Soulful. Inspiring. Authentic. True. Just a few words that people use to describe them and their artistry, and yet ASCENDANT is…simply that…ascendant…rising above. From it’s start, ASCENDANT has been rising above… their fears, their obstacles and creating meaningful, soul-filled music in an era when such artistic statements just aren’t made but desperately needed. Take a listen to the soaring high notes and heartfelt harmonies. It’s there in every soul-drenched note; every colorful chord progression; every uplifting rhythm. ASCENDANT rises… and asks us all to join them in flight…
ASCENDANT is a state of mind; a state of being; an uplifting movement to rise above. It is a platform to express these ideas through the language of music. Through the band, ASCENDANT, the energy and expression is directly showcased and felt in performances and recordings. Within the structure of the music production and publishing company, Ascendant Music Inc., this expression is shared and utilized with other artists of similar purpose as well as other partnerships.
To that end, ASCENDANT has taken part in several causes that benefit the community at large:
- Give a Toy Spread Some Joy Benefit Concert
- Community Planning Leadership Summit for HIV Prevention – Hyatt Regency Chicago
- Amnesty International Benefit Concert – SouthGate House, Newport, KY
- Ascendant Food Drive for Chicago Food Depository in conjunction w/ Chicago Park District Concerts in the Park Series
- NAACP Chicago Southside Branch Fundraiser Concert – The Blacker The Berry
We are focused and driven to provide the world with the best of our talents and to uplift, enlighten and inspire the same in others.
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Kael Mboya (Keyboards/Vocals/Producer) is an accomplished keyboard player and recording artist with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. He has performed and toured the U.S. and abroad as Music Director or keyboardist with many artists throughout his career including Grammy winner Malik Yusef, rapper/producer Legendary Traxster and shared the stage with keyboardist extraordinaire George Duke. The band ASCENDANT was brought to life in 2000 as a vehicle for his unique musical expression. Always true to what the music is asking of him, Kael continues to share his musical and production talents with many established and upcoming indie artists through Ascendant Music Inc., which includes the band ASCENDANT as well as the publishing arm Ascendant Sounds (ASCAP).
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Michael Lockett (Vocals/Percussion) always had music as a part of his life. Both his parents were singers and while he was still young he began singing as well. As he got older and understood how much music influenced him, he chose to pursue it as a career. After bouncing around various vocal groups, he joined the group Chi-ILL who later became Truce. They won various talent shows around Chicago and even traveled to the Apollo Theater, winning that competition as well. They released the single, Pump It, with Strictly Rhythm Records, toured the U.S. opening for acts such as Roy Ayers and toured Italy.
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Curtis Kincaid (Guitars/Vocals) is originally from Mississippi. His family moved to Chicago when he was five years old. At 13, he began to play guitar, learning quickly and soon expanding his talents to play keyboards, bass, program drum machines and record music. While in college, he worked part-time at a recording studio and very quickly learned how to engineer and mix records. With determination and vision, he later completed and released two albums of original music from his own professional studio. Curtis has worked with producers such as Grammy nominated producer, The Legendary Traxster (Twista, Do Or Die, Mariah Carey) NO ID (Common, Jay-Z, Toni Braxton) and Grammy award winning producer Shekspere (TLC, Destiny’s Child, Boys 2 Men). He has composed commercial music for former President Bill Clinton, former US Ambassador Carol Mosely-Braun and other high profile politicians. He has opened for Brian McKnight, Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin. As he looks toward the future, he simply says, “It’s all about the music”.
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As a music industry veteran of more than 25 years, Kenery Kent Smith is part of a rich tradition of World Class Chicago bassists. His performance resume showcases the Chi-Town musical trademarks of extraordinary talent, and a versatility to work in any musical genre. Kenery’s experience includes performances with artists ranging from international Neo Soul recording artist Erykah Badu, to world renowned Jazz vocal siren Dee Alexander, to R&B/Soul diva Terisa Griffin. Kenery has provided low end grooves for Acid Jazz pioneers Liquid Soul, and he has laid down a funky groove or two behind world famous comedian Bernie Mac. He has toured extensively throughout Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg with the inspirational voices of Sue Conway and the Victory Singers, and with Pierre Walker & Project: Sanctified. Kenery has also performed with Gospel legend Kim Stratton, Grammy winning recording artist Darius Brooks, and has been fortunate to provide the low-end groove with many other prominent Gospel recording artists including Phil Tarver and Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. For 15 years Kenery was co-founder and bassist of Chicago’s very own Nu-Jazz legends Detour JazFunk, with whom he shares writing, arranging, and co-production credits on their debut CD entitled JazFunk.
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Renée Ruffin has been singing for her entire life – from childhood when she would entertain her family with impersonations of her favorite singers like Diana Ross, Dolly Parton and Cher to singing in church and school choirs as a youth to performing as a studio artist and in bands as a lead and backup singer. Her desire is to share her love of life and people through music, and to continue to grow her reputation as a dependable performer and seek ways to expand the use of her vocal talents, whether through sung or spoken recordings. She has performed and recorded with such Chicago legendary staples as Marvin Tate’s D-Settlement, Funkadesi and Bumpus to name a few.
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Donica Lynn began singing at age three with the Christian Tabernacle Church Baptist Youth Choir. As a member of S.T.O.P., a local R&B group, she signed her 1st recording contract at age 19 with Tommy Mottola, Columbia Records. She continued to perform as a studio session singer and much sought after theatre actress/vocalist then signed her 2nd recording contract with Ramsey Lewis (1997) and was featured on a remake of Portuguese Love by Teena Marie. She has toured with many established artists including Mariah Carey, Gladys Knight, Rahsaan Patterson and Amy Grant. When not touring the world in song, she can be found on Chicago regional stages working with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Paramount, ETA Creative Arts and Goodman Theatres among many others. Her role as Effie in the play “Dreamgirls” (Porchlight Music Theatre) won her the Equity Joseph Jefferson “Jeff” Award for Best Actress 2016.