OBEAH YUTE

Mwanzi Harriott is a 23-year-old Jamaican-American musician from Atlanta, GA currently based in New York City. His musical journey began on the guitar at the age of 7 with his father teaching him the chords to Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". 

When Mwanzi was 11 he started playing the double bass in his middle school orchestra and jazz band which led him to Tri-Cities High School, an arts-focused magnet school. It was around this time  that he began to take his passion for jazz and black music in general more seriously. He started to develop skills on the piano and drums in addition to his primary instruments as well during this period. By the age of 16, he was already sharing stages with Atlanta music scene luminaries Russell Gunn and Kebbi Williams(Chris Dave, Tedeschi Trucks Band).

Mwanzi’s talents were recognized when he became a YoungArts finalist in 2018. After high school, he secured a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, He studied privately under accomplished mentors Tim Miller, Joanne Brackeen, Neal Smith, and Berta Rojas namely During his time there, he's had the privilege of performing with legends like Terri Lyne Carrington and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

After graduating, Mwanzi relocated to Brooklyn, where he now leads his own group, “Obeah Yute" and works as a sideman in several bands on the New York scene.