The New York-based drummer/composer has been an emerging talent on the scene in recent years. With the release of The Journey, his 2018 debut recording produced by master drummer and mentor Michael Carvin, Beck pays homage to the classic straight-ahead style of jazz while infusing elements of his African roots and gospel upbringing. Honing his craft on the stage with the likes of pianists Cyrus Chestnut and Mulgrew Miller, bassists Rufus Reid and Charles Fambrough, saxophonists Oliver Lake and David Murray, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, guitarist Mark Whitfield and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the Philadelphia native plays with true emotion, sensitivity and power. And his compositional skills place him in rare company among drummers. This gentle giant is all in for the music and he understands how music can affect people. “We need honesty and love, that’s what the world needs,” he says. “And that’s what I’m here to do. I’m just here to share what God has blessed me with and give it to the world.” With interpretations of Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti” and Eric Clapton’s “Tears In Heaven,” interspersed with several potent originals, Beck makes a strong case for wider recognition with The Journey. (Photo by Gulnara Khamatova)