Another great musical event at Beyu Caffe – the Al Strong Quintet featuring vocalist, Mavis ‘SWAN’ Poole, and drummer, Jeremy ‘BEAN’ Clemons.

Al Strong is a Washington, D.C. native trumpeter, arranger, and composer. Since he first emerged on the scene in 1998 as a jazz studies major at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), Strong has been an emerging artist in jazz. He has been described as being “among those leading Durham jazz into a resurgence.” (The Independent – Sylvia Pfeiffenberger). He is an integral figure in the current local jazz scene having performed/recorded for local artists such as Phonte Coleman, Mavis Swan Poole, Yahzarah, Peter Lamb and the Wolves (Voted 2011 Best Jazz Band in the Triangle), Clay Aiken, Big Daddy Kane, Orquesta Gardel, The Beast, and Zakiyah. He is also a founder of the non-profit jazz advocacy organization, The Art of Cool Project.

Strong is a current associate professor at Saint Augustine College as well as an adjunct professor at the widely acclaimed North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Jazz Studies program and Shaw University. He is an alumnus of NCCU and he considers his academic experience at NCCU under the direction of Dr. Ira Wiggins to be one of the most positive forces on his career today. Strong also has attained a Masters in Jazz Performance from Northern Illinois.

Guests Appearances:

Drawn from all experiences, adult and childhood, St. Louis native Jeremy ‘BEAN’ Clemons and North Carolinas finest, Mavis ‘SWAN’ Poole have created Soul Understated.  Soul Understated can be described as more of a musical “mother ship” than a band. The influences on their music are overwhelming and pleasurable all at once. Grabbing elements from all styles of music and bridging them under one roof is not an easy task but they have a strong grip on it. It is believed this is the true concept of

Soul music: Things internal generated to produce external beauty.