2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: Mabu's Ark Band

Mabu's Ark Band

Mabu’s ArkBand is an eclectic musical group that performs soul, jazz, Reggae, fusion jazz, Caribbean and African music. Mabu Brad Young, Jr. is the drummer, vocalist and production manager for the band.

Mabu started he band while attending high school during the 1960’s. The original band name was “Mabu’s Madness” because of the music they were performing by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, The Delfonics, Sun Ra, JohnColtrane, as well as British rock and roll.

Mabu planned to go to law school. And he intended to play football in college and go on to the NFL. His back-up plan was to become a school teacher and football coach. He did become a teacher and then Principal for the Mount Vernon City SchoolDistrict in New York.

He also has kept his band together for 40 years, and performed in Senegal, Africa, Jamaica, Canada and around the United States. In New York he has played at venues such as the Apollo, Sweetwater, Windows on the World, and The Bitter End. Mabu has worked and recorded with artists including Jeff Young, Vincent Henry, T.M. Stevens, Teddy Stilles, Hassan Melvin Sparks, Onajie Allan Gumbs, Julio Virella, Mike Phillips, Flip Lewis Barnes, Fred Hunter, Kay Boyd, Phillip Hamilton and Boo Boo Monk (Thelonius Monk’s daughter).

He thanks God for his parents and his wife, Tricia.

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