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School of The Getdown Youth Arts Camp
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Faye Carol - Vocals, Executive Director
The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol is known as an icon in the Bay Area and beyond, highly regarded for her powerful voice, astonishing versatility, and gift of connecting with her audience. Equally at home in jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, funk, latin, and hip-hop, she has developed her own authentic sound and unique delivery, delighting audiences young and old across the globe. After beginning her career with gospel music, Faye Carol made her name singing with Oakland blues and funk legend Johnny Talbot & De Thangs before forming her own trio and gaining fame in San Francisco's jazz, blues, & cabaret clubs of the 1970s and 80s. Over a 60-year career in music, this living legend has developed her own unique acoustic sound and style in Black Music - drawing from funk, blues, gospel, and straight ahead swingin' - and cultivated an audience that remains as diverse as her uplifting music. She has maintained a high level of musicianship in her groups, mentoring some of the Bay Area's brightest young talent including pianist Benny Green, bassist Marcus Shelby, and her daughter, pianist/composer Kito Kamili. Her vocal proteges include international superstars Kehlani and Ledisi.
Miss Faye has shared the stage with Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Pharaoh Sanders, Joan Baez, Billy Higgins, Albert King, Bobby Hutcherson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Buster Williams, Azar Lawrence, Steve Turre, Dennis Chambers, Bernard Purdie, Lenny White, Roy McCurdy, Sun Ra, Robert Randolph, Mistah F.A.B., Henry Butler, Gary Bartz, Cedar Walton, Ledisi, Philly Joe Jones, Dorothy Donegan, Pete Escovedo, David Murray, Chester Thompson, Charles Brown, and Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, among others. Miss Faye is also a dedicated educator and founder of School of the Getdown. She has been honored with the proclamation of a city-wide “Faye Carol Day” in the City of Berkeley (2018) and "Faye Carol Day" in the City of Oakland (2024), as well as induction into the Oakland Walk of Fame, the Meridian Mississippi Walk of Fame, and the Pittsburg Entertainment and Arts Hall of Fame. Additionally, she has received countless awards including the 2014 Bay Area Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero Award, Jefferson Award for Public Service, four Cabaret Gold Awards, Top Star Awards Entertainer of the Year, the Hewlett 50 Arts Commission, the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation Creative Power Award, and a 2026 Black Joy Parade Icons Among Us Award.
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Miss Faye has taught for over three decades at programs and schools including Jazz Camp West, Jam Camp West, East Bay Institute for Urban Arts, Berkeley Black Repertory Theater, Restorative Justice For Oakland Youth, Blues in the Schools, Oakland School for the Arts, and her own Music in the Community and School of The Getdown programs. Additionally, she has been a guest clinician at countless schools and educational programs including Young Musicians Choral Orchestra, Elevate Oakland, the Jazzschool, College of Alameda, and Eastside Arts Alliance.
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Professor Kee - Rap​
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Pianist, vocalist, composer, songwriter, producer, and music teacher with over 30 years of professional experience. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, performances include local, national, and international venues.
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I am a teaching artist who enjoys teaching music to all age groups, specializing in improvisation and original music. I've successfully instructed students in private lessons, various schools, & group workshops in many different settings. I've developed a style of teaching that recognizes each student's individual way of learning while supporting the expression of their unique voice.
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I'm from the school of jazz being handed down from generation to generation in the tradition of the innovators. My informal musical education began in the womb, as my mother Faye Carol was a professional vocalist. Her career continued after my birth, providing a special musical environment for me to grow up in. My formal musical education began at the age of 3, with my father James Gamble teaching me piano & music theory.
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At age 16, I became the pianist & Musical Director for The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol, gaining invaluable experience that also included the business of music. I continued my studies at UC Berkeley in the Young Musician’s Program, Laney College, and the California Institute of the Arts.
David Jackson - Gospel Choir​​​
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David Jackson is one of the most renowned musicians to emerge from Oakland. Born and raised in Oakland, CA, David started off playing drums and keyboards at Acts Full Gospel Church where his father, Bishop Bob Jackson, is pastor. From there, he learned and grew in his God-given gifts and talents, writing and recording his own music and building a professional career of over 20 years in gospel, R&B and pop music.
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Just before graduating high school, he began a professional career playing keyboards with Grammy Award winning gospel duo Mary Mary. He has now established himself as a world-class musician with decades of experience as a touring and recording artist with artists including Judith McAllister, Jonathan McReynolds, Lalah Hathaway, Tye Tribbett, Lena Byrd-Miles, Goapele, Rickey Minor and Jennifer Hudson.
David was also recognized with a winner certificate from the Recording Academy for an engineering credit on PJ Morton’s Grammy-winning gospel album.
Virginia Jourdan - Visual Art
I enjoyed art as a child and continued pursuing my passion and developing my talents through college. I attended the University of Washington where I honed my skills in painting, then went on to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where I received my BFA in Illustration. I moved to New York and worked as a freelance Illustrator for commercial jobs before returning to the Bay Area where I began focusing on fine art to allow for more creative freedom. I am also an art educator.
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I continued developing my talents studying abroad, attending painting workshops in Italy and China. My artwork has been featured at exhibitions across the country and includes several commissioned portraits.
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I recently illustrated my first children’s book, Granny, Who is God? written by Carmen Bogan.
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My art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.
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My inspiration comes from my life experiences as an African American woman living in America and my desire to live in peace and harmony.
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I have two styles, which include realism and abstract modernism. Sometimes I use both styles in one painting or just one style. Stenciled hearts and foliage is a motif I frequently employ as well as a dove. These elements suggest peace, love and happiness.
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My career highlights include:
Art education project for 10,000 3rd & 4th graders conducted by Alameda Education Foundation 2020
San Francisco Tara Street Community Garden, Organizer/Desinger/Artist 2013
The Art of Living Black Award 2010
Richmond Art Center Members Award 2009
Children's book illustrations published 2014
Richmond, CA General Plan illustrations published 2008
Pacific Telesis Rincon Annex painting commission 1998
Black Elegance Magazine illustrations published 1989
African National Congress calendar published 1987
Juan Escovedo - Percussion
At a young age, Juan Escovedo began teaching himself how to play bongos, congas, trap drums, timbales, percussion, and other instruments. When he turned 14 he began playing with his father, Pete Escovedo. Since then, Juan has been undeniably a musician of complexity, style, and originality. His artistic achievements flow from his rich musical heritage and compassion for his art form. Juan Escovedo tours, writes, and records as a solo artist and with his family – father, Pete Escovedo, brother Peter Michael, and sister, Sheila E. They have a CD titled “The E-Family,” which is quickly rising the charts. Juan co-wrote and produced three of their new songs. The CD features Josh Stone, Gloria Estefan, Earth, Wind & Fire.
Juan has toured, performed, and recorded with many artists, including Prince, Tony Toni Tone, Miguel, El Chicano, Con Funk Shun, Patti LaBelle, Amerie, Chingy, Jody Watley, Lou Bega, MC Hammer, Lionel Richie, En Vogue, El DeBarge, Freddie Hubbard, Barry White, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Teri Lynn Carrington, Bobby McFerrin, Tito Puente, Cheryl Lynn, Raphael Saadiq, Andy Vargas, Carlos Santana, Tierra, Bobby Womack, his sister Sheila E., and, still, his father, Pete Escovedo.
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Juan tours writes, and records as a solo artist and with his father’s Latin Jazz Orchestra and The E Family: his father, his brother, Peter Michael Escovedo, and his sister Sheila E. Produced and arranged by Peter Michael Escovedo, The E Family’s latest CD, Rhythm of the Night, is a collection of nine “Old School” Soul & R&B hits, re-arranged and transformed into an explosion of Latin Jazz articulated through a fourteen-piece Latin Jazz Orchestra. The album features guest vocalists Peter Michael, Simon Russel, Sy Smith, Sheila E., Peter Michael, Debi, and Escovedo’s great-grandchildren.
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Sister Linda - Dance​
Sister Linda Faye Johnson is an artist, wisdom keeper, healer, educator, mentor, dancer, mother, grandmother and esteemed elder, and choreographer rooted in West African traditions.
Since 1981, Sister Linda has been a creative arts teacher and healer in Bay Area schools, colleges, group homes, community centers, churches, jails or any place in need of healing. She has taught at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, East Oakland Youth Development Center, Black Repertory Theater, and East Bay Church of Religious Science. She continues to cultivate the hearts and minds of our future generations.
Sister Linda is also the Founder & Director of Umoja House homeschool in Oakland. Umoja house has been educating children in Oakland for over 3 decades. At Umoja house children are provided with an education that fosters, exploration, creativity, expression and culture and community.
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Joe Warner - Accompanist, Program Producer
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Pianist Joe Warner is setting the Bay Area jazz scene on fire. Known for his captivating style and electrifying performances, he's worked as pianist and musical director for legendary vocalist The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol for over 12 years and leads the charge with his own Joe Warner Trio while sharing stages and studios with icons like Houston Person, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Mary Stallings, Buster Williams, Billy Hart, Azar Lawrence, and Gary Bartz. Warner’s deep groove and versatility have also led him to work with not just jazz royalty but heavyweights like Mistah F.A.B., Bernard Purdie, and Robert Randolph. Whether it’s classic jazz or genre-bending collaborations, Warner’s got the keys to the future.
He has also performed or recorded with Dayna Stephens, John Handy, John Santos, Steve Turre, Herlin Riley, Nasheet Waits, Kenny Washington, Tarus Mateen, Marcus Shelby Orchestra, Johnny Talbot, Stephanie Crawford, Elena Pinderhughes, Craig Handy, Greg Hutchinson, Roy McCurdy, Marvin 'Smitty' Smith, Eric Wyatt, Lenny White, Casey Benjamin, Dennis Chambers, The California Honeydrops, Rico Jones, Sylvia Cuenca, Willie Jones III, Jules Broussard, Freddie Hughes, Derick Hughes, Martin Luther, Oakland Symphony, Rickey Woodard, Valerie Troutt, and Denise Perrier, among others.