Tyreek McDole: Jazz's Rising Voice on "Open Up Your Senses" and SFJAZZ Shows

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Haitian American jazz vocalist Tyreek McDole to discuss his meteoric rise in the jazz world, his chart-topping debut album, and his philosophy that music is a tool for healing and collective dreaming. In This Episode: • Early Recognition: How winning the Outstanding Vocalist Award from Wynton Marsalis at age 18 and the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition launched Tyreek's career • "Open Up Your Senses": The story behind his 2025 debut album that hit #1 on JazzWeek and earned four stars from DownBeat Magazine • Music as Healing: Tyreek shares how "The Sun Song" transformed his own life and why he's committed to singing it for the rest of his career • Bridging Traditions: How Tyreek connects Louis Armstrong's romantic tradition with avant-garde influences like Pharaoh Sanders and Nicholas Payton • The Power of Listening: Why opening up our senses—especially in today's turbulent times—is more important than ever • Multi-Generational Collaboration: Working with jazz legends like Kenny Barron, Rodney Whitaker, and Sullivan Fortner alongside rising stars • Live at SFJAZZ: What to expect from his intimate performances at the Joe Henderson Lab with his touring quintet • What's Next: A sneak peek at his sophomore album and upcoming world tour Featured Tracks:"The Sun Song""Won't You Open Up Your Senses" (title track)Catch Tyreek McDole Live:SFJAZZ Center's Joe Henderson LabFebruary 12-13, 2025Two shows nightly: 7:00 PM & 8:30 PMTickets: sfjazz.org