Groove Gumbo

Formed in 1998, Groove Gumbo is a Washington D.C-based collective that supports emerging musicians, spoken word artists, dancers, painters, deejays, and emcees, and embraces all modes of neo-soul expression found in today’s hip-hop world. Groove Gumbo showcases the “unsigned” talent of musicians performing rock, hip-hop, funk, and soul, to gospel and jazz. Artists such as Jill Scott and Raheem DeVaughn have secured important recording contracts after appearing with Groove Gumbo. W.

Formed in 1998, Groove Gumbo is a Washington D.C-based collective that supports emerging musicians, spoken word artists, dancers, painters, deejays, and emcees, and embraces all modes of neo-soul expression found in today’s hip-hop world. Groove Gumbo showcases the “unsigned” talent of musicians performing rock, hip-hop, funk, and soul, to gospel and jazz. Artists such as Jill Scott and Raheem DeVaughn have secured important recording contracts after appearing with Groove Gumbo.

W. Ellington Felton grew up in Washington D.C. and studied at the Carnegie Mellon University Theater Conservatory. As an actor he has toured with the hip-hop play Rhyme Deferred, performed various film roles, appeared on D.C.’s Arena Stage, where he continues to perform and the Kennedy Center as part of Prelude etcetera. In 2000 he produced and released his first recording, Authorized Bootleg, and has since recorded an EP and the CD Art! Hurts. He addresses issues such as society, sexuality, religion, dreams, drugs, and love in his music.

Kokayi is a hip-hop artist and emcee who sings, plays piano and drums, writes poetry, and creates visual art. He has appeared on numerous BMG recordings with Steve Coleman and has performed in Washington D.C., New York, Atlanta, California, and in Europe with Steve Coleman and the Metrics on tour. For Kokayi, hip-hop is a way of life, and he has educated audiences about the culture and self-expression through workshops for the Washington Performing Arts Society, the NuYorican’s Poets’ Residency, the Stanford Jazz Workshop, and at George Mason University.

Ellisha “Teapot” McKinney, originally from Minnesota, studied jazz at Howard University, where she was a member of the renowned Howard University Gospel Choir and the Howard University Jazz Ensemble with whom she wrote, produced, and recorded. She also performed leading roles in Panama Limited Blues and Jelly’s Last Jam for Howard University. In addition to an active career as a background vocalist with artists including Karen Clark-Sheard, Shirley Ceasar, Bebe and Cece Winans, she leads the band Will Play for Food. Ms. McKinney is currently working on a new live CD project with Byron Cage.

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Watch Past Performances

10/25/03: Groove Gumbo

Groove Gumbo presents a performance featuring emerging talent from its collective of neo-soul, hip-hop, and spoken-word artists.

Groove Gumbo

Groove Gumbo presents a performance featuring emerging talent from its collective of neo-soul, hip-hop, and spoken-word artists.

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