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The Neo Collective / About This Artist

Artist Details and Stats:

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Label: Audiostate 55 Entertainment, Yisrael Records Inc

Management: Tamah Yisrael

Website: www.neojazz.net

Sounds Like: Erykah Badu, Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind & Fire, SFJAZZ Collective

Genre: Jazz

#-
Jazz charts for New Orleans, LA
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Biography:

Inspired by the great Earth Wind & Fire, The Neo Collective has the magnitude and universal appeal to be put in a class of their own. They are able to resurrect the jazz of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, channel the funk of James Brown, create positive vibes like Bob Marley, show the soul like Chaka Khan and come with the neo-soul like Jill Scott & Erykah Badu. The Neo Collective has taken a very rich foundation and musical background to create a revolutionary sound that is their very own!

The Birmingham grown teenage band has revered enormous local and regional acclaim. Locally recognized as the Neo Jazz Collective, The Neo Collective evolved from the professional youth ensemble to a nationally signed recording artist under Audiostate 55 Entertainment. Its core members include:

Kayla Wheeler – Lead Vocalist
Jasmine Reese – Background Vocals
Yirmeyahu Yisrael – Saxophone
Jeronne Ansari – Alto Saxophone
Yah’El Yisrael – Piano
Adam Guthrie – Guitar
Sam Albright - Upright Bass
Yehosheba Yisrael – Electric Bass
Isaiah Fogle – Drums

The Neo Collective’s harmonizing vocal section, tight rhythm section and power tower horn section has enabled them to perform major festivals such City Stages, Taste of Fourth Avenue Jazz Festival, The Preserve Jazz Festival, BAAMFest and featured in the 2011 Jazz In the Park series Birmingham. They opened and performed with great national acts such as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, SF Jazz Collective, Herbie Hancock and Gerald Albright.

The Neo Collective is equipped with youth and diversity and their presence in music industry will be significant for years to come.

Press:

“The Neo Jazz Collective will present a Tribute to the legendary sound of Motown on Sunday, September 18 , 2011 at the Highland Conference Center which is located at 2012 Magnolia Avenue in Five Points South. Doors will open at 4:00 pm and the show will start at 5:00 pm. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.”
Russ McClinton - Urbanham.com

“On a tip from Sound Engineer, Danny Everitt, I actually got up before noon to go catch the Neo Jazz Collective at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute performing a complete Bob Marley set. What a great group of Kids. They sounded great from horns to guitar to vocals that featured Carlito and a trio of girls doing great back up and lead vocals. It was probably one of my favorite sets of the weekend”
Brad Hardisty - The Nashville Bridge

“Birminghamians will have another opportunity to celebrate the Year of Alabama Music with the Birmingham Arts and Music Festival this weekend. In its second year, the event showcases artists from around Alabama and the Southeast in a multi-venue, 3-day party..............Artists include hRom, Jon Byrd and Byrd’s Auto Parts, Shaundra T. Smith, Burning Vinyl, the Magic Math, N’Dambi, Flow Tribe, Neo Jazz Collective, Kendra Sutton, Royal and Toulouse, Dear August, SharBaby, Sanyasi and Dub Massive”
Rachel P. Joiner - Magic City Post

“The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute skipped the national holiday of Juneteenth this year to celebrate a global event, Nelson Mandela International Day............ Umdabu Dance Company, a Birmingham-based troupe that preserves South African culture through dance, will perform. Other acts include Sharrif Simmons, Neo Jazz Collective and John Paul Taylor. A children’s village and vendors will also be on hand”
Shermika Dunner - Magic City Post

“Another summer of smooth jazz sounds kicks off on Independence Day in the Magic City with the first of the annual series of JAZZ IN THE PARK® from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Birmingham’s Caldwell Park, located on the Southside at 26th Street South and Highland Avenue. The Neo Jazz Collective, Birmingham’s premier youth jazz ensemble, will begin the afternoon with an outstanding performance of jazz, R&B, and neo-soul music”
Over The Mountain Journal - Over The Mountain Journal

“Magic City Smooth Jazz will bring free weekly concerts all summer long across Birmingham for Jazz in the Park. Among the more than two dozen artists on the lineup are Kim Scott, Overfloe, Foxxy Fatts, Tena Wilson and Kenneth Williams. “Part of our mission of exposing a variety of jazz music to a diverse audience is our commitment to music education,” says Bernard Lockhart, executive director of Magic City Smooth Jazz, the Birmingham nonprofit group putting on the concert series for its second year. The Neo Jazz Collective will provide free music lessons on a variety of instruments at each show. In addition, each event will promote healthy lifestyles; many performances will take place in neighborhoods with a low to medium average income but high rates of lung cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Shermika Dunner - Magic City Post

“BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Jazz in the Park will offer 10 concerts during its 2011 season, all featuring the Neo Jazz Collective and a wealth of other musicians. Admission is free to the 5 p.m. shows, organized by Magic City Smooth Jazz.”
Mary Colurso - The Birmingham News

“Local jazz musicians will rally support for tornado recovery efforts during Pickin’ Up the Pieces, a Memorial Day event at Railroad Park. The free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 30, will feature musicians including Neo Jazz Collective, Heritage Band, Vann Burchfield, Overfloe, Left Field, On Purpose featuring Dwight Houston, Laser’s Edge and Kenneth Williams.”
Carla Jean Whitley - Birmingham Magazine

“Yesterday we reported on several projects and events raising money in an effort to support recovery efforts following the April 27 tornadoes that hit much of Alabama. Today we’ve heard about a few additional efforts. Birmingham Art and Music Festival’s BAAM Aid! will take place from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at Rogue Tavern, and money raised will go to tornado relief funds. Tickets are $10. Organizers also encourage donations of non-perishable food, baby care items and more for the Red Cross. The event’s lineup includes Neo Jazz Collective, Mile Marker 7, Skyway Spirits, Omari Jazz, Josh Vasa, Erin Mitchell and The Arrangement. Find more on the BAAM! Aid page on Facebook.”
Carla Jean Whitley - Birmingham Magazine

“Join us Sunday, May 15, 2011 as the talented youth from the Neo Jazz Collective present a Tribute to the legendary Bob Marley. Once again the students from the Neo Jazz School of Music will highlight their love for music and musical icons through song.”
Russ McClinton - Urbanham.com

“There will be three events related to the concert on Sunday, March 27: first a Jazz Brunch featuring food by Kathy G. available for purchase, a cash bar, and live music from Neo Jazz Collective, 1 p.m.: then a listening party and discussion led by Eric Essix and Robin Eubanks (the latter whom played with Wonder), 2 p.m. Alys Stephens Center, Haskell Courtyard (weather permitting). Finally, the concert: Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Avenue South. 3 p.m. Tickets: $20 and $58. Details: 975-2787 or www.alysstephens.org.”
Bart Grooms - Black & White City Paper

“On Sunday, February 27, 2011, the Neo Jazz Collective will present a tribute to the legendary singer, producer and musician, Mr. Stevie Wonder. This family friendly event will feature a variety of songs from the music icon performed by one of Birmingham’s most popular group of young musicians.”
Russ McClinton - Urbanham.com

“For a little holiday musical pleasure, check out the Neo Jazz Collective in its special fund-raiser performance Sunday. This group of young artists will headline the Gift of Music: A Youth Instrument and Toy Drive at the Highland Conference Center on Southside. Special guests include Sharrif Simmons, Ree’Al, Laura Luke, Jona Crooner and dat2.”
Chianti C. Cleggett - Magic City Post

“It’s quiet on Gary Avenue on a recent Saturday afternoon except for the happy sounds coming from an aging storefront in downtown Fairfield. A man across the street finds shade from the high noon sun as he soaks up the music. A gray-haired woman leaves a nearby hair salon and says, “Sounds good,” as she ambles to her car. They are listening to the Neo Jazz Collective, a group of 14 musicians and singers whose members range in age from 12 to 19.”
Chanda Temple - The Birmingham News

“The Collective consists of a group of young students from Neo Jazz School of Music in Fairfield. “They were amazing additions, just tearing it up,” said Henson of the Neo Jazz Collective. “They are the most amazing musicians I’ve ever met in my life,” Weller said. Judges apparently appreciated the group’s innovation. ”
Jessica Hamilton - UAB Kaleidoscope

“If you ask them, Isaiah Fogle and Alex Lane will tell you they are just ordinary 12-year-old boys about to enter seventh grade. But if you ask the grown-ups that have seen the two musicians perform separately, you'll here another story, with one word mentioned often: Prodigy.”
Sarah Carlson - Times Daily

“I have been hearing some great things about a local group of talented young musicians and singers assembled by Dr. Lud Yisreal. The group is called the Neo Jazz Collective and over the past two weeks I have witnessed the talent of this group first hand. Dr. Lud has assembled a loyal group of teens that have a love for music which is accompanied by ambition and a high level of respect for their craft. I discovered this after joking with Isaiah Fogle, the 12 year old drummer from the group. I asked Isaiah if he wanted me to show him how to play those drums and he quickly responded with a smile “Sure! I can always learn something!” ”
Russ McClinton - Urbanham.com

“Coming out of The Neo Jazz School of Music, The Neo Jazz Collective performs on this week's edition of Town Sounds.”
Rick Jazckson - CBS 42 WIAT

“The refreshing sounds of cool jazz emanating from Eastwood Public Library was a summer delight last week. Public libraries have become very community oriented. At one time libraries were places that demanded quiet along with straitlaced, cranky librarians and shelves crammed with stuffy, boring books. ”
C-ING - C-ING Blogspot

“About a dozen students including Isaiah are enrolled in Dr. Lud Yisrael’s Neo-Jazz Collective class, which performs around the city. Isaiah’s energy couldn’t be contained when the teenage jazz students were discussing their first run-through of John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps.” So Isaiah did cartwheels and a moonwalk across the stage. The Neo-Jazz Collective class includes jazz vocalists, and is a “proving ground to young musicians to get their feet wet,” Yisrael says. The appeal of teaching here “means not teaching for grades, but teaching students how to become professionals, how to play for money. When you get paid, the audience expects perfection. ”
Meg McKinney - B-Metro

“The Neo Jazz Collective, a group of musicians aged 11-18 from Birmingham, Ala., performs at Bates College at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St. ”
Office of Commissions and Media Relations - Bates Now

“What do you do when you're starting a student jazz band and you have two bassists vying for one coveted spot? You could send one player home. Or you could let them take turns on the congas. If you direct the Neo Jazz Collective you sometimes let them both play.”
Alec Harvey - Birmingham News