Gabriel Royal at Kuumbwa Jazz Center

About

Gabriel Royal got his start as a busker on the New York City subway, but the Oklahoma-born, Brooklyn-based musician has emerged as trailblazing talent with inimitable style and enviable range. Known for his soaring vocals, hum-along melodies, and lush arrangements, Royal, a classically trained musician, is among a select number of artists combining cello and voice. “The cello is the most human of instruments,” says Royal. “And my music combines the expressive power of classical music with the lyricism of pop and singer-songwriter genres.” His latest album, Miss Once in A Blue Moon, is also a bold coming-out from an artist the Huffington Post once dubbed “Brooklyn’s best busker.” There are sweeping melodies, soulful ballads, and layered harmonies— plus, plenty of bright, toe-tapping numbers that you can’t help but sing along to.