Derrick Hodge at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at The Pagoda

Making a triumphant return to San Jose after two celebrated Winter Fest sets as part of Grammy® winning group the Robert Glasper Experiment, Derrick Hodge takes the stage at Summer Fest this time as bandleader. With Summer Fest coinciding with the release of his Blue Note debut, Live Today, we continue our efforts to present jazz’s most celebrated current innovators with his appearances on the Jazz Beyond and Blackbird Tavern stages.

Growing up right outside Philadelphia, Hodge started playing electric bass in his elementary school orchestra. On the suggestion of his high school band teacher, he continued his formal jazz education at Temple University, which Hodge describes as the “beginning of my jazz journey.”...

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Making a triumphant return to San Jose after two celebrated Winter Fest sets as part of Grammy® winning group the Robert Glasper Experiment, Derrick Hodge takes the stage at Summer Fest this time as bandleader. With Summer Fest coinciding with the release of his Blue Note debut, Live Today, we continue our efforts to present jazz’s most celebrated current innovators with his appearances on the Jazz Beyond and Blackbird Tavern stages.

Growing up right outside Philadelphia, Hodge started playing electric bass in his elementary school orchestra. On the suggestion of his high school band teacher, he continued his formal jazz education at Temple University, which Hodge describes as the “beginning of my jazz journey.”

While at Temple, Hodge played with such Philly greats as tenor saxophonist Bootsie Barnes and trumpeter Terrell Stafford. He also gained significant session work with some of Philly’s finest R&B talent, among them Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild and Floetry.

Similar to how Glasper concocts a distinctive mélange of modern jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, Hodge’s debut Live Today integrates those genres and more into something that’s potent and personal. However, it is no Experiment offshoot. Live Today culminates all of Hodge’s experiences working with various jazz and R&B artists, resulting in music that’s at once adventurous yet accessible – as well as extremely personal.

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