A concert scheduled for Oct. 11 in London will include a new addition to The Blackbyrds, the jazz fusion group founded by Donald Byrd at Howard University. Dominique Toney, daughter of pianist and composer Kevin Toney, will be on the mic performing the group’s hits along with a few new songs.
The announcement about the younger Toney joining a few gigs was made during the 20th Anniversary DC Jazz Fest at a nostalgic concert honoring National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Donald Byrd and the elder Toney, who passed earlier this year.
Drummer Keith Killgo, one of two original members, said Dominique Toney singing with the Blackbyrds is a continuation of the yearlong 50th-anniversary celebration for the group. Before her father died, conversations began about him, Killgo and Joe Hall, another original member in D.C. coming together to do some things.
“Kevin and his family were on the West Coast. I suggested we join forces,” Killgo said about the discussions. “There was a piece of the band on the west coast, but most of the band was on the east coast and we were doing some pretty good things.”
Dominique Toney is a multi-talented artist. A graduate of the New York University Tisch School for the Arts, she is a singer, composer, actor and voice-over talent with chart-topping songs. She regularly performed a two-part show with her father, which means she has kind of been with The Blackbyrds all along.
“For many years, my dad was doing an electric/acoustic show. The first half was Donald Byrd’s music and the second half was The Blackbyrds’ songs,” she said. “When the announcement was made at DC JazzFest that I would begin singing with the group, I was surprised it was being told at that time.”
Following the upcoming London concert, The Blackbyrds 50th anniversary celebration continues with a concert on Oct. 26 at Bethesda Theater, in Bethesda, Maryland. Whether Dominique will be a part of that show is not confirmed at this writing.
New songs and arrangements from the group are also on the way.
For information about the show at Bethesda Theater, visit bethesdatheater.com.