Award-winning vocalist Kandace Springs will headline night two of the Women’s Jazz Festival at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on Monday, March 23.
Founded in 1992 by Harlem-based vocalist Melba Joyce, the Women’s Jazz Festival has, for more than three decades, celebrated the enduring contributions of Black women in jazz. The annual series brings together vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, and multidisciplinary artists in performances that reflect both tradition and innovation across generations.
Widely recognized as one of today’s leading voices in jazz and soul, acclaimed vocalist Kandace Springs will be joined by an all-female ensemble for a program honoring the lineage of women who have shaped the music. The evening will trace a musical arc from foundational figures such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, through artists including Nina Simone and Roberta Flack, to contemporary voices like Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.
Joining Springs are bassist and vocalist Caylen Bryant and drummer Camille Gainer, both longtime collaborators. Bryant, a Juilliard-trained musician and member of the Kandace Springs Trio since 2018, has performed internationally and recently made her Broadway debut in A Wonderful World, the Louis Armstrong musical. Gainer, a Queens native and veteran of the New York music scene, brings decades of experience across jazz, soul, R&B, pop, and hip hop, with credits including Roy Ayers, Roberta Flack, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill.
Born and raised in Nashville, Springs first rose to international prominence with her 2016 Blue Note debut Soul Eyes. She has since performed at major festivals including Newport, Monterey, and North Sea, appeared at Royal Albert Hall, and sold out Carnegie Hall in 2023. Known for her warm tone and stylistic range, Springs continues to bridge jazz, soul, and R&B with a voice grounded in tradition and unmistakably contemporary. Her latest album, Lady in Satin, celebrated the great Billie Holiday in collaboration with Portugal’s Orquestra Clássica de Espinho and received worldwide acclaim.