2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: JOI (@JoiGilliam)

JOI

As a trailblazer and a maverick, the genre-morphing singer, songwriter and producer, JOI, has always been ahead of the mainstream cultural and artistic landscape. Debuting with the 1994 critically acclaimed The Pendulum Vibe (EMI), JOI and producer Dallas Austin created a sharp, kaleidoscopic set of unclassifiable jams (later dubbed ‘Neo-Soul’) powered by lead single "Sunshine & the Rain". An all-black, all-woman version of the album cut “Freedom” was issued for Mario Van Peebles’ film, “Panther”. Mary J Blige, Queen Latifah, En Vogue and a teenage Aaliyah were among the 60 plus vocalists. 

By the end of the decade, JOI became one of the first black models in a major Calvin Klein ad campaign (CK One). She independently released the adventurous Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome album, backed by indie rock collective Fishbone, and worked on projects for the likes of Goodie Mob, Outkast, Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton and others.

During the 2000's, JOI was signed to the Universal label that produced the funky effort Star Kitty’s Revenge, her most commercially viable album to date. Star Kitty’s Revenge featured signature tunes “Lick” and “Jefferson St. Joe”, an ode to her father Joe Gilliam, the NFL’s first black starting quarterback. JOI was asked to join R&B super-group Lucy Pearl alongside Raphael Saadiq, soon after.

 In 2006, she independently released the emotional tour-de-force; Tennessee Slim Is The Bomb under her Joilicious Records imprint. 

The last decade has found JOI free of the fledgling label system and fully immersed in Artisan Polishing, DJ'ing, and vocal work on productions by Max Martin (Ariana Grande, Tori Kelly), Polow Da Don (Monica) and others.  A 20th anniversary international tour with Outkast preceded her own #20YearsOfJOI run and a 2015 European tour with D'Angelo & The Vanguard. Her highly anticipated fifth solo effort Rebekkah HolyLove's Salvation Symphony is due for independent release later this year.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2016 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE UP 

Friday, May 27

Main Stage:

7:00 pm                                Next Collective                                                                                

9:00 pm                JOI                                         

Saturday, May 28

Local Stage:       

12:30 pm                              Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars

2:30 pm                                The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO)  

4:30 pm                                Mabu’s Ark Band                            

6:30 pm                                Alex Lattimore                                                                 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                Camila Meza     

3:30 pm                                TATRAN                                                              

5:30 pm                                Mette Henriette                                                             

7:30 pm                                Etienne Charles                               

Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Chargaux

3:00 pm                                Tomeka Reid                                                     

5:00 pm                                Theo Croker      

7:00 pm                                Jamison Ross                    

9:00 pm                                Hypnotic Brass Ensemble                                            

                               

Sunday, May 29

Local Stage:

12:30 pm                              Band Room Nation                                         

2:30 pm                                Anonymous DaBand                                                      

4:30 pm                                Joe Alterman Trio                                                                                
6:30 pm                                        Chandra Currelley 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                TBD     

3:30 pm                                Tumi Mogorosi                                                              

5:30 pm                                Daby Toure                                                             

7:30 pm                                Eliane Elias

 Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Navy Band Southeast: V.I.P. Protocol Combo

3:00 pm                                Eugenie Jones

5:00 pm                                The Headhunters    

7:00 pm                                Benny Golson               

9:00 pm                                Gregory Porter