The Black Nile, a musical duo formed by Inglewood brothers Lawrence and Aaron Shaw, are preparing to play their biggest hometown show yet when they open for Erykah Badu at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday. The high-profile booking arrives on the heels of their latest album, “Indigo Garden,” an immersive project shaped by a residency at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) and close collaborations with prominent contemporary visual artists.
Did You Know?
The brothers’ connection to Erykah Badu was established through L.A. artist Lauren Halsey, who previously featured their song “Second Serving” and brought them in to do musical activations for her “Sister Dreamer” architectural designs in South Los Angeles.
How Mass MoCA and Visual Art Shaped “Indigo Garden”
The path to the Hollywood Bowl for Black Nile is deeply rooted in the intersection of visual arts and music. While recording “Indigo Garden,” the brothers drew heavy inspiration from a residency at MASS MoCA, where they were surrounded entirely by other creatives. According to Lawrence Shaw, the environment brought them right back to their childhoods spent in various art and jazz camps. “The experience is elevated when you attach visuals to music and audio to visuals,” Lawrence explains.
For Aaron Shaw, a specific encounter during the residency left a lasting impression on how the duo approaches live performances. Seeing an exhibition by James Terrell helped him understand how crucial lighting is for supporting music and uplifting a story in intimate live settings. This multidisciplinary ethos culminated in “Indigo Garden,” which fuses immersive visuals, lighting, and jazz into a single, living installation featuring artwork designed by artist Charles Gaines.
Collaborating with Charles Gaines at the Hollywood Bowl
At Tuesday’s performance, Black Nile’s role extends beyond an opening act. The duo will perform as part of the musical collective serving as the backing band for 82-year-old artist Charles Gaines. Gaines is a longtime mentor to Lauren Halsey and designed the cover artwork for the brothers’ album.
Harlan Steinberger, label head at Mass MoCA Records, notes that while multiple factors converged to land them the gig—including their prior relationship with Halsey—the opportunity is no accident. The brothers have maintained a steady presence in Los Angeles’s art community, building a track record of live musical activations that align with major architectural and visual art installations across the city.
Expert Insight:
The trajectory of Black Nile demonstrates how contemporary jazz musicians increasingly use cross-disciplinary partnerships with the visual arts world to scale traditional venue limits. By embedding themselves in architectural installations and museum residencies, independent artists can bypass conventional commercial bottlenecks and secure premier stages like the Hollywood Bowl through institutional and artistic alliances.
Navigating Los Angeles Jazz History and the Post-COVID Resurgence
While the Shaw brothers acknowledge a post-COVID resurgence of jazz in Los Angeles, they emphasize that the genre’s local roots run deep. Aaron Shaw rejects Hollywood tropes portraying the city’s jazz scene as merely laid back. Instead, he points to the serious, studious history tied to Jefferson High School, Central Avenue Jazz, the Dunbar Hotel, and the historic jazz strips displaced by the 110 freeway.
Bridging generations remains central to the duo’s mission. Rooted in the jazz legacies of Central Avenue and Compton, the brothers use platforms like TikTok and club culture to translate that history for a younger, post-COVID audience. “Dare I say TikTok is saving jazz,” Aaron Shaw notes.
How Black Nile connected with Erykah Badu and inspired Indigo Garden
How did Black Nile connect with Erykah Badu?
The duo was introduced to Badu through Los Angeles artist Lauren Halsey, who had previously collaborated with the brothers on musical activations for her “Sister Dreamer” architectural designs.
What inspired the album “Indigo Garden”?
The album was inspired by an artist residency the Shaw brothers completed at MASS MoCA in Massachusetts, as well as lighting exhibits by James Terrell and artistic collaborations with Lauren Halsey and Charles Gaines.
What role do the brothers play at the Hollywood Bowl show?
In addition to opening for Erykah Badu on Tuesday, Black Nile will perform as part of the musical collective serving as the backing band for artist Charles Gaines.
What are your thoughts on how visual art and live music intersect in modern jazz performances?
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