Marqueal Jordan & The Wachezaji with special guest Patches Stewart
Riding the wave from the success of his latest release, All We Have Are Moments, Saxophonist & Vocalist Marqueal Jordan is intent on giving all that he has to his fans, whether onstage or on record. AWHAM’s lead single "Sistas" spent 20 weeks on Billboard Smooth Jazz Singles Chart, peaking at #3. Along with “Mahogany”, his first Independent Soul single “Dot Dot Dot (The Sequel)”, and two Top 20 singles from his previous album, Intention & Purpose, Marqueal’s track record for releasing songs that connect to music lovers is steadily growing.
Onstage, Marqueal is an electrifying and magnetic performer/bandleader who perfected his skills in the Chicago music scene. He toured with Brian Culbertson for 11 years and changed the trajectory of Brian’s live show. In addition, Marqueal has an extensive résumé of artists he’s performed with, such as Gerald Albright, Patti Austin, Peabo Bryson, Will Downing, Candy Dulfer, Floetry, Larry Graham, Buddy Guy, Lalah Hathaway, The Isley Brothers, Joe, KRS-One, Kenny Lattimore, Maysa, Marcus Miller, Najee, Mike Phillips, Eric Roberson, David Sanborn, Jill Scott, Sy Smith, and Kirk Whalum.
If you have heard Michael “Patches” Stewart play his instrument, it will come as no surprise to learn he was born and raised in the city where Jazz was born - New Orleans, Louisiana. He fell in love with the Trumpet at a very young age. During his high school years that he acquired the nickname “Patches” from his habit of wearing patches on blue jeans. Undeniably talented, Patches focused on mastering the Trumpet, which included music lessons at a local college as well as listening to and learning from the incredible pool of local talent at his fingertips in New Orleans. His reputation in the Crescent City grew, and at age 19 he was offered an opportunity to fill in on a recording session. His first time in a recording studio, the session was for playing in the horn section for LaBelle’s international hit “Lady Marmalade.”
Within a few years, Patches moved to Los Angeles and became an in-demand session musician. He toured with Jonathan Butler, George Duke, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau, The Brothers Johnson, Quincy Jones, Jeffrey Osborne and Johnnie Taylor, just to name a few. Patches also had a long tenure working and touring with Marcus Miller and is featured on several of Marcus’s albums. He is currently a member of Brian Culbertson’s band, and is a featured artist on The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
Marqueal & Patches have developed a friendship and musical chemistry since first performing together in 2013. This show will be a journey through both of their musical experiences and the dynamic history of Black Music.
