vocalist Charenée Wade presents the music of Gil Scott-Heron

Charenée Wade was the first artist ever to enter two Thelonious Monk Vocal competitions, she walked away from the second one in 2010 with instant buzz and second place to her new friend Cecilé McLorin Salvant.

Known for expert vocal improvisational ability and her seriously swinging groove, Charenée Wade evokes a classic jazz sound akin to Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan.

Her album Offering: The Music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, she pays tribute to another inspiration, the socially conscious poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron, and confirms that she too plans to use her artist platform thoughtfully.