Afrobeats Jazz Saxophonist · Atlanta, GA
Shola
Emmanuel
A Nigerian Afrobeats Jazz saxophonist interpreting Jazz at the core of its actual provenance, Africa. Currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Available for live performances, bookings & music therapy.
The Artist
Where Africa Meets Jazz
Shola Emmanuel is a master of the curved soprano saxophone, known for a unique style that blends traditional African rhythms with Western jazz elements. As a founding member of the Atlanta Culture and Creativity Collective, he creates spaces for networking and emotional wellness among creatives.
From performing with the Immanuel Experience Ensemble to his acclaimed album "Kind of Music," Shola's artistry bridges continents and generations.
Discography
The Sound of Two Worlds
Afro-Jazz recordings that honor ancestral rhythms while pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz.
Kind of Music
Water Remix
Soprano Saxophone
Yoruba Project
Live & Studio
Cinematic Moments
Music Quotes
Saxophone Player For Hire
At Last Covers
Healing Through Sound
Music Therapy
Most people think music therapy is just listening to songs, but I actually engineer biological shifts for people who feel stuck in their own systems.
I use a three-layer framework to move you from noise to clarity. First, we use Sound Baths to clear the mental static and reset your executive focus. Then, we use Sound Healing to physically tune your nervous system, moving your body out of 'fight-or-flight' and into a state of resonance.
Finally, and this is where the real work happens; we use Active Music Therapy with instruments like the saxophone to physically rewire your brain's neural pathways. Whether you're a CEO battling burnout or a parent supporting a child with autism, I don't just help you 'feel' better; I install a new internal infrastructure that makes calm, focus, and emotional agency your default setting.
I'm curious — if you could 're-tune' one part of your daily performance or well-being right now, what would it be?
Book Shola Emmanuel
Bring the Rhythm
to Your Event
Available for live performances, private events, studio sessions, and music therapy consultations in the Atlanta area and beyond.
About the Artist
Shola Emmanuel ~ The Multiverse Saxophonist
A Nigerian Afrobeats Jazz saxophonist interpreting Jazz at the core of its actual provenance, Africa.
A Story Written in Sound
Shola Emmanuel is a Nigerian Afrobeats Jazz saxophonist and recording artist currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. His artistry defies simple categorization; he is a cultural bridge, channeling the ancestral rhythms of Nigeria through the sophisticated language of contemporary jazz.
Known for his mastery of the various saxophones, Shola's playing is immediately recognizable. His tone carries the warmth of West African sunsets and the precision of a classically trained musician. He primarily performs Afro-Jazz, combining the core sounds of Africa with contemporary jazz improvisation.
His 2020 album "Kind of Music" features 11 tracks that showcase his fusion style, with notable songs including "B.A (Blessed Assurance)", "Story Story (Rebirth Chant)", and "Soprano Saxophone" ~ the latter paying homage to iconic artists.
Beyond performing, Shola is a founding member of the Atlanta Culture and Creativity Collective, a space dedicated to networking and emotional wellness among creatives. He also offers Yoruba-rooted music therapy in Atlanta, bringing transformative healing experiences to individuals and groups.
Journey
The Rhythmic Continuum
Born in Nigeria, immersed in the rich tapestry of Yoruba music and West African rhythms from childhood.
Discovered the curved soprano saxophone, an instrument that would become his signature voice.
Released the acclaimed 11-track album fusing African roots with contemporary jazz improvisation.
Established base in Atlanta, Georgia; becoming a bridge between African musical heritage and the American jazz scene.
Co-founded the Atlanta Culture and Creativity Collective, fostering networking and emotional wellness among creatives.
Community
Atlanta Culture & Creativity Collective
As a founding member, Shola helps cultivate a space for networking and emotional wellness among creatives in the Atlanta area. The collective brings together musicians, artists, and healers to foster collaboration and growth.
Connect With SholaDiscography & Live Performances
Shola Emmanuel ~ Music & Videos
Explore the complete Afro-Jazz catalog, from studio recordings to live performances that capture the soul of Atlanta's foremost soprano saxophonist.
Albums & Singles
The Catalog
Kind of Music
11 tracks showcasing the fusion of African roots with contemporary jazz. Features B.A (Blessed Assurance) and Story Story (Rebirth Chant).
Water Remix (Fela Kuti Tribute)
A powerful tribute to the legendary Fela Kuti, reimagined through Shola's Afro-Jazz lens.
Soprano Saxophone
An homage to the greats, paying tribute to Fela Kuti and Bruno Mars through the voice of the soprano sax.
Yoruba Project
A deep dive into Yoruba musical traditions, interpreted through modern jazz arrangements.
Soprano Saxophone Medley
A virtuosic medley showcasing the full range and emotion of the soprano saxophone.
Kind of Highlife
A celebration of West African highlife music tradition through a contemporary jazz perspective.
Hire a Saxophonist for Your Event
Available for weddings, corporate events, concerts, and private parties in Atlanta and nationwide.
Performances
Video Collection
Hugh Masekela Cover
IFE Original Live Rehearsal
Redemption Song
The Chronicle
Blog ~ Afro-Jazz & Music Therapy Insights
Stories from the intersection of African heritage, jazz innovation, and the healing power of music.
Featured
The Healing Power of Afro-Jazz in Modern Atlanta
How the fusion of Yoruba rhythms and contemporary jazz is transforming wellness practices in Atlanta's creative community, and how you can experience it.
Published 2024
All Posts
More Stories
Understanding the Curved Soprano Saxophone: A Cultural Instrument
The curved soprano sax isn't just an instrument, it's a cultural bridge between African musical traditions and modern jazz expression. Hear it in action.
Inside the Atlanta Culture and Creativity Collective
A look inside Atlanta's groundbreaking creative community dedicated to networking and emotional wellness among artists. Shola's story.
Yoruba Roots: How Ancient Traditions Inform Modern Healing
Exploring the deep connections between Yoruba ceremonial music and contemporary therapeutic practice in Atlanta.
Ready to experience the healing power of Afro-Jazz firsthand?
Healing Through Sound
Music Therapy Atlanta — Yoruba-Rooted Healing
Yoruba-rooted, holistic music therapy in Atlanta — where ancestral wisdom meets contemporary healing.
Philosophy
The Healing Power of Afro-Jazz
In Yoruba tradition, music is not entertainment, it is medicine. The rhythms carry the wisdom of ancestors, the melodies speak to the spirit, and the vibrations of the saxophone resonate with the body's natural healing frequencies.
Shola Emmanuel brings this ancient understanding into a modern therapeutic framework. As a certified music therapist based in Atlanta, he combines traditional African musical healing with evidence-based therapeutic practices to create transformative experiences.
Whether you're seeking stress relief, emotional processing, spiritual connection, or simply a space to breathe — music therapy in Atlanta offers a path to wholeness that transcends words.
Services
How We Heal
Each session is uniquely crafted to meet you where you are on your wellness journey.
Individual Sessions
One-on-one therapeutic sessions using Yoruba-rooted musical techniques for emotional healing, stress relief, and personal growth.
Group Workshops
Community-centered group sessions that foster connection, creativity, and collective healing through shared musical experience.
Sound Healing
Immersive saxophone-based sound healing sessions that combine the resonance of African rhythms with meditative practices.
Holistic Wellness
Integrated wellness programs combining music therapy with mindfulness, movement, and cultural storytelling traditions.
Experience
Music Therapy in Action
Begin Your Journey
Ready to Heal?
Schedule a consultation to explore how Yoruba-rooted music therapy in Atlanta can support your wellness journey.
Visual Archive
Shola Emmanuel — The Gallery
Moments captured in the booth, on the stage, and in the sanctuary, a visual journey through the world of Atlanta's Afrobeats Jazz saxophonist.
Bookings & Inquiries
Hire Shola Emmanuel — Let's Connect
Book Atlanta's premier Afrobeats Jazz saxophonist for live performances, music therapy, studio sessions, and more.
Send a Message
Reach Out
Atlanta, Georgia
Available nationwide & internationally
- Live Performances & Concerts
- Private Events & Weddings
- Studio Sessions & Collaborations
- Music Therapy Consultations
- Workshops & Masterclasses