Lisa Simone, born Lisa Celeste Stroud on September 12, 1962, is the daughter of the legendary Nina Simone—born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933—who is widely regarded as a groundbreaking pianist, singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Nina Simone’s music spanned classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop, blending expressive jazz-like singing with piano playing strongly influenced by baroque and classical traditions, particularly the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Nina Simone had initially aspired to become a concert pianist. Supported by a local fund in her hometown, she attended Allen High School for Girls and spent a summer at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, preparing to apply for a scholarship at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She ultimately failed to gain admission to Curtis—a setback she attributed to racism—though the institute later awarded her an honorary degree shortly before her death.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Lisa Simone has built her own distinguished career. She is celebrated not only for her jazz performances but also for her Broadway and off-Broadway work in productions such as Rent, The Lion King, Aida, and Les Misérables. Her theatrical debut came in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar as a Soul Sister, where she also understudied for Mary.
In 1996, she performed as a swing and female understudy in the original Broadway production of Rent, taking on lead roles including Mimi Marquez in the first national tour from November 1996 to April 1998. That same year, she performed in Disney’s Aida and The Lion King as Nala. Her performances earned nominations for both the Helen Hayes Award and the Jefferson Award.
This April, Lisa Simone’s journey takes her to Nigeria in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), a globally recognized month-long tribute to jazz as both a historic and living art form. From April 5 to 6, 2026, she will perform at Oti’s Jazz Bistro, located on Abimbola Awoniyi Close, Victoria Island, Lagos. The venue is known for its serene, slow-paced environment, making it the perfect setting for jazz lovers to experience Lisa Simone’s smooth, sophisticated performances this Easter.
The event promises a journey through jazz history, from the hot rhythms of New Orleans and the swinging streets of Chicago and Kansas City to the cool, sophisticated sounds of the West Coast. Each performance highlights the cultural roots and regional styles that have shaped jazz as a uniquely American art form while emphasizing its role as a dynamic, evolving conversation—a celebration of unity and creativity through music.
Lisa Simone will be joined by some of Nigeria’s most accomplished jazz musicians, including Philip Uzo, a MUSON-trained musician and teacher who will serve as the director of music for the show, enhancing the performances and overall jazz offerings over the two-day event.
Credit for organizing the event goes to Oti Bazunu, founder of the Lagos Jazz Series (LJS). Bazunu has spent decades promoting jazz in Nigeria, bringing international artists to perform while creating platforms for local musicians to gain global exposure. The Lagos Jazz Series, which ran for nine successful editions, introduced Lagosians to world-class jazz artists such as Marcus Miller, Hugh Masekela, Bob James, Mos Def, Fourplay, and Roy Hargrove, often transforming public spaces like Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island into relaxed havens for music lovers.
Bazunu has consistently used the series to bridge local and international talent, hosting masterclasses at MUSON Centre, Onikan, and helping Nigerian musicians such as trumpeter Etuk Ubong reach global audiences. Despite a pause due to funding challenges, he remains committed to elevating jazz in Lagos. With Oti’s Jazz Bistro, he seeks to revive the city’s jazz culture in an intimate setting, combining high-quality music, cultural appreciation, and meaningful community experiences.
Bazunu, a businessman and arts enthusiast, is also the force behind the “Bring Back the Music” (BBM) initiative, a long-standing CSR effort aimed at promoting the arts in Nigeria. For the Easter show, he is determined to showcase jazz once again and reassert Lagos’ place on the international jazz map.
“Lisa will be here. We are set to enliven Lagos with a different kind of energy,” Bazunu said. “I mean jazz, which is cooler and more relaxing. It will slow the pace of things in this environment. Lisa Simone is a world-class artist. It’s a rare opportunity for Lagos audiences. We don’t get artists like this often. We’re trying to use music to calm the tempo—the ‘ra ra ra’ of Lagos.”
The show also aims to highlight Oti’s Jazz Bistro as an exclusive hub for jazz, offering a space where Lagosians can unwind and reconnect with the art form. “Lagos is a very stressful city,” Bazunu noted. “Jazz will relax it a bit. Oti’s Place is bringing back the experience, and Lisa is ready to make this happen.”
On choosing Lisa Simone, Bazunu highlighted her deep artistic lineage and her own achievements. “Creativity runs in her blood,” he said, noting her connection to her mother, Nina Simone, often called the “Mother of Jazz,” as well as her remarkable contributions across the music world beyond jazz.
All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Beyond performance, Bazunu emphasizes jazz’s foundational role in shaping modern music. Referencing Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, he noted jazz’s deep imprint on Afrobeat and global sounds: “When you listen to Afrobeat, you feel the jazz. Fela started as a jazz artist before evolving his sound.”
This Easter, Lagosians have the rare opportunity to witness a musical legacy carried forward by Lisa Simone—celebrating creativity, cultural heritage, and the enduring, unifying power of jazz.