Jazz Power Initiative’s 2025 Community Artist-In-Residence Charenee Wade is an award winning singer, bandleader, recording artist and educator from New York City. Known for expert vocal improvisational ability and her seriously swinging groove, Wade evokes a classic jazz sound akin to Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, two of her musical touchstones.
The entire jazz industry has passionately embraced Wade including Wynton Marsalis, who features her regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC); Christian McBride, who mentored her at his Jazz Aspen Academy; and label mate Rufus Reid, who selected her for his Grammy-nominated album, Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project.
Wade has performed with Bobby Sanabria, Aaron Diehl, Oran Etkin, Robert Glasper and MacArthur Fellow and choreographers Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Kyle Abraham at venues and festivals worldwide including Montreux, Bard and Spoleto.
Ms. Wade also toured Guatemala with the Eli Yamin Blues Band as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. Department of State and helped launch Jazz Power Initiative’s vocal training program in 2014. More…
