artist info

Award-winning jazz trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter and producer Keyon Harrold has received a great deal of acclaim for his work as the trumpet voice behind the Grammy-winning Don Cheadle film Miles Ahead, and his critically acclaimed album, The Mugician (Sony Legacy / Mass Appeal). As a bandleader, he has created a compelling new statement with a riveting mix of jazz, Afrobeat, soul, spoken word, hip-hop, blues, rock and even American folk. As a soloist, Keyon Harrold’s distinctly warm trumpet sound simmers in the middle register - creating drama without aggrandizing. He mesmerizes live audiences with an emotionally charged concert presentation.

In addition to being one of the new leading voices in Jazz Music, Keyon Harrold has collaborated with many of today’s top hip-hop and pop artists including: Common, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Eminem, Maxwell, and Anthony Hamilton. These experiences have broadened his musical horizons beyond jazz to include funk, Afrobeat, R&B, and hip-hop.

In 2020-21, Keyon Harrold will be touring an exciting concert program that encompasses his musical experiences entitled Jazz And The Birth of Hip Hop. Featuring a collective of jazz musicians who were fostered in hip-hop and contemporary African American music, he demonstrates that the music is rooted in the high art of modern jazz music.

The Critics Speak:

... The Mugician (Sony Legacy) is a collection of thoughtful and wide- ranging compositions... Harrold’s pop sensibilities and activist leanings shine through on the album, which is tied together by its catchy melodies – a rarity in critically acclaimed circles of modern jazz. – Natalie Weiner, Rolling Stone

Keyon Harrold, a scorching trumpeter whose recent album, The Mugician, draws upon his work in jazz, R&B and hip-hop. – Giovanni Russonello, New York Times

Trumpeter Keyon Harrold pushes boundaries on new album The Mugician. – Kevin C. Johnson, St. Louis Dispatch