PAP World Music Series Presents : Hope Udobi

Meet us at Port-au-Prince – a crossroads for those who love Haiti, her culinary and artistic offerings, as well as the arts and culture beyond her shores. Indeed, we aim to be a true “port” where the world intentionally collides! Coming up in our music series, we present to you Hope Udobi.

Udobi is a Nigerian American pianist and composer whose ability and versatility has afforded him the opportunity to travel, playing music and dazzling audiences around the globe. Though born in Washington DC, he moved to Nigeria with his family at the early age of nine years old. There he gained an interest in the piano after he was gifted a toy keyboard by his mother for Christmas. 

By the age of 14 he returned to the US and began private classical training. Since then Udobi has won multiple prizes as a finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and has performed with numerous award winning artists across genres ranging from Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop such as Fred Hammond, Spencer Taylor and the Highway QC’s, Raul Mascarenhas, Bobby Watson, Naturally 7, Chuck Brown, Frederic Yonnet, Vivian Green, Angie Stone, Jeff Bradshaw, K.Michelle, Lalah Hathaway, Kindred and the Family Soul, Raheem DeVaughn, Talib Kweli, Dougie Fresh, Stalley and Common, Delfeayo Marsalis among many notable acts.

He has made many media appearances on NBC, NPR, CBS, FOX, ABC and has performed at some of the worlds legendary music venues such as Bohemian Caverns, Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Lincoln Theatre, 9:30 Club and The Fillmore. 

As a former member of DC’s own trendsetting band Black Alley he toured the US and Canada with the band gaining popularity and sharing the stage with famous artists such as Drake, Meek Mill, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Hiatus Kaiyote, Marsha Ambrosius, Chrisette Michelle, Elle Varner, Mack Wilds and Wale. He also recorded 2 albums with the band; Soul. Swagger. Rock. Sneakers and Black Alley: Live at the RNR Hotel. Their videos for their singles “Artist Prayer” and Bad Girl” have appeared on VH1 Soul and MTV Hive and they have been featured on various media publications such as Okayplayer, Washington Paper, Earmilk and The Washington Post. 

He was selected as an Artist in Residence with the Jazz At The Lincoln Center, to perform an 8 week residency at the luxurious St Regis hotel in Doha, Qatar. He is currently traveling the world performing music of many genres for audience all over, we are looking forward to his performance at PAP!