Jayden Richardson is a singular creative force whose artistry bridges worlds: jazz and gospel, stage and screen, tradition and experimentation. A drummer of rare intuition, a composer of deep narrative vision, and an educator rooted in cultural purpose, Jayden has swiftly emerged as one of the most compelling young voices in contemporary music. His work traverses mediums and modes of expression, alwaysin pursuit of redefining the artistic aesthetic of Black American Music, reflecting both his experiences and the influences of his generation.

 

Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Jayden grew up in a musical family and was shaped by the spirit of Black musical traditions. His work draws from an expansive palette, including jazz, gospel, hip-hop, dance, and film, drawing on each to build a language that is both personal and expansive. A graduate of DePaul University and former student at Florida State University, he has trained with some of the world’s most revered artists, including Marcus Roberts, Gregory Hutchinson, Nate Smith, Jason Moran, Rodney Whitaker, Marc Cary, Jimmy Greene, Herlin Riley, Dana Hall, and Monty Alexander.

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As a performer, Jayden has appeared at esteemed venues and festivals worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Harris Theatre, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Le Duc des Lombards in Paris. His festival credits include the Atlanta, Detroit, and Chicago Jazz Festivals, among others. He has shared the stage with some of the defining voices in modern music, including Marcus Roberts, Rufus Reid, Isaiah Collier, Etienne Charles, and Steve Wilson, bringing a strong creative voice and a deep sense of musical purpose to every collaboration.

 

In addition to his work as a performer, Jayden has made his mark as a composer for film, with original scores that have earned top honors, including multiple Best Score awards at Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival and Florida State University Film Festival. His work as a composer for film is poignant due to his ability to translate emotional nuance and narrative depth into musical form, often blending acoustic and electronic textures to reflect the complexity of contemporary life.

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Jayden Richardson is also a dedicated bandleader and recording artist, having released two albums with his genre-bending group, Voodis. His interdisciplinary projects often bridge music, movement, and narrative. He has served as music director for several original productions by Chicago Tap Theatre, helping to shape boundary-pushing collaborations between live music and dance.

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As an educator, Jayden is committed to the next generation, serving on faculty at youth jazz programs across the Southeast and leading citywide music education initiatives in Chicago through clinic-based outreach. Dance companies, fashion designers, and cultural institutions alike have commissioned works from him, all reflecting his rare ability to connect story, sound, and community into unified works of art.

 

In every setting, Jayden brings clarity, conviction, and a boundless curiosity. Whether it be on the bandstand, on the screen, or in the classroom, he continues to shape the future of music with vision, integrity, and fire.