photo by Richard Conde
(NEW YORK, NY) -- International singer-songwriter, actor and activist Angélique Kidjo joined nine-time GRAMMY winning bassist and composer Christian McBride for the Ralph Pucci Annual Jazz Set, The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian® on March 6, 2025. The evening benefited JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, the nationally-acclaimed nonprofit that uses the power and legacy of jazz to give young people an artistic edge, providing access to world-class arts education and live performances, no matter what their financial constraints.
Angélique Kidjo—an electrifying artist who usually graces grand stages across the globe – brought her dynamic presence to an intimate evening at Ralph Pucci International in New York City, set against the iconic backdrop of Frank Stewart’s masterful jazz photography.
“I don't need to tell you how special Angélique Kidjo is, and what a force of nature she is,” said McBride. “If you've ever seen the great Angélique Kidjo live in concert, she's like the human tornado. She just swoops everybody up with her energy and her musicality.”
The evening hit one high note after another, delivering Kidjo’s powerful message of joy and respect. While introducing her song “Kelele,” Kidjo explained: “This song is about education. When you have the luck to go to a good school, and you have a degree, you can find a future. But for a child to be educated, it takes a whole village. And this song is to thank people who believe in investing in education, because with education we create a better world for all.”
In front of an intimate audience of 200, Kidjo and McBride delivered inspirational performances of some of Kidjo’s other hits like “Choose Love,” “Bemba Colorá,” and “Afirika,” alongside renditions of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Kidjo gave a special recognition to her long time collaborator and founding member of Talking Heads, David Byrne who was in the audience.
Students from JAZZ HOUSE Montclair’s Blue Notes Choir, the Soulful Voices Choir from JAZZ HOUSE NYC, and members of Kidjo’s band accompanied her and McBride for much of the performance, getting the audience on their feet for several songs. McBride once again proved why he is not only one of the most in-demand artists of his time—seamlessly bridging genres—but also a highly sought-after host.
Funds raised from this one-night-only event enable the JAZZ HOUSE to continue offering life-changing opportunities for all students from diverse backgrounds, strengthening its tuition assistance programs, expanding work in underserved schools, and supporting the growth of programs for career development, CHiCA Power and access to transportation, private lessons instruments for young people who would be sitting on the sidelines.
photo by Richard Conde
“When Christian and I were thinking about this evening, we wanted an artist to speak to the values that this organization was built on,” said JAZZ HOUSE founder + president Melissa Walker. “And Angélique, you answer that call, crossing all borders. You are about unity, harmony, and love. And we join you in choosing love.”
Each year, Ralph Pucci transforms the 30,000 square-foot New York art and design gallery into a jazz club, and JAZZ HOUSE Artistic Director Christian McBride invites a special guest to perform and converse with him for a truly unique and intimate musical evening. Angélique Kidjo is the latest icon to have performed at the annual event, now in its ninth year, with past artists including Sting, Norah Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Laurie Anderson, Gregory Porter, John Pizzarelli, and Esperanza Spalding.
“This event has come a long way,” said Pucci. “Nine years ago when we did our first one, Melissa and I did the chairs, and Christian did the sound check. So it's come a long, long way, raising over $2.5M since we began our jazz evenings in support of providing access to music education for kids which is pretty incredible. Thank you to everybody who supported this effort.”
Samantha Parrish-Khan, photo by Taylor Weinberg
Five-time GRAMMY winner Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with 16 albums to her name. Her striking voice, stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have won respect from her peers and expanded her following across national borders. Time Magazine called her "Africa's premier diva", and one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2021. The BBC named her one the continent's 50 most iconic figures, and in 2011 The Guardian listed her as one of their Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World. Forbes Magazine has ranked Kidjo as the first woman in their list of the Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa.
In 2015, she was presented with the prestigious Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the 2016 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, the 2018 German Sustainability Award, the 2023 Vilcek Prize in Music, and the 2023 Polar Music Prize. Kidjo travels the world advocating on behalf of children in her capacity as a UNICEF and OXFAM goodwill Ambassador. At the G7 Summit in 2019, President Macron of France named Kidjo as the spokesperson for the AFAWA initiative (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa) to help close the financing gap for women entrepreneurs in Africa. She has also created her own charitable foundation, Batonga, dedicated to support the education of young girls in Africa.
Angélique Kidjo, photo by Erwan Blaszka
Christian McBride is a nine-time GRAMMY®-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. He is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Art Center’s TD James Moody Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride is also a respected educator and advocate for youth, and serves as Artistic Director of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to artistic directing and consistent touring with his ensembles, he hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian” on SiriusXM.
Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always part of the music. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him. McBride’s newest album But Who’s Gonna Play The Melody? was recorded with renowned bassist, composer, and seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Edgar Meyer. Released in 2024 via Mack Avenue Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart.
Angélique Kidjo, Ralph Pucci, Melissa Walker, Christian McBride; photo by Neil Grabowsky
For 50 years, RALPH PUCCI International has been a prominent influence in luxury furniture and mannequin design, celebrated for transformative collaborations with renowned artists and designers who push the boundaries of art and functionality, including Elizabeth Garouste, John Koga, Patrick Naggar, Eric Schmitt and Paul Mathieu, as well as the Ralph Pucci Collection. Based in New York City, the company has outposts in Miami, and Los Angeles.
Now in its third decade and the brainchild of vocalist and arts leader Melissa Walker, the nationally recognized JAZZ HOUSE KiDS transforms lives using the power and legacy of jazz through world-class education and performances that create avenues of access, learning, career development and community building. Recently featured on CBS Mornings and The Kelly Clarkson Show and celebrated by global superstar STING, the organization and students have received more than 170 awards and honors for excellence in jazz and jazz education.
The JAZZ HOUSE has two locations: its headquarter in Montclair, NJ and a new satellite program in Lower Manhattan in collaboration with and fully-funded by Trinity Church NYC. The foundation of the JAZZ HOUSE is their tremendous faculty who are full-time practitioners and educators. Every day of the week through a series of in-school programs and out-of-school programs in New Jersey and New York City, JAZZ HOUSE helps young people gain an artistic edge, fostering community leaders and global citizens who help build thriving communities.
JAZZ HOUSE produces 150+ free public concerts per year to audiences close to 250,000 including the organization’s far-reaching cultural signature program, the award-winning MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL, the largest free jazz festival in the region, attracting 26,000 attendees each year.
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