As a pianist, M.C., composer, and producer, Oakland’s Kev Choice is more than an artist with a distinctive vision embracing hip-hop, jazz, R&B, soul, and European classical music. He’s an activist and community leader whose music poses tough questions and suggests celebratory answers. After establishing himself touring and recording with stars such as Lauryn Hill, Ledisi, Lyrics Born, Too $hort, and Michael Franti and Spearhead, Choice settled back in the East Bay, where he’s become a creative force. He kicks off the 2021 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Thursday concert series with an all-star ensemble that includes some of the key collaborators on his 2020 album Social Distancing, a project created and released in the first weeks of pandemic-induced sheltering in place. He’s also joined by special guest vocalist Viveca Hawkins and his Black London bandmates Howard Wiley (tenor saxophone) and Mike Blankenship (keyboards).

Kev Choice is a 2020 YBG Festival Commissions artist.