Lift Every Voice
Lift Every Voice: A Singer Showcase will feature classic compositions that celebrate and reflect on the legacy of the African American civil rights movement. Lift Every Voice is a project designed to provide opportunities for members of the community to engage with professional singers and musicians in the exploration of Black/African American music.

The program, timed to honor the MLK, Jr. Bank Holiday on Monday January 20, will be directed by Dr. Dee Spencer and feature some of the Bay Area's leading vocalists. Each evening will feature the Dee Spencer Trio. Clairdee is the featured guest singer on Friday January 17 and Michelle Jacques is the guest on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19. Each evening will also feature a number of outstanding community singers.

Artist Biographies

Dee Spencer (Piano, Vocals)
Dee Spencer is an active performer, composer/arranger, and music director. She holds a B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M where she majored in oboe performance. Dee received an M.M. from Washington University in St. Louis and Ed.D from the University of San Francisco. Her composition “Sweet Emma B” was commissioned for the 11th JEN Annual Conference held in New Orleans, LA in 2020. Dee’s performance credits include Grammy-Award winner Ledisi, jazz legends John Handy, Regina Carter, Jimmy Scott, Louis Bellson and Clark Terry. Her solo piano recording “Tranquility” was released in 2018. Dee recently served as a panelist for the 2023 Grammy Educator of the Year Award. Her former students include recording artists/producers, Braxton Brothers, Beyonce’s music director, saxophonist Tia Fuller, and Lauren Hill’s music director, saxophonist Howard Wiley.

Clairdee (Guest Vocalist, Friday January 17)
Celebrated for her sophisticated and heartfelt interpretations, vocalist Clairdee brings a unique blend of elegance and warmth to the stage. Rooted in the rich tradition of jazz, she draws inspiration from iconic figures such as Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae, yet her style remains distinctly her own. Her career highlights include collaborations with renowned musicians like Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Russell Malone, and Ken Peplowski, and performances at prestigious venues such as Dizzy's NYC and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Clairdee's voice is characterized by its velvety timbre and dynamic range, allowing her to convey a wide spectrum of emotions with grace and authenticity. Beyond her captivating performances, she is also a dedicated educator, passionate about preserving the legacy of jazz and mentoring the next generation of musicians.
"In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance." —JazzTimes

Michelle Jacques (Guest Vocalist, Saturday-Sunday, January 18-19)
Michelle Jacques is the Artistic Director/founder of the CHELLE! and Friends New Orleans big band and CHELLE’S Juke Joint Acappella Ensemble, director of the Daughters of the Delta Project, former Vice President, Secretary and current Governor of The Recording Academy's Governor's Board since 2015, and also served on the board of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Michelle has also performed with many well-known artists including: Wynton Marsalis, Linda Hopkins, Ladysmith Black Mambaza, Pete Seger, The Persuasions, Al Green and Manhattan Transfer. Notable Festival appearances include Montreux, Gurten, Berne, Festijazz and the UN Conference of Human Rights, Geneva. She was also a founding member of Street Sounds acappella quintet and an original member of Linda Tillery’s Cultural Heritage Choir.

Jewell McMillon (Bass)
Jewell is a bassist, music artist and mathematician from the Bay Area who has been a member of the musician and artist community in the Bay for the last five years. She is heavily influenced by all styles of Black American Music and her peers in the community. She’s recently had the pleasure of being a member of bands that played at the 2023 Black Joy Parade, The Chapel, and California Academy of Sciences and is excited about continuing to share community and music with the Bay Area and beyond.

Jayla Hernandez (Drums)
Jayla is a drummer, student and jazz enthusiast, who embodies the sound of West Oakland soul infused with the energy of young artists just like herself. Jayla Graduated from Oakland School from the Arts in 2020 and is currently pursuing her BM in Jazz Studies at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Jayla has had the pleasure of working with various artist through the years and plans to continue that journey while playing and exploring the world of Black Music.