Samora Pinderhughes is a composer, pianist, vocalist, filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist known for examining sociopolitical issues and fighting for change through his art. Lauded as “…one of the most affecting singer songwriters today, in any genre.” by The New York Times and “a magical being” by Forbes, Samora is shaping new worlds through his art, his honesty, and his vulnerability.

Mara Hruby doesn’t just play music—she lives it. Since the onset of her career, the Oakland, CA native has poured her soul into her velvet confections, drawing inspiration from lessons that she’s gleaned in her personal life and funneling them into rich, organic compositions.

With influences such as Julie London and Patsy Cline to The Moonglows, Curtis Mayfield and Brook Benton, singer/songwriter Mara Hruby personifies the sound and soul of an alternative jazz legend. Her debut EP released in 2010 conceptually titled From Her Eyes featured Ms. Hruby soulfully covering classics originally performed by men. Marking over 80K+ downloads the project propelled Ms. Hruby into her own lane, scoring thousands of loyal fans and supporters. She followed up her debut EP with her next project, Archaic Rapture in 2014 and received a nod of approval from Billboard with a premiere the first single “Cry Me A River” in a live studio session performance. NPR Music featured “In the Wee Small Hours” in the “Songs We Love” staff list in 2016. Within the first week of its release Archaic Rapture reached the
coveted #1 spot on iTunes Jazz charts.

A captivating performer, Ms. Hruby has notably sold out shows at Yoshi’s Oakland and Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC. She has also performed in venues stretching from Philadelphia, DC, to 75th Annual Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco, Grammy Weekend in Los Angeles, the 28th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival and The Clift Hotel’s Centennial Celebration in San Francisco.

Widely known for her acclaimed 13 year singing career, Mara Hruby is also a vinyl aficionado, collector and thus all vinyl DJ. She learned her way around selecting and playing wax poetics by reading the moods and energy present around her as a child. Within only 2 years of building her professional DJ presence, she has already graced Bar Shiru in Oakland as a featured selector sponsored by SFJAZZ, is a monthly regular at Taco’s Oscar in Oakland and is the only woman resident DJ at Victory Hall’s curated “Jazzish” event every Wednesday in San Francisco. She is often approached by people proclaiming how her unique musical taste makes them feel right at home. Ms. Hruby’s extensive record collection ranges from early jazz, to folk, prog rock, all the way to soul, reggae, and hip hop.

You will come to understand, quickly, that Ms. Hruby exudes pure creative power and sentimental care through her body of work.

“Mara Hruby is bridging the gap between cabaret-era jazz-pop and and alternative soul.” – NBC Bay Area

“…she enchantingly (and with ease) recalls raw emotions back to you, paralleling Norah Jones and Amel Larrieux.” – Vibe Vixen

“Buoyed by a set of breathy, ethereal cover songs that place tunes ranging from Mos Def to Bob Marley in alternative contexts…” – Washington Post

“…her effortless sound evokes a nostalgia for the sounds of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.” – Huffington Post

Karega Bailey is an angel parent, a social-emotional healing practitioner and an award winning educator, recording artist, and lead vocalist of SOL Development. He is a nationally renowned Peace Advocate and the Founding Dean of Culture of Roses in Concrete Community School, a K-8 social justice performing arts school in Oakland, California. In addition to his work in education, he is the author of SOL Affirmations and he is a co-founder and lead facilitator for BE-Imaginative, a transformative safe space lead by a collective of artists and activists dedicated to disrupting gun violence and healing Black and Brown communities through innovative multidimensional storytelling. Evidence of his work, of which has received national acclaim, can be found in the Emmy award-winning film Dear Beloved: Music & Storytelling with SOL Development & BE-IMAGINATIVE. Karega Bailey is also the cohost of the AMBIE nominated podcast SOL Affirmations with Karega and Felicia on the Black Love Podcast Network.