THEO CROKER PREMIERES NEW TRACK “THE MESSENGER (FEAT. ELEW)”

"'The Messenger' is a testament to Croker’s firm standing within the realm of jazz and shows that his upcoming album will undoubtedly be one to remember." – EARMILK

Trumpeter, producer, arranger, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist THEO CROKER today debuts “The Messenger,” the newest track off his forthcoming full-length album, Star People Nation (Masterworks), due out later this year. Featuring jazz pianist ELEW, “The Messenger” pairs a smoky blues piano with a traditional swing rhythm, locking into the pocket and showcasing Croker’s musical mastery – listen here. The track has already garnered critical acclaim, with EARMILK calling it "a testament to Croker’s firm standing within the realm of jazz and shows that his upcoming album will undoubtedly be one to remember."

The follow-up to January’s release of Star People Nation lead track “Subconscious Flirtations and Titillations,” “The Messenger” is yet another example of the versatility explored throughout the entirety of Croker’s forthcoming album. Star People Nation is the musician’s most personal project yet, something Croker describes as an intimate exploration of “the everyday rituals of blackness.” A translation of his personal, spiritual and creative experience, Star People Nation is a self-reflective collection of provocative, powerfully passionate and boundary-busting compositions that speak to our greater, shared human existence.

As the grandson of the late venerable trumpeter Doc Cheatham, and former student of legendary jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, trumpeter, composer, bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Theo Croker naturally follows an internal need to compose. Learning to play the trumpet at age 11 after hearing Cheatham play in New York City, by his teens Croker was studying music formally at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville followed by the Music Conservatory at Oberlin College. Launching his career with seven years spent in Shanghai, Croker first introduced his singular style in 2014 on the Dee Dee Bridgewater-assisted AfroPhysicist. His 2016 follow-up, Escape Velocity, marked a watershed moment for the artist, with the Wall Street Journal extolling the album as “timeless and of-the-moment.” Croker has also lent his talents to the world of hip hop, with rap superstar J. Cole’s platinum-certified No. 1 opus 4 Your Eyez Only, with Croker acting as trumpet arranger and performer on multiple tracks. GRAMMY® Award-winning rapper Common also sought out Croker for his critically-acclaimed album Black America Again.

2019 THEO CROKER – STAR PEOPLE NATION TOUR DATES

Tue, March 5 | Clermont-Ferrand, France | La Cooperative de Mai

Fri, March 8 | Faches-Thumesnil, France | Centre Musical Les Arcades

Sat, March 9 | Minden, Germany | Jazz Club Minden

Mon, March 11 | Berlin, Germany | Gretchen

Wed, March 13 | Vienna, Austria | Porgy & Bess

Thu, March 14 | Clermont-Ferrand, France | La Cooperative de Mai

Fri, March 15 | Friedrichshafen, Germany | Kulturufer Friedrichshafen

Sat, March 16 | Brno, Czech Republic | Jazz Fest Brno

Wed, March 20 | Paris, France | New Morning

Fri, March 22 | Caen, France | Théâtre

Sun, March 24 | St. Moritz, Switzerland | Festival De Jazz St. Moritz (Pre-Show)

Thu, May 9 | Norfolk, VA | Virginia Arts Festival

Fri, May 10 | Germantown, MD | BlackRock Center for the Arts

Sat, May 11 | Washington, D.C. | The Arc

Weds, May 22 - Sun, May 26 | San Francisco, CA | Black Cat

Thu, June 13 - Sun, June 16 | New York, NY | Jazz Standard