Sequoia Snyder continues to enjoy her breakout year with new single, jazz festivals in DC and Detroit on back-to-back days
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WASHINGTON – Virtually everyone can relate to being by themself in a crowd. That sense of solitude hit Sequoia “REDWOOD” Snyder during one of her frequent solo trips for a gig. While sitting at an airport gate a few years ago, Sequoia wrote “SOLUS,” a Latin word that means “alone” and is often used in stage directions.
She’ll release “SOLUS” on Friday, Aug. 21, during a stretch when crowds around her get larger. As a 2026 Next Jazz Legacy awardee, Sequoia will play at the D.C. Jazz Festival on Sept. 5, before headlining at the Detroit Jazz Festival the next day. A couple weeks later, Sequoia will play in Los Angeles during the 2026 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert for one of her mentors, Patrice Rushen.
The success being enjoyed this year has carried over from last year, when Sequoia was bandleader for shows at the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center. Growing exposure led to her earning the NJL award (founded by NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington). Sequoia will promote “SOLUS” and other songs on an upcoming project during a multi-state tour later this fall.
A gifted pianist and composer who’s noted for her individuality and style, she blends contemporary jazz vibes with assorted Black music genres. She has performed with esteemed musicians such as Rodney Whitaker, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Barron, Cory Henry, and even popular R&B band The Internet. “When I can’t do a gig, I always recommend Sequoia,” says mentor Jason Moran, Artistic Director of Jazz at the Kennedy Center.
Before studying jazz, she was heavily influenced by gospel, R&B, hip-hop, funk, soul and pop music while growing up. Her eclectic tastes led her to arrange and perform DMX’s “Who We Be,” a 2025 single. “I wrote it for a Black History Month recital,” she says. “I like the melody and the rawness that he communicates about the tough parts of the Black experience.”
Her latest single explores the intricacies of being unaccompanied in crowds, using a smooth, odd-timed vamp and high-octane swing. The song expresses the complex, dual emotions of seclusion. Considering the pace of her burgeoning musical career, Sequoia gladly makes space for alone time.
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Click here to preview “SOLUS.” Contact Deron Snyder to book Sequoia or arrange an interview.
Follow @redwoodsounds on social media for upcoming performances and other news.
