MEET THE TEAM
KEANNA FAIRCLOTH
Since 2003, Keanna Faircloth has worked as a radio personality, writer, and artist advocate.
From 2019-2022, she served as the host of Afternoon Jazz on WBGO 88.3 FM in Newark, NJ. While at WBGO, Keanna created and produced the widely acclaimed interview series, The Pulse.
Most recently, she has signed on with Yamaha as the Artist Relations Coordinator for jazz and classical piano. Keanna got her start in jazz radio during her Sophomore year at Howard University as an intern at WPFW, where she quickly became a regular on-air host. She would remain a fixture on the air there for 16 years.
In 2018, she created the podcast Artimacy where she has interviewed artists like Robert Glasper, Dionne Warwick, Wynton Marsalis, Melba Moore, and countless others. The culmination of her radio work led to being named a “Future African American Leader in Radio” by Radio Ink Magazine in 2019.
She has amassed literally hundreds of interviews and hosts festivals both nationally and internationally-- from the DC Jazz Festival to the NYC Winter JazzFest, to JazzFest Berlin.
Keanna has been featured in national publications, and has been published by WBGO, WRTI, The New York Times, and NPR Music. She is also a contributor on NPR’s New Music Friday edition of All Songs Considered, and a music contributor on NPR’s Here and Now.
ULYSSES OWENS JR.
Three time Grammy™ Award-Winning Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., known for being a drummer who (The New York Times) has said “take[s] a back seat to no one,” and “a musician who balances excitement gracefully and shines with innovation.”
Performer, producer and educator Ulysses Owens Jr. goes the limit in the jazz world and beyond; claiming eight successful albums of his own. Owens has also gained special attention for his performances on GRAMMY Award-winning albums by Kurt Elling and The Christian McBride Big Band . In addition to five GRAMMY Award Nominated albums with Joey Alexander, Christian McBride Trio, John Beasley’s Monk’estra, and Gregory Porter.
Both Jazziz and Rolling Stone Magazines picked his album “Songs of Freedom,” as a Top Ten Album for 2019 and in 2021; his most recent Big Band release, “Soul Conversations,” was voted the top album in May 2021 by JazzIz Magazine. “Soul Conversations,” received rave reviews and was added to multiple playlists on Apple Music, Spotify, and Sirius XM; and now the band is touring nationally. The Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band has also been voted “Rising Star Big Band ” of 2022 by Downbeat Magazine.
His upcoming eighth album release A New Beat, features his new “Generation Y” Band on the Cellar Jazz record label. The album was produced by Jeremy Pelt and recorded at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studios, in New Jersey.
As an author Ulysses has published two books titled: Jazz Brushes for the Modern Drummer: An Essential Guide to the Art of Keeping Time, and “The Musicians Career Guide: Turning Your Talent into Sustained Success, distributed by Simon and Schuster. His third book, Jazz Big Band for the Modern Drummer: The Essential Guide to the Large Ensemble, for Hal Leonard Publications will be released in January, 2024. He is also a regular contributing writer for the WJCT Jacksonville Music Experience, Downbeat Magazine, Jazz Times Magazine, Percussive Arts Journal, and an Op- Ed contributor the Florida Times Union Newspaper.
As an educator Ulysses has been part the jazz faculty at The Juilliard School as Small Ensemble Director for over seven years ; served on the EDIB (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) committee. He has also served on multiple panels, and taught various workshops within the Alan D. Marks Entrepreneurship division. He is also the Artistic Director for his family’s arts non-profit organization in Jacksonville, Florida called “Don’t Miss A Beat,” and the newly appointed Artistic Director for the Friday Musicale Summer Jazz Camp in Jacksonville Florida. He has also recently been asked to join the Drumeo Online Educational Platform as theirInaugural Jazz Drum Instructor and is developing the curriculum for his interactive course, “30 Day Jazz Drummer,” that will launch in 2024.
In 2024 Ulysses is venturing into Radio with his co-host Keanna Faircloth who is a celebrated anchor in Jazz Radio with shows on NPR, WBGO; and now with Ulysses they have created “Jazz Beyond Tradition” for Jacksonville Music Experience on WJCT Public Radio. The show will air in April 2024 celebrating Jazz Appreciation month and features an exploration of Jazz Voices with engaging interviews; highlighting the artists inspiration, and process.
Ulysses remains consistently in demand for new projects, and consulting opportunities,; remaining one of the most sought-after thought-leaders and cultural entrepreneurs of his generation.
