Photo by Jati Lindsay
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Seven-time Grammy nominee Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), a revolutionary force in jazz, will perform at McCarter Theatre Center on Thursday, February 13, 2025. A transformative artist in contemporary jazz, Chief Adjuah has been redefining the genre since 2002. He is known for his dynamic live performances that blend jazz, soul, funk, and African traditions, continuously pushing the boundaries of the genre. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Adjuah, the grandson of Louisiana luminary and legend the late Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr., and the nephew of jazz innovator and NEA Jazz Master saxophonist-composer Donald Harrison Jr., is part of a musical dynasty deeply rooted in New Orleans’ rich jazz heritage. His upbringing in a musical family has played a crucial role in shaping his unique artistic voice.
With thirteen critically acclaimed studio recordings, four live albums, and a greatest hits collection, Adjuah has solidified his position as one of the most innovative and influential artists in jazz. His work has earned him two Edison Awards and a Doris Duke Award in Jazz. As a sonic architect, trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, Adjuah has created groundbreaking technologies and musical instruments, including The Stretch Music app, and Adjuah Trumpet.
NPR hails him as "ushering in a new era of jazz," while JazzTimes calls him "jazz's young style god" and "the architect of a commercially viable fusion." Throughout his career, Adjuah has collaborated with musical legends such as Prince, Thom Yorke, McCoy Tyner, Marcus Miller, Flea, Eddie Palmieri, and Robert Glasper.
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 609-258-2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
Commitment to Social Change - Chief Adjuah is deeply committed to social change and community engagement. He has supported numerous organizations, including Black Lives Matter, Each One Save One, Girls First, The Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, Good Work Network, Changing Worlds, and the NO/AIDS Task Force.
Through his time, talent, and resources, Adjuah has contributed to youth music programs by donating instruments, teaching, and providing mentorship. He has also held master classes, participated in panels, and created content that fosters cultural retention, fiscal literacy, and empowerment, particularly for underserved youth in New Orleans. He serves on the Board of The New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Institute (NOCCA) and continues to advocate for human rights and social justice around the world.
Adjuah’s boundary-pushing music appeals to fans of contemporary jazz, particularly those who appreciate artists like Vijay Iyer, Roy Hargrove, Marquis Hill, and Makaya McCraven.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances, reaching millions of audience members around the world.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
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