Grace Darko Quintet

Grace Darko Quintet
Burnside Stage Directions
Friday, September 5 |
8:30PM - 9:15PM

The Grace Darko Quintet blends jazz, soul, and hip hop in a dynamic, story-driven performance that honors Black musical traditions while imagining new possibilities. With rich instrumentation, original compositions, and reimagined classics, the set invites listeners into an intimate, high-energy experience that uplifts community, resistance, and joy. Anchored by Grace’s soaring vocals and Afro-diasporic perspective, the show closes the Burnside Stage with heart, groove, and a powerful call to come home to ourselves.

Grace Darko is a Bronx native and Providence-based vocalist whose sound blends jazz, soul, and diasporic rhythm with storytelling at its core. Rooted in her Ghanaian and Togolese heritage, Grace embraces the spirit of Sankofa—honoring the past to build the future—as she reimagines standards and originals with warmth, clarity, and emotional resonance. With a voice that bridges tradition and innovation, she invites listeners into spaces that are as intimate as they are expansive—where every note carries purpose and possibility.

Performers
Grace Darko (vocals); Matthew Kowalski (vibraphone); Jordan Bicki (guitar); Donnie Aikins (bass); James Friedman (drums); with featured artist Leland Baker (saxophone)

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