January 14, 2027
artwork records night 03.

ABOUT

Winter Jazzfest showcases the independent label Artwork Records bringing together artists whose work spans generations and traditions, from New Orleans piano to fearless contemporary saxophone to a new wave of jazz vocalists. It’s an evening of music from the label’s established figures and rising voices.

Lakecia Benjamin
New York-born alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin grew up in Washington Heights and has worked with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Prince, and The Roots. A multiple-time GRAMMY nominee, she made her Artwork Records debut in 2026 with We Dream, a cinematic, poem-driven album featuring Terence Blanchard, Chris Potter, Black Thought, and Kassa Overall.

Sullivan Fortner
GRAMMY-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader Sullivan Fortner is a New Orleans native known for his imaginative, deeply rooted playing. His 2025 trio album Southern Nights earned his fifth career GRAMMY nomination, and his sixth album, Leave That In There, was just released in August 2026.

Tyreek McDole
Haitian-American baritone Tyreek McDole, a Florida native, won the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, joining past winners including Samara Joy. His debut album Open Up Your Senses (2025) mixes originals, spirituals, and freedom songs, and he approaches performance as a space for healing and reflection. His new album CHROMA releases this coming November. 

Davell Crawford
Known as the “Piano Prince of New Orleans,” Davell Crawford has performed professionally since age seven. He is the grandson of “Jock-A-Mo” songwriter James “Sugar Boy” Crawford and the godson of Roberta Flack. A singer and pianist, he draws on gospel, R&B, and traditional jazz, carrying forward the lineage of Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, and James Booker.

Georgia Heers
South Carolina-born vocalist and composer Georgia Heers studied at Oberlin and The Juilliard School and now lives in Harlem. She has performed at Dizzy’s Club, Mezzrow, and the Kennedy Center, and appeared in the Broadway production of Good Night, and Good Luck. A Chamber Music America grantee, she is dedicated to exploring music across the African diaspora and its healing power.