This Sunday, June 28th, Justice Comes Alive will take over screens around the world for a full-day, virtual festival harnessing the power of music to bring about collective change in response to racial inequality. The donation-based streaming event will generate funds for the participating artists, who remain out of work as the pandemic continues, as well as a number of social justice-oriented causes via the PLUS1 For Black Lives Fund. Justice Comes Alive is also proud to partner with HeadCount to further encourage voter participation. The event will run from noon to midnight ET this Sunday. Donate any amount here to get a link to stream Justice Comes Alive on the platform of your choice.
The lineup of 50+ musical performers for Sunday runs the gamut from nationally-touring outfits to special band reunions to one-time-only “supergroups.” In addition to all of the fantastic bands on the lineup, the Justice Comes Alive lineup features several musicians who are widely considered to be among the best and most creative players in the world on their respective instruments. These first-rate musicians include the likes of Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Maurice Brown, MonoNeon, Stanley Jordan, and Cory Henry. Ahead of Sunday’s festivities, take a little time to get to know each of musical firebrands.
Growing up in Clarksdale, MI, Christone “KINGFISH” Ingram was baptized in the blues. As a young virtuoso, he made television appearances on the Rachel Ray and Steve Harvey shows, dazzling audiences across the country. Ingram soon shed the novelty of being a child prodigy as he earned headlining slots at high-profile blues festivals in St. Louis, Chicago, and more. His prominence was only furthered with an appearance beside legendary rapper Rakim during his 2018 Tiny Desk performance for NPR. In May 2019, Ingram broke through on his own and released his debut solo album, Kingfish, on Alligator Records, which featured blues legends like Buddy Guy and Keb Mo and hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts. At just 21 years of age, we’re still seeing just the beginning of this incredible bluesman’s potential.
Watch Christone “Kingfish” Ingram do what he does best with his performance of B.B. King‘s “The Thrill Is Gone” from the Clearwater Seas Blues Festival in 2019.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram — “The Thrill Is Gone” [B.B. King cover] — Clearwater, FL — 2/24/19
[Video: 1AnitrasDance]
Growing up in Chicago, trumpeter/producer Maurice Brown came into contact with greatness in the 8th grade when he met Wynton Marsalis at one of the jazz legend’s seminars. Brown’s promise was evident early on, as he was chosen to to participate in the National High School GRAMMY Band, where he was then recruited by Ramsey Lewis to play in his band.
Since then, Maurice Brown, otherwise known as “MOBETTA,” has become a renowned player in a multitude of stylistic spaces, working with prominent artists from the worlds of blues, rock, soul, hip-hop, R&B, and beyond including Aretha Franklin, CeeLo Green, De La Soul, Ellis Marsalis Jr., The Roots, Wyclef Jean, and Tedeschi Trucks Band (with whom he won a GRAMMY for Best Blues Album in 2011). Maurice is also something of a “Comes Alive” legend: At Brooklyn Comes Alive in 2017, Brown hustled back and forth between stages to tally sit-ins on seven different sets throughout the day.
Most recently, Brown has been playing sold-arenas around the country as a featured touring member of Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals. He’s also developed a reputation for following-up the big arena shows with semi-secret late-nights at local jazz clubs billed as “Maurice Brown & Friends”—and often featuring the same players who had just played with him at the arena down the road.
Get ready for Maurice “MOBETTA” Brown at Justice Comes Alive with this clip from a January show at the legendary Blue Note NYC featuring Anderson .Paak and more:
Maurice Brown ft. Anderson .Paak — “Come Down”, “Trippy” — New York, NY — 1/6/20
[Video: Anderson Paak Live]
Bassist Dwayne Thomas Jr., better known as MonoNeon, boasts a resume which any musician would be proud to have even a piece of. The colorful bassist has shared the stage with Prince, which has led to Neon becoming a de-facto participant in the regular Purple Party tributes to the Purple One, like the one which closed out Quarantine Comes Alive last month.
This enigmatic instrumentalist approaches everything he hears as music, often turning clips of viral Cardi B rants and the like into unf*ckwithable funk grooves. From his eye-catching garb to his sock-covered, upside-down bass to his wise and powerful “MonoNeon Art Manifesto“, MonoNeon continually sets himself apart from the pack in new and unexpected ways.
Of late, MonoNeon has served as the low-end pillar of funk-fusion collective Ghost-Note. Don’t miss a solo performance by MonoNeon as well as a Ghost-Note “Rona Funk” session at Justice Comes Alive.
MonoNeon & Cardi B – “Corona Virus … Sht is getting real!”
[Video: Dywane MonoNeon Thomas Jr.]
Guitarist Stanley Jordan is renowned throughout all music, especially the jazz circuit, for his unconventional style of playing. By utilizing a two-handed approach to the fretboard, Jordan is able to produce sounds unattainable to even the most skilled guitarists. Since 1985, Jordan has sustained a successful solo career with over a dozen albums to his name. Jordan doesn’t always go it alone, however, as he has been known to collaborate with revered artists across the musical spectrum, from Quincy Jones to Umphrey’s McGee.
We can’t wait to see what sorcery Jordan has in store for his performance at Justice Comes Alive. While your imagination wanders, watch Jordan put his signature spin on The Beatles‘ “Elenor Rigby” during this solo performance from 1986 at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Stanley Jordan — “Elenor Rigby” [The Beatles] — Newport, RI — 8/23/86
[Video: Jazz on MV]
Last but certainly not least on this list of world-class instrumentalists is Cory Henry. Beginning as a child church organist Since then, he has rapidly built an illustrious musical career. In addition to his GRAMMY-winning work with Snarky Puppy, Henry has shared the stage with acts like Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, The Roots, Boyz II Men, and many more, often stealing the show with his seemingly effortless dexterity behind any number of keyed instruments.
Related: STOUT, Cory Henry Team Up For Mesmerizing Performance In Los Angeles [Video]
Henry isn’t relegated to being a backing musician, however, as he has released three solo records since 2014 and tours with both his Funk Apostles and his Revival trio (alongside Isaiah Sharkey and Taron Lockett). If you’re lucky, you might catch Cory pulling out his Harpejji, a circa-2007 electronic string instrument which is truly a wonder to behold—at least when Cory s playing it.
Watch Cory Henry show off his Harpejji skills on a beautiful cover of Stevie Wonder‘s “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” below:
Cory Henry – “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” [Stevie Wonder] – Harpejji cover
For more information or to donate and secure your streaming link for Justice Comes Alive on Sunday, June 28th, head to www.JusticeComesAlive.com. For updates, follow Justice Comes Alive on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and RSVP to the Facebook Event page.
