The Baylor Project
Eight-time GRAMMY-nominated husband-and-wife duo Jean Baylor and Marcus Baylor blend jazz, gospel, blues and soul into music steeped in the heart and soul of the jazz tradition.
Jazz with a lot of soul
Vocalist Jean Baylor and drummer Marcus Baylor bring the sounds of the jazz club, gospel and R&B together in one band.
The Baylor Project's debut album, The Journey (2017), released on their own label, Be A Light, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Jazz chart and earned two GRAMMY nominations, for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Their single "Sit On Down" earned a third nomination.
Generations (2021) was a No. 1 jazz vocal album on the JazzWeek radio chart and earned the duo a fourth GRAMMY nomination. Its track "We Swing (The Cypher)," featuring Jazzmeia Horn and Dianne Reeves, was named one of NPR Music's 100 Best Songs of 2021. The Evening: Live at APPARATUS brought two more nominations, for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo, and their work with Adam Blackstone and Russell Ferrante and an in-studio performance of "Walk With Me, Lord" brought the total to eight.
Jean and Marcus wrote, produced and performed "Good Life," the theme song for Season 6 of The Tamron Hall Show, and have performed on NPR Music's Tiny Desk and the TODAY show. Their catalogue is distributed through Motown Gospel.
Why we love this artist
- Jean and Marcus's joy on stage is contagious, and audiences leave feeling uplifted.
- They are a proven draw, returning again and again to stages like Blue Note New York, Jazz St. Louis and Keystone Korner for multi-night runs.
Jean Baylor and Marcus Baylor
The duo
A New Jersey native who studied vocal performance at Temple University and was one half of the platinum R&B duo Zhané. She has performed with the Yellowjackets, Kenny Garrett, Marcus Miller and Buster Williams.
A St. Louis native and former drummer for the GRAMMY-winning Yellowjackets who studied at The New School and has worked with Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Garrett and John Scofield.
A concert for every audience
The Baylor Project performs at performing arts centers, major jazz festivals, universities and jazz clubs across the United States and around the world.
Selected presenters
- Carnegie HallNew York, NY
- Library of CongressWashington, DC
- Newport Jazz FestivalNewport, RI
- Monterey Jazz FestivalMonterey, CA
- Blue NoteNew York, NY
- Jazz St. LouisSt. Louis, MO
- Blues AlleyWashington, DC
- DC Jazz FestivalWashington, DC
- Keystone KornerBaltimore, MD
- Jazz AlleySeattle, WA
- Meany Hall, University of WashingtonSeattle, WA
- Freight & SalvageBerkeley, CA
- Yoshi'sOakland, CA
- DazzleDenver, CO
- Tri-C JazzFestCleveland, OH
- Aretha Franklin AmphitheatreDetroit, MI
- Jacksonville Jazz FestivalJacksonville, FL
- Berks Jazz FestReading, PA
- Rochester International Jazz FestivalRochester, NY
- Clifford Brown Jazz FestivalWilmington, DE
- Pittsburgh JazzLive International FestivalPittsburgh, PA
- Winter JazzfestNew York, NY
- Exit Zero Jazz FestivalCape May, NJ
- Montclair Jazz FestivalMontclair, NJ
- Shalin Liu Performance CenterRockport, MA
- Chandler Center for the ArtsChandler, AZ
- Musical Instrument MuseumPhoenix, AZ
- Stanford UniversityStanford, CA
- University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX
- North Carolina Museum of ArtRaleigh, NC
- Blumenthal Performing ArtsCharlotte, NC
- Louis Armstrong House MuseumQueens, NY
- Ronnie Scott'sLondon, England
- North Sea Jazz FestivalRotterdam, Netherlands
- BimhuisAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Joy of JazzJohannesburg, South Africa
Bring The Baylor Project to your stage
New Sound Arts can help you plan a concert or multi-night run with The Baylor Project for your season, festival or campus.
mike@newsoundarts.com
marie@newsoundarts.com