For years, Tivon Pennicott has been transporting audiences to a higher level of consciousness. On his latest album release Roots to Branches, Pennicott lets the Spirit lead as he acknowledges the foundation and strength of his Jamaican heritage, accompanied by a forward gall. Some highlighted compositions demonstrate his vocal debut, particularly on Tell Me Again (Dox Records, 2022), Celery Juice (Dox Records, 2024), Fermented Grapes (Dox Records 2024) and more, as well as maintaining fiery performances of Tour Life (Dox Records, 2023), and the title track Roots to Branches (Dox Records 2024), just to name a few. This album has his versatility and renewed authenticity as an artist on full display.
A Georgia native residing in New York City, the highly sought saxophone player, composer and vocalist is a key contributor to three GRAMMY Award winning albums, appearing on Esperanza Spalding’s disruptive recording Radio Music Society (Heads Up International, 2012), and Gregory Porter’s Liquid Spirit (Blue Note, 2013) and Take Me to the Alley (Blue Note, 2017). On screen, Pennicott appeared regularly on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” as a member of the Stay Human Band with Jon Batiste before recording on his records Chronology of a dream: Live At The Village Vanguard (Verve, 2019) & Anatomy of Angels (Verve, 2019) Live At The Village Vanguard. His evolving sound is the result of a soulful, sophisticated foundation for groove he honed in the church, and a penchant for unbound harmonic exploration.
Pennicott has toured and collaborated with such visionaries as Roy Hargrove and his RH Factor project and Kenny Burrell with his Jazz Heritage All Stars. After having recorded with Kenny Burrell for his 2010 release Be Yourself on High Note Records, Pennicott continues to enjoy a decade- long association with the prolific guitarist and his group. Meanwhile, touring the world with Gregory Porter, Pennicott has performed at iconic venues, including The Royal Albert Hall in London, the Berliner Philharmonie in Germany and Carnegie Hall in New York, to name a few.
Pennicott earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. There he was able to garner strong intentions with receptive impulses which allow Pennicott to serve every situation—from Ari Hoenig’s rhythmic labyrinths to the most soulful gatherings of Gregory Porter.
While he has played an elemental role in advancing and transforming sounds of many innovative artists, Pennicott’s work as a leader is only beginning. In 2014, Pennicott released his debut recording Lover of Nature on New Phrase Records, a project that features equally curious musical minds: Mike Battaglia, Spencer Murphy and Kenneth Salters. And with communion and healing in mind, Pennicott’s sophomore record Spirit Garden (self released 2020) featured a 26 piece string orchestra alongside several combinations of a chord-less quartet. This was an audacious endeavor, delightfully composing, orchestrating, and performing on his own musical canvas- certainly a consistent theme of nature and joy all throughout Pennicott’s music.