One year after the passing of music legend Roy Ayers, we return to these photographs from one of his late concerts in Sofia in 2018.
Ayers’ vibraphone carried a warmth that defined generations of jazz-funk and soul. His music moved easily between groove and tenderness, and songs like Everybody Loves the Sunshine and Running Away became quiet anthems, sampled and rediscovered for decades.
Across a career spanning more than five decades, Ayers helped shape the language of jazz-funk, bridging jazz improvisation with soul, R&B, and the rhythms that later fed hip-hop and neo-soul. His sound travelled far beyond the stage, influencing generations of producers and musicians.
These photographs also capture the incredible musicians who shared the stage with him: keyboardist Everett Freeman Jr., bassist Trevor Allen and drummer Christopher De Carmine.
The series is our small tribute to an artist who made rooms glow with his personality and music – including one unforgettable night in Sofia.
photography: Sofia from Sofia
