Baylor Project makes West Coast debut
The husband and wife team of vocalist-songwriter Jean Baylor and drummer-producer Marcus Baylor provided one of the most heartening jazz stories of 2017. Steeped in gospel and soul, the Baylor Project released a captivating self-produced debut album, “The Journey” (Be A Light Records), that earned considerable praise and two dark-horse Grammy Award nominations.
The Baylor Project makes its West Coast debut with a series of shows anchored by a Sept. 22 performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Featuring pianist Terry Brewer, bassist Richie Goods and saxophonist Keith Loftis, the band opens the Bay Area run Wednesday at Yoshi’s, and concludes Sept. 23 at Stanford’s Bing Studio.
The Baylors share many musical influences, but their deepest connection runs through their upbringing in church as the children of pastors. She grew up singing in her father’s Baptist congregation in New Jersey, while he grew up Pentecostal in St. Louis. “Jean’s services lasted two hours,” he says with a chuckle. “We were there all day. We both love jazz, R&B and soul, but we don’t see music as genres. It’s all a sound born in African-American culture.”
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday; Yoshi’s, Oakland; $22$49; 510-238-9200, www.yoshis.com; 7 p.m. Sept. 23; Bing Studio, Stanford University; $35; 650-724-2464, live.stanford.edu/ticket-information.