Listen to Jubilant Sykes

The American baritone Jubilant Sykes brings a new dimension to the traditional career of the classically trained singer by drawing on gospel and jazz influences to deliver performances in differing musical genres. With a voice hailed as “art at its highest expression,” you’ll enjoy Jubilant’s rich, colorful and dynamic program of songs as diverse as his incredible vocal range.

Join us as Jubilant returns to the Armstrong vocal series to present a soulful program of Latin American art songs and tributes to Paul Robeson and Nat King Cole.

 

PROGRAM

 

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child............. Traditional, arr. by Mark Rice
O Cacador...................................................Laurindo Almeida
La Rosa y el Sauce.........................................Carlos Gustavino
Boi- Bumba................................................. Valdemar Henrique
My God is so High..........................................Traditional, arr. by Mark Rice
Ol' Man River.............................................. Jerome Kern
I Bought Me a Cat..........................................Aaron Copland

Intermission

It Might as Well be Spring................................Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein
Cry Me a River............................................. Arthur Hamilton
But Not for Me.............................................George Gershwin
Straighten Up and Fly Right..............................Nat “King” Cole
WIth the Young Ambassadors
Yesterday ..................................................Lennon/McCartney, arr. by Mark Rice
Shenandoah .............................................. Traditional, arr. by Mark Rice
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand................ Traditional,arr. by Mark Rice

Program subject to change

Critical acclaim for Jubilant Sykes

“This US singer was pure genius, turning in a performance of astounding vocal power and spiritual strength” Australian

 

“... Sykes is authentically passionate and vocally enthralling, masterfully fusing his classical, jazz and gospel backgrounds ... a compelling ... power I’ve not heard elsewhere ...” Opera News


“Jubilant Sykes’ voice is extraordinary. He isn’t merely an outstanding singer, his voice is art at its highest expression.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Perhaps no vocalist of our time possesses a more exquisitely versatile instrument than the American baritone Jubilant Sykes. Mr. Sykes brings a new dimension to the traditional career of the classically trained vocalist by drawing on gospel and jazz influences to deliver performances in differing musical genre that often leaves audiences and critics searching for new superlatives. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was inspired to proclaim, “Jubilant Sykes’ voice is extraordinary. He isn’t merely an outstanding singer, his voice is art at its highest expression.”

Mr. Sykes was honored recently by the recording industry with a Grammy® nomination for “Best Classical Recording of 2010.” Mr. Sykes also has won the attention and respect of the world’s finest conductors, symphonies and opera companies. He has had the privilege of working with such notable conductors as Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Leonard Slatkin, Christoph Eschenbach, Andrew Litton, Marin Alsop, David Zinman, John Nelson, John Williams, Keith Lockhart and Marvin Hamlisch. He has been the featured soloist with many of the world’s finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and with the symphonies of Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, BC, and Asturias, Spain.

His unique gifts have taken him from such diverse stages as the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and London’s Barbican Centre to the Apollo Theater, Hollywood Bowl, New Orleans Jazz Festival and hundreds of other major venues around the world. His versatility has allowed him to collaborate with a number of leading artists from different musical styles such as the renowned operatic soprano Reneé Fleming in the Mozart Requiem, touring and singing with Julie Andrews, a Boston Pops televised special and tour, appearing as featured soloist on the televised tribute to Brian Wilson from Radio City Music Hall, and with Josh Groban and subsequently Carlos Santana at the Hollywood Bowl.

Jubilant Sykes Sings Copland and Spirituals with the London Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conducting, will be out later this year on Arioso Classics. This follows the release of Jubilation for EMI which combines Mr. Sykes with the legendary American classical guitarist, Christopher Parkening. This pairing has drawn such critical acclaim as “. . . the kind of concert a writer holds a few choice adjectives in special reserve for . . . two astonishing musicians.”

Mr. Sykes also has released two recordings for Sony BMG Masterworks. The first, Jubilant, brought the singer together with jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard. His crossover recording, Wait for Me, features classic songs by a number of popular composer/entertainers.

Jubilant Sykes resides in Southern California with his wife, Cecelia. They have three sons: Madison, Morgan and Micah.