Upendo means 'love' in Swahili; a concept that relates to the musical output of American trumpeter, composer and bandleader Brandon Woody and his band, described by the Washington Post as “radiant with warmth, purpose and a sense of connection with the environment”. This young rising star masterfully combines the love for his hometown of Baltimore with the spirit of gospel, and a message of “we will overcome”. These emotions emanate from every track, and form the basis for their material, which comes across when listening to the debut album For The Love Of It All, released on Blue Note in 2025. Woody and his musicians (Troy Long on keyboards, Quincy Phillips on drums, and Michael Saunders on bass) also bring a hard bop feel to their playing, which is full of soul, groove, and rooted in jazz history, but is also distinctly contemporary. Upendo aims to draw on the rich tradition of Black music, exploring themes such as love, resilience, and community.
