Okorie opens the evening with his signature live-looping cello performance, building rich, orchestral soundscapes in real time. The solo set introduces the audience to his distinctive approach to transforming the cello into an immersive musical experience.

 

Movement II — OkCello and Khari Simmons with Band
The performance expands as Okorie and Khari come together with a full ensemble. Their collaboration creates a dynamic sound while building on the musical foundation established in the opening movement.

 

Movement III — Khari Simmons and JIVA
The evening closes with Khari Simmons and JIVA providing a high-energy finale designed to send the audience out on a high.

 

The three movements are structured to feel like one continuous, rising experience rather than three separate sets—moving from intimate and solo performances to collaboration, ensemble energy, and a celebratory finale.

 

Okorie "OkCello" Johnson is an Atlanta-based cellist, composer, looper, improviser, and storyteller who has been featured on the Tamron Hall Show, held a Kennedy Center Office Hours Artist Residency, presented at the Democratic Republic of Congo's 2022 Biennale, and co-composed and performed Liminal: An Atlanta Concerto with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. He has scored an Emmy award-winning documentary, Imperfect Alibi; composed the original score for American Voices Against Apartheid which premiered at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg before moving to the Kennedy Center; and scored a Suzi Bass Award-winning children's theatre production, Head to Toe, for Alliance Theatres’ Theater for the Very Young.

Okorie’s four studio albums Liminal, Resolve, Beacon, and his most recent, Funny How Things Work Out (2025), mark the milestones of an artist who never stopped pushing. From concert halls to corporate keynotes, his cello has taken him everywhere. So far in 2026, he has taken his show to the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska — headlining performing arts centers in Rolla, MO, Eugene, OR, Fairbanks and Anchorage, AK to enthusiastic full houses.

 

In the 90’s, Atlanta was a melting pot for soul music, house music DJ’s and an underground jazz scene. Khari Cabral Simmons stood at the point where they met, as an upcoming bassist and bandleader. He started playing bass for artists such as Bilal Sunni Ali (Sun Ra), Donnie (The Colored Section), Gaelle (Naked Music) and India Arie. After a few years of recording dance and soul music, Khari started looking to make his own vehicle for upbeat soulful music. It was then that he created JIVA. They would go on to play around Atlanta, performing alongside artists like Roy Ayers and Incognito.

 

When India Arie got signed to Motown Records she asked Khari to become her touring bassist. He spent years touring the world with her. Together they performed on The Tonight Show, The Late Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Grammys, Saturday Night Live and more. After his success as a Grammy Award winning bassist, Khari was courted by several record labels and JIVA would go on to release 3 singles, an EP and full-length album, ”Sun & Moon,” with Giant Step. During Covid Khari began writing the next JIVA album. The result was the Khari Cabral & JIVA album, “5.” Many Atlanta vocalists are on the album including Cleveland Jones, Brenda Nicole Moorer, Lizz Wright, Artia Lockett and Lindsey Webster.