ASCENDANT

Since it’s start over 20 years ago, ASCENDANT has risen into a remarkable powerhouse band that continues to excite, uplift and inspire people all over the world. Kael Mboya started the band as a vehicle for his unique musical expression. Aleata Holloway (Bass/Vocals) and Michael Lockett (Vocals/Percussion) joined up at the beginning and added their incredible talents to the mix. They knew they had something special and brought their collective sound to many venues in the Midwest.

Over time, the band members have changed but always with incredible world class musicianship all around. The current roster includes Kael Mboya on Keys/Vocals, Michael Lockett on Vocals/Percussion, Renee Ruffin on Vocals, Curtis Kincaid on Guitars, Eric Johnson on Drums and Donica Lynn on Vocals.

Kael Mboya is an accomplished keyboard player and recording artist with over 30 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. 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).

Michael Lockett, a 30 year veteran of the music industry, 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. He joined the group Chi-ILL whom were later named Truce in 1991. They won various talent shows around Chicago and even traveled to the world famous Apollo Theater in New York City, winning that competition as well. Truce released the 1995 single, Pump It, with Strictly Rhythm Records, toured the U.S. opening for acts such as Roy Ayers and toured Italy.

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. Her reputation as a captivating and soulful performer has continued to grow through her excellent tenures with such Chicago legendary staples as Marvin Tate’s D-Settlement, Funkadesi and Bumpus to name a few.

Curtis Kincaid is an outstanding guitarist and producer. Originally from Mississippi, he and his family moved to Chicago when he was very young. He picked up the guitar as a teen and learned quickly, expanding his talents to many instruments and even into music production. 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 also opened for Brian McKnight, Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin.

Chicago native Eric Johnson has chops the whole way around: from African and Latin polyrhythms, to rock and r&b, to jazz, gospel and hip-hop, Eric’s power and finesse with all manifestations of the beat is exceptional. Whatever the source of Eric’s musical diversity, it has made him a much-in-demand participant in projects of multiple genres for a truly impressive array of artists, including Kanye West, Angie Stone, Dru Hill, Chingy, Pras (The Fugees), Jackie Dustin, The Pentecostals of Chicago Choir, The Turks & Caicos Mass Choir, Twinkie Clark, Sakura Nozaki, Martha Reeves, Shannon Harris, Glenn Underground, and The Arkansas Mass Choir. It’s a simple as this: Eric rages on the drums, and he breathes a fiercely dynamic fire into the rhythms of Tycoon Dog, Christina Gaudet, Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping Gospel Choir and Turbine. Eric has produced tracks for rap artist A.O.N., Lupe Fiasco, and Street Clergy, and has his own music production under his dj name, DJ MARBLL.

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.