The Orchestra and Afro Blue took the stage for a stirring performance of “Symphony No. 9, ‘From the New World,’ by Antonin Dvorak. The chorus sang three moving traditional Amercian spirituals. The audience raucously cheered for Afro Blue’s solo bow.

Other artists have been able ambassadors of D.C. jazz over the years, but the unique televisual atmosphere of 2011 – with its endless network sing-offs – allows Afro Blue to capture an especially large number of hearts and minds.

Afro Blue named “ 2011 Artist of the Year. “Between their crowd-pleasing Kennedy Center appearances, their triumphant work with Bobby McFerrin at the D.C. Jazz Festival and their elimination-cum-valedticion on NBC’s The Sing-Off, Afro Blue ran away with this title. The Howard University a cappella ensemble gave literal voice to jazz, Howard, and Washington on a national level. and did so beautifully.

…Afro Blue, Sing-Off season 3 champions in a nearby alternate universe. “I do love that they got their own feature with a guest artsit, because I’m pretty sure they made the top 3 on an Earth-Two where the judges don’t have to cave in to the producers’ fear of a second jazz-R&B group being forced on Sony. That’s right, I went there.