Name: Ranzel Merritt
Start: 2026-01-13T19:30:00-08:00
End: 2026-01-13T20:45:00-08:00
Location: Yoshi's Oakland -Jack London square

BAY AREA NEW JAZZ ERA SERIES 1: THE BIRTH OF A NEW BREED.
Step into the sonic universe of Ranzel Merritt, a visionary at the forefront of the new-school jazz and cultural music movement. Where vintage jazz fusion meets modern swagger, Ranzel blends hip hop, jazz, and funk into a sound both timeless and fresh, ushering in the Bay Area’s New Jazz Era.
A gifted saxophonist, composer, and smooth-as-silk vocalist, Ranzel is the embodiment of sophisticated funk. His music bridges generations, weaving old-school grooves with new-school edge, creating a vibe that’s as cerebral as it is soulful.
Presented by Kim Pruitt of KP Entertainment Connections and Mark Elliott of the A-List Musiq Circle. Hosted by Ebony Bloom of Queen Vantage Podcast.
Ranzel Merritt is a gifted and versatile musician whose artistry spans jazz, R&B, hip hop, soul, and beyond. A dynamic live saxophonist, vocalist, and composer, Ranzel has built a reputation for his rich tone, technical mastery, and improvisational brilliance, captivating audiences from coast to coast. A proud alum of renowned institutions, including the Oakland School for the Arts, San Francisco State University (Full Scholarship), Berklee College of Music Performance Program, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and The California Jazz Conservatory, Ranzel's formal training is as impressive as his natural talent. Along the way, he has studied and performed with some of the most celebrated names in music, including Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Bennie Maupin, Frank Foster, Ndugu Chancler, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, D’Wayne Wiggins, Raphael Saadiq, Patrice Rushen, Solange, Los Rakas, and Kehlani.
As an original member of the group Poplyfe, Ranzel earned national attention when the band placed 4th on NBC's America's Got Talent in 201. His career has since taken him on tour with Grammy-winning artists Solange Knowles and Macy Gray as part of David Murray's Big Band, performing at iconic venues such as The Howard Theater in Washington D.C. and The Iridium in Times Square, New York - with live performances broadcast on NBC.
Ranzel has worked with rising and established artists across the U. S., including producers from NYU 's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and continues to grow his audience as an independent artist, maintaining full creative control and ownership of his original works.
Beyond the stage, he's also committed to community impact through his own nonprofit called Coding Music and entrepreneurial innovation with a growing cybersecurity tech startup. Whether headlining, collaborating, or composing, Ranzel Merritt brings passion, polish, and purpose to every performance - making him a standout choice for bookings in any setting, from intimate venues to large stages.