"A heady blend of electric jazz fusion, atmospheric soundscapes, and hip-hop-informed rhythms.” - MATT COLLAR / ALLMUSIC

JoVia Armstrong is a Detroit-born percussionist, composer, sound artist, and educator. Her genre-blending work fuses experimental music, Black musical traditions, and immersive technology, creating transformative sonic experiences that take audiences into Afrofuturistic worlds. She was named 2014 Best Black Female Percussionist of the Year by the Black Women in Jazz Awards, became a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in 2015, and served on its executive board. Her extensive performance history includes collaborations with El DeBarge, Omar, Les Nubians, Res, Rahsaan Patterson, Joe Vasconcellos, Eric Roberson, Frank McComb, The Impressions, Isaiah Sharkey, and many others. As a bandleader, her project Eunoia Society explores immersive technology and therapeutic soundscapes, while her work with Detroit-based Musique Noire has garnered multiple Detroit Music Awards nominations.

A trailblazer in contemporary percussion, Armstrong performs on her signature hybrid cajón kit—an inventive fusion of the cajón’s earthy resonance with processed effects, cymbals, and a range of percussive textures. This innovative setup allows her to move effortlessly between acoustic warmth and expansive electronic soundscapes, creating a performance that’s both grounded in tradition and boldly forward-looking.

Winner of DownBeat 73rd Annual Critics Poll for Rising Star Percussionist of the Year (2025), Armstrong has become one of the most dynamic voices in modern jazz. Richmond audiences may remember her from a recent performance at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as part of Ezra Masch’s Volumes exhibit—but this Révéler date marks her first time presenting her original compositions as a new Richmond resident.

Armstrong will present a dynamic set from her acclaimed albums The Antidote Suite and Inception. Blending Afro-electronic soundscapes, jazz improvisation, and genre-fluid composition, her music has drawn comparisons to the visionary work of Herbie Hancock—melding groove, experimentation, and spiritual depth—inviting listeners into a deeply expressive and transformative experience.

She will be joined by an electrifying ensemble: guitarist Rinatt Montoya, bassist Joshua Shaw, and legendary flutist Nicole Mitchell, whose world-renowned artistry promises to elevate the afternoon into something unforgettable.

Armstrong is an endorsed artist with QSC, Sabian, Icon Pro Audio, and Gon Bops and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Virginia. Her music has been praised by The New York Times, DownBeat Magazine, JazzTimes, and more, with JazzTimes noting, “Comparisons to Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band from the 1970s are purposeful and warranted.”

With only 100 seats, shows at Révéler are intimate and immersive. A romantic venue with exquisite sound and dreamy vibes, Révéler offers a unique selection of cocktails, wines, beers, bubbles, and non-alcoholic beverages. Our kitchen delivers small plates crafted with care.

SHOW NOTES

LOCATION