Blessed with a fitting name—chosen by her jazz- loving, piano-playing grandmother—Jazzmeia Horn was born in Dallas in 1991 and grew up in a tightly knit, church-going family filled with musical talent. She attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, known for launching such musical greats as Roy Hargrove, Norah Jones, and Erykah Badu.

She then attended The New School in New York City. Ms. Horn steered herself toward mentors who would guide her passion for jazz, including Bobby McFerrin, Abbey Lincoln, and Betty Carter. Winner of the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, she was signed to Concord Records and released her debut album, A Social Call, to great critical acclaim, including a Grammy Award nomination.

In the years since Ms. Horn bowed with her first album, she’s been busy on the road, honing her vocal skills, writing songs with personal and social messages, and perfecting a fearless approach to improvisation and performance. She received her second Grammy nomination for Love and Liberation, a product of drive and deliberation filled with songs of daring musicality, emotional power, and relevant messages.

Ms. Horn’s first big-band recording effort, Dear Love, brims with the combination of her assured delivery and spoken-word segments, deft arrangements, and fiery musical ideas. Garnering praise from critics and fans alike, Dear Love was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

Photo: Jazzmeia Horn (c) Drew Bordeaux