ABOUT
Kai Bleu
“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul” has been Kai’s motto through life ever since she can remember.
Born on the South Side of Chicago, Kai grew up surrounded by music and developed an early passion for dance. She began taking dance classes at the age of five. In high school, she attended The Chicago High School for the Arts, where she danced with a Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre Youth ensemble. There, she performed works such as Church of Nations, The Dance We Dance, and excerpts from Dougla, Nine.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kai turned her attention toward music and decided to learn an instrument. At 16, she began electric bass lessons, and a year later she transitioned to upright bass, immersing herself in jazz. In Chicago, she found mentors including Emma Dayhuff and Micah Collier, who guided her through the city’s vibrant jazz scene.
In 2023, Kai was accepted to the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University for both dance and jazz bass. Ultimately, she chose to pursue jazz bass in order to deepen her understanding of the art form.
Since attending Peabody, Kai has performed throughout the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area. In 2024, she participated in the Andie Musik Composers Forum, presenting a set of entirely original music. She has also had the opportunity to perform with Ernest Dawkins, Isaiah Collier, Brinae Ali, and many others.
PHOTO JOURNAl
.
