Early One Mornin'
Context
First single from Caged Bird, the first album by singer and composer Ekep Nkwelle, released on September 25, 2026 by Mack Avenue. The nine-song record is inspired by Maya Angelou's book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and follows a path from pain to inspiration. Nkwelle studied at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, with Cyrus Chestnut at Howard, then at Juilliard.
In the genealogy of jazz
This track belongs to Vocal jazz, scat, vocalese, Current scene (New York, Chicago, worldwide). Among the origins and influences of Vocal jazz, scat, vocalese: Classic blues (women singers), Swing, big bands, Bebop (Minton's, Monroe's).