Joan Belgrave
Sat, May 17
DOORS 5:30PM | SHOW 6:30 - 7:30PM
DOORS 8:15PM | SHOW 9PM - 10PM
Joan Belgrave, is a two-time Grammy considered vocalist, songwriter, Music and Film producer. Joan is a multiple Detroit Music Award winner. In 2023 she joined the legendary WJZZ Detroit Jazz Radio station as an On Air Radio &TV Host. Her weekly WJZZ radio show (Monday’s from 5-8pm EST) “GROOVIN with JOAN BELGRAVE” is a “STAND OUT”. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as she shares music from her personal jazz legend colleagues as well as the music of today. An example of her music production prowess is that of a sold-out New York Winter Jazz Festival event featuring herself, alongside jazz legends, Ron Carter, Sheila Jordan, Louis Hayes, Karriem Riggins, Robert Hurst, Johnny O’Neal and more.
Joan is the consummate vocalist, equally adept with big band, blues, standards, gospel and contemporary R&B. While holding fans and critics rapt at prestigious venues like the Detroit Opera House, GEM Theatre, NJPAC (NJ) Brooklyn Academy of Music Theatre (NY), Dizzy’s Club (60th & Broadway, NY) The Metropolitan Room (NY), Catalina's (Los Angeles), the Jazz Standard (Chicago) Switzerland, Paris, and the UK. "Belgrave's voice is so soothing and sexy, she could give a pitbull goose bumps"… Detroit Metro Times raved, while jazzREVIEW called her "a class act and a beautiful talent." Broadway Today calls her “Dynamic… with a Lush voice”. SOULTRACKS says of her voice “beautiful and lush” and awarded her “Oooo Boy” project as top 100 songs for 2023. “The artist herself explains it best: "I love singing with every fiber of my body."
The trajectory Joan has followed from singing gospel in the Baptist church as a young girl and entertaining family friends in Michigan to becoming a critically acclaimed performer who's delighted sold-out crowds across the globe traces a fascinating course. Joan's mother, who also sang, introduced her to U of M classical baritone, Dr. Willis Patterson who took her under his wing and classically trained her voice. Moving to Hollywood, Joan pursued a professional singing career but soon shelved her musical aspirations in order to marry and raise her three children. By the late-'90s, Joan had once again fully immersed herself in music. She began writing songs and recorded Emotions Blue (1998), her tribute to Billie Holiday. "I really related to her" she says.
Joan's chameleonic musicality fueled her follow-up Variations (2005). "It was a variety of me," she explains about the album's concept. "I had blues, gospel, jazz, and R&B going on there. I never want to limit myself because I'm a vocalist, period." All of these projects were recorded in California, once she felt she had given her children a “solid foundation. Relocating back to Michigan, Joan met legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. The couple wed and released their first of two collaborations with New Orleans Preservation Hall legendary saxophonist Charlie Gabriel, You Don’t Know Me: A Tribute to New Orleans, Ray Charles, and the Great Ladies of Song (2007). The trio followed up with Marcus, Charlie, and Joan … Once Again (2009) where Joan's voice duly complemented the superb musicality of the album's two jazz masters.
Joan Belgrave-Vocals Joan Belgrave Music
Zen Zadravec-piano Zen Zadravec
Nate Winn-Drums Nate Winn
Jaribu Shahid-Bass Jaribu Shahid
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