A Night of Soulful Jazz: Julius Rodriguez and Band Captivate the Crowd at Atlanta’s Center Stage

Written and Captured By | Aleni Barkley

The vinyl looked like a mixer as attendees grabbed drinks and mingled. There was a diverse crowd. There wasn’t an opening act, but the house played soothing classics such as Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg’s “Never Leave Me Alone” and AfroBeats sensation “Love Me JeJe” by Tems.  The vibe was very comfortable and laid back as the lights were low and smooth jazz was coming through the speakers. I could spot a few loners who were having a drink while scrolling on their phones, and there were fans making their way to the tour merchandise table.  

While waiting for the band to take the stage, there were a few fans who spotted Julius Rodriguez making his way backstage, and the cheers were loud. Composer Julius Rodriguez took the stage along with trumpeter Alonzo Ryan, guitarist Phillip Norris and percussionist Brian Richburg. The bar suddenly became empty as everyone made their way to the front. Eyes and ears were open and ready to experience the soul stirring sounds from the band.  

See more photos of Julius Rodriguez HERE

The first composition performed was “Chemical X” written by Julius Rodriguez himself. They started with a bang as percussionist Brian Richburg performed an insane drum solo. Alonzo Ryan held his horn sky high and blasted high melodies thru the speakers. Julius Rodriguez addressed the crowd between songs and told them that they’d get a taste of what was recorded on the CDs they had for sale at the merch table. Fans were being very generous with the views and were giving others the opportunity to go to the front.

There were people recording with their phones from front to back. The security guards were just as engaged as the fans. I couldn’t stop my feet from tapping or my head from nodding. Julius Rodriguez was in complete control as his fingers glided up and down the keys. Sometimes the compositions would come to an abrupt pause, and the audience would guess whether to clap or not. The band often tricked the audience before executing perfect continuation of their set.