Jubu Smith (San Jose Jazz SummerFest)

About

Raised in Oakland, California, guitarist Jubu Smith spent more than 25 years as lead guitarist for Maze featuring Frankie Beverly while also making his mark early on with Tony! Toni! Toné! His sound—warm, raw and spiritual—is rooted in the gospel church and polished on the world’s biggest stages. That foundation led to collaborations with a hall of fame roster: Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Toni Braxton and George Duke. As co-founding member of the acclaimed gospel group The Soul Seekers, Jubu earned a BET Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and received the Living Legend Award in 2023 in recognition of his influence and longstanding contributions to Black music, gospel and soul. He is also the founder of Legally Blynd, a dynamic group fusing funk, soul and quartet into high-energy, instrument-driven performances. In 2024, Jubu released his self-titled solo album on Little Village Foundation, produced by Charlie Hunter and featuring guest appearances by Eric Gales. It’s a raw, deeply personal project that marks a bold new chapter in his artistry.