Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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Show 7pm | Doors 6pm
$29.35 to $35.65
GENERAL ADMISSION: $35.65
BABY GRAND MEMBER TICKETS: $29.35
BABY GRAND MEMBER TICKETS: $29.35
Craft cocktails and small plates begin at 6:00 pm.
Middle C Jazz has General Admission seating available on a first-come basis. We also offer preferred seating for our Baby Grand members.
For information regarding our Baby Grand Membership click here.
KENYA TEMPLETON
The 80s are back. Strong shoulder pads in tailored suits, neon colors, and acid wash denim are current fashion. From show-stopping polka dots to door knocker earrings, over the top florals and clashing brights, these are the ’80s-inspired trends the grandchildren of 80s kids are currently wearing. The one thing that never disappeared from the 80s is the music.
The 80s were a time when everyone listened to every kind of music from Bon Jovi and Christopher Cross to Tears for Fears and Earth Wind and Fire. Songstress Kenya Templeton was one of those 80s kids skating to these tunes every Saturday. For one night she will meld her early musical roots of the aforementioned groups and more with jazz for a nostalgic evening of the past meeting its future.
Charlotte, NC based singer Kenya Templeton brings to the stage an energized soul-revealing interactive musical experience. Her approach to music weaves scatting, animalistic sounds and soaring high notes to stir the attendees soul. If Ella Fitzgerald, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, and Rachelle Farrell had a niece, she would probably sing like Kenya Templeton.
Known for her “soul-revealing” and interactive performances, Kenya doesn’t just sing; she utilizes body percussion and intricate scatting to create an immersive, limitless experience. Whether she is “Ella-vating” a bebop segment or delivering a hauntingly pure rendition of a Negro spiritual, her voice remains distinct, powerful, and deeply conversational.
A staple of the Charlotte arts scene, Kenya has headlined major stages including the Harvey B. Gantt Center, the Levine Center for the Arts, and the McGlohon Theatre. Classical Voice of North Carolina praised her ability to sing “purely and sweetly” across diverse genres.
Well-recognized for her theatrical work with OnQ Productions and their annual “Soulful Noel”, Kenya’s talent has reached over a quarter-million viewers on The New York Times’ Facebook Live through collaborations with French producer Stan Courtois.
