Performing Artists Forum

Join us for a free virtual Performing Artists Forum featuring conversations with musicians, presenters, and agents addressing the continuum of a jazz artist’s career. This program is for emerging and seasoned professionals.

Attendees can choose to attend one or both of the below sessions at no cost.

_____________________________

Title: GETTING YOUR ACT TOGETHER: TURNING PRO

Date: May 1, 2021

Time: 10am to 10:50am

Panelist: Mike Boone, Nadjah Nicole, Gerald Chavis

Moderator: Jonathan Whitney

Description: What is the difference between an amateur/student musician and a professional? What do professionals wish they had known early on in their career? What is the difference between the players on smaller gigs and the ones getting called for big shows? From its inception jazz knowledge has been passed on from artist to artist at gigs, jam sessions, and late night hangs. This discussion continues that tradition.

______________________________

Title: TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL: PREPARING FOR PERFORMING ARTIST/AGENCY MANAGEMENT

Date: May 1, 2021

Time: 11am to 12:30pm

Panelist: Gail Boyd from Gail Boyd Artist Management, Chris Mees from B Natural, Inc

Moderators: Tina Betz, Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs &                     Raye Jones Avery, HIP Consulting

Description: Presenters will share interesting distinctions between the role of artist manager and booking agent services, associated fees, considerations for finding a good match, and understanding the mutual relationship between artists, managers, and agents. Come and get the answer to these questions and more from veteran Gail Boyd, Association of Performing Arts Professionals nominee for the Sidney R. Yates Award for Outstanding Advocacy on Behalf of the Performing Arts, and Chris Mees founder of B Natural, Inc, an agency representing some of jazz’s hottest up and coming artists.

MEET THE PANELISTS

Nadjah Nicole

Nadjah Nicole is a tiny but mighty soulful force that has been soothing ears and warming hearts since she first graced the stage at 12 years old. Beginning her journey in church, Nadjah quickly found her voice through her influences Erykah Badu, Eric Benet, Musiq Soulchild and so many more. Her personal style consists of raw honesty and melodic tones that inspire many.

Mike Boone

Mike Boone was born in New York City, and started taking piano lessons at the age of eight. He later attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music, studying upright bass with Oscar Zimmerman and James Van Denmark. He eventually went on the road with Ben Vereen, and later with Buddy Rich before moving to Philadelphia in 1983. Mike has consistently played and recorded with the best musicians in Philadelphia, i.e. John Swana, Trudy Pitts, Shirley Scott, Sid Simmons, Byron Landham, and many more. Mike has produced a few albums of his own as a leader, and is currently an adjunct professor of Jazz (Bass) at Temple University. 

Gerald Chavis

Gerald Chavis' credits include performing and/or recording with such national acts as Mick Jagger, Phyllis Hyman, Dr. Donald Byrd, The Temptations, The Dells, The Spinners, and more, as well as Delaware organizations including Opera Delaware, Christina Cultural Arts Center, and others. In addition, he spends much time in recording studios as a session musician, artist and producer for other musicians.

Chavis studied with renowned jazz teacher Robert “Boysie” Lowery, who is best known as the teacher of Clifford Brown and Ernie Watts, among others. In addition to the hard-hitting, ever-expressive Gerald Chavis Quintet (GCQ), Gerald is an active member of smooth jazz ensemble Point Blank whose debut album made it inside the top 20 on national charts. He also serves as a staff musician at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Chavis’ recent accomplishments include leading the Clifford Brown Tribute Big Band for the Clifford Brown Jazz Festivals in 2017 and 2018. Most recently the band featured Grammy Award-winning, Wilmington-native, saxophonist Ernie Watts on the opening night of the festival. Gerald currently directs The Fast Lane, a Christina Cultural Arts Center collective of accomplished musicians.

Gail Boyd

Gail Boyd is President of Gail W. Boyd, P.C., an entertainment law firm, and Gail Boyd Artist Management, a wholly owned company of the law firm. She is a graduate of De Paul University and De Paul University School of Law. She was a founding partner in Boyd, Staton and Cave, the first African American female law firm in New York. Gail has been involved in entertainment law since 1976. She has been involved specifically in music with a specialty in jazz since 1979. Gail has served as production coordinator for more than fifteen CDs of various jazz artists.

Other highlights include serving as production coordinator for Quincy Jones, producing a concert which took place in Central Park. She co-produced a gospel album for the choir of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York. Gail has served on various boards including WBGO Radio in Newark, New Jersey, the Noel Pointer Foundation, the NARAS Jazz Jam Committee, the International Women in Jazz, and South Brooklyn Legal Services, where she served as chair for nearly 20 years.

As a lawyer, Gail Boyd has represented jazz artists such as Betty Carter, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Gretchen Parlato, Record Executive Steve Backer, and Randy Weston and has consulted with several labels including Motema Records. several artists on the Gail Boyd Artist Management Roster are Grammy Award nominees and winners, and are critically acclaimed by the jazz press.

Chris Mees

Chris Mees's journey to becoming one of the jazz world’s leading influencers began with a career as a bassist through which Chris shared stages with acclaimed musicians like Geri Allen, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Hart, and Sullivan Fortner, to name a few. After five years of performing in NYC, Chris was introduced to Pat Philips of Strata Phillips Productions. This was the beginning of his work in production and project management. Soon thereafter, Chris was hired to assist Seth Abramson, artistic director of Jazz Standard. After two years of running the daily operations and presenting top-level artists seven nights a week in NYC, Chris decided he was ready to venture out on his own. In 2014, Chris founded B Natural Management, Inc and became director of Management & Booking at J. Chriss & Company, a New York-based booking agency recognized for over 30 years of representing internationally acclaimed jazz artists. In 2017 Chris rebranded his company and visibly launched B Natural, Inc which is a premiere artist booking and management agency in NYC. B Natural artists can be found on main stages and festivals around the world. Chris serves as an agent of change in the music industry and is highly sought after as a consultant. A native of Cody, Wyoming, Chris attended Oberlin Conservatory on a Wendell Logan Scholarship, which earned him a Bachelors of Music in Bass Performance/Jazz Studies.