Ulysses Owens Jr.

An award-winning drummer, bandleader, and educator, Ulysses Owens, Jr. is known for his vibrant style, rooted in the deeply soulful hard bop tradition. A graduate of the Juilliard School, where he also teaches, Owens first garnered acclaim playing on Grammy-winning albums by the Christian McBride Big Band and Kurt Elling. His own albums, beginning with 2012's Unanimous, reflect his love of the acoustic jazz tradition, mixing gospel, R&B, and swing. In 2019, he paid tribute to his vocal heroes Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln on Songs of Freedom, while 2021's Soul Conversations showcased his own big band. In 2024, he released A New Beat, which featured his Art Blakey-esque ensemble Generation Y. The group returned with 2026's Around the World with U.