Grammy-nominated saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Tia Fuller and acclaimed pianist, composer, and educator Shamie Royston are two of the most compelling creative voices in contemporary jazz. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, the sisters share a deep musical lineage and a commitment to artistic excellence that bridges performance, composition, and education. Together, they represent a rare convergence of virtuosity, intellect, and soul.
Tia Fuller is a force across jazz, pop, R&B, and beyond, blending technical command with melodic imagination and a commanding stage presence. A Mack Avenue recording artist, she balances an active international touring and recording career with her role as a full-time professor at Berklee College of Music. Fuller’s artistry reflects both rigorous academic training and real-world performance at the highest levels.
Fuller’s career reached global audiences through her work with Beyoncé, touring worldwide on the I Am… Sasha Fierce and Beyoncé Experience tours, appearing on major television broadcasts, and performing as a featured soloist at the White House for President Obama. As a bandleader, she has released five albums, including the Grammy-nominated Diamond Cut, produced by Terri Lyne Carrington and featuring luminaries such as Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, James Genus, Bill Stewart, Adam Rogers, and Sam Yahel. Her earlier releases have topped JazzWeek charts and earned widespread critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and leading jazz publications.
Shamie Royston is recognized for a pianistic voice that blends traditional soul with contemporary post-bop innovation. She studied under the late Ron Miles at the University of Denver and has been praised by The New York Times as “rhythmically vanguardist.” Her compositions have been commissioned by artists including Dianne Reeves and Terri Lyne Carrington, underscoring her reputation as both a distinctive composer and a deeply musical collaborator.
As a recording artist, Royston has released critically lauded albums including her trio debut Portraits and Beautiful Liar, the latter featured on NPR’s Fresh Air and entering the first round of Grammy voting. A committed educator, she has served on faculty at Berklee College of Music, is the Director of the NJYS Jazz Orchestra, and was the inaugural recipient of the Berklee Jazz, Gender and Justice Fellowship for a residency at the UCROSS Foundation. She frequently collaborates with her husband, acclaimed drummer Rudy Royston, while maintaining an active international performance schedule.
Together, Tia Fuller and Shamie Royston exemplify artistry with purpose—musicians whose work reflects excellence, depth, and service. Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, both artists are dedicated to shaping the future of jazz while honoring its traditions, serving as powerful creative lights for audiences and students alike.
A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum.
Important Notices:
If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund.
Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.
You may also like the following events from Caffè Vivace - Cincinnati, OH:
Also check out other
Entertainment events in Cincinnati,
Music events in Cincinnati,
Arts events in Cincinnati.
