Rising Jazz Star Ekep Nkwelle Shines In Mondavi Center Performance

By Williamena Kwapo | OBSERVER Staff WriterEkep Nkwelle, a Cameroonian American jazz vocalist, captivated audiences as the soloist during the annual Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s Big Band Holidays concert at the Mondavi Center on Dec. 3.Under the musical direction of Chris Crenshaw, who brought his own lively charisma to the event, the night became a beautiful celebration of jazz and holiday traditions.Now in its 12th season, Big Band Holidays is a beloved holiday concert series, and for Nkwelle, this performance brought to life one of her biggest career aspirations.Years before she ever thought it could be a reality, she remembers a conversation with a friend where she expressed her hopes of one day performing with the iconic orchestra.“I said ‘I want to do Big Band Holidays with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis,’” Nkwelle recalled. “So when I got that call, it felt like something I was able to manifest.” This call didn’t just reflect her words but also a professional journey she had been on since adolescence.Born and raised in Washington, D.C., to Cameroonian parents, Nkwelle’s introduction to jazz came from her father, a drummer who exposed her to a rich variety of jazz music....