year’s 2023 Make Them Hear You Award, and will perform as well.

Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music & Arts Presents: Take 6 and Patrice Rushen

Berklee College of Music

Patrice Rushen is a legend in the music industry, with major credits as a jazz performer, and film composer, as well music direction of major broadcasts (Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards) and tours (Janet Jackson), in addition to leading her own projects. Her brilliant playing has astonished audiences ever since Patrice was in high school, and can be heard on countless recordings, including as her own Grammy-nominated releases.

Patrice Rushen 

Braun Music Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Walt Disney Concert Hall as we welcome the trailblazing jazz and R&B star, Patrice Rushen, back to the stage on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Known for her incredible versatility as a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and world-class jazz pianist, Patrice Rushen has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From scoring hits in the early 1980s with songs like "Remind Me" and the unforgettable "Forget Me Nots," to her groundbreaking role as the first-ever woman to serve as music director for the Grammys, her career has been one of relentless innovation and excellence.

This performance promises to be a showcase of Patrice Rushen's extraordinary talent and her contributions to jazz and R&B. Having collaborated with legends such as Prince, Dianne Reeves, and Boyz II Men, and received orchestral commissions from around the world, Rushen's return to the Walt Disney Concert Hall is not just a concert—it's a celebration of a remarkable musical journey.

Be part of this special night, where the unexpected is to be expected, and the only guarantee is that you will be astounded. This event is a highlight of the Jazz JZ1 Series, which also features performances by Jason Moran & The Big Bandwagon, Samara Joy, and Herbie Hancock.

Tickets are available now but are subject to availability, and all sales are final. Don't miss your chance to witness a living legend in action. Join us for an evening that promises to be a highlight of the musical year.

Patrice Rushen

Composer, Pianist

Events

Upcoming events

May 2, 2025

Patrice Rushen · Los Angeles Philharmonic

Past events

Oct 10, 2024

Convergence · Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

Sep 28, 2024

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Combo · Monterey Jazz Festival

About

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