In 2010, I was introduced to Meghan Stabile, founder of Revive Music by my friend Von Harris. Its goal was to promote musicians who pushed the boundaries of the definition of jazz to include other genres of music.
While photographing his events, I met and was exposed to an incredibly talented group of musicians who were actively seeking to expand their musical repertoire. And my closeness to them led to requests to photograph their promotional material as well as recording sessions.
It was a joy to witness the rise of these amazing humans. Here are some images I’ve made over the years.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Keyon Harrold performs a trumpet solo as Keith Loftis, tenor sax, and Stafford Hunter, trombone, approve with a ‘stinking face’, for The Baylor Project’s 2017 album ‘The Journey’, at Systems Two Recording studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2014.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Dezron Douglas plays bass, for The Baylor Project album “The Journey”, 2017, at Systems Two Recording studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2014.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Marcus Baylor, watches the recording of The Baylor Project’s 2020 album ‘Generations’ at Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2018.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Producer Derrick Hodge talks to powerhouse Kendrick Scott for the album ‘Conviction’, 2013, at Berklee NYC (formerly Avatar Studios), 2011.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Mark Guiliana gets the vibes right before the session, for the album Family First, 2015, at Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, 2015. Unlike other musicians, I met Mark while randomly attending a show at Rockwood Music Hall in 2013 and I have eagerly followed his career ever since. Besides being a Grammy-nominated artist for his own work, he was also the drummer for Bowie’s latest album, “Blackstar.”
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Shedrick Mitchell, co-arranger, organ, for Baylor Project’s 2020 album ‘Generations’, at Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2020. Aside from his stellar Wurlitzer, piano and organ, Shedrick has literally been featured in almost all session recordings that I somehow photographed as an arranger.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Keyon Harrold rehearses accompanied by a poem by Quincy Troupe in Brooklyn, NY, 2016. They would continue recording a few minutes later. Quincy Troupe is an American poet, journalist, professor and biographer of Miles Davis.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Jean Baylor digs into what Jazzmeia Horn brings to the track, for the Baylor Project album “Generations”, 2020, at Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2020.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Grégoire Maret, harmonica, at Atomic Studios, Brooklyn, NY, 2017.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Shai Maestro, piano and Chris Morrissey, bass, hangout at the recording of the album Family First, 2015, at Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2015.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Etienne Charles conducts while playing, for the album “Carnival, The Sound of A People, Vol.1.”, at Sear Sound, NYC. Etienne often weaves elements of Caribbean music into his sound.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Joe Sanders records bass, at Systems Two Recording Studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2014.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Marcus Baylor of The Baylor Project plays drums for The Baylor Project’s 2017 album “The Journey” at Systems Two Recording studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2014.
/ Deneka Peniston
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Deneka Peniston
Justin Brown, drums, rest and recharge at Systems Two Recording studio, Brooklyn, NY, 2014.
For episodes featuring these artists and more, visit Jazz night in America.
The Baylor Project
Cleon Harrold
Dezron Douglas
Marc Guiliana
Horn Jazzmeia
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