Comedienne K-Mack
Since 2010, K-Mack, the "Comedienne with the Big Heart who gets the Big Laughs," has delighted audiences nationwide with her refreshing and clean comedy. As co-founder of Jazz & Jokes International alongside her husband, composer and jazz musician Richard Hill Jr., she proudly represents Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware.
K-Mack's impressive accolades include a 2024 Kingdom Image Award nomination for "Comedienne of the Year," a 2nd place win in the 2023 Sinbad Southern California Inspirational Comedy Competition, and the coveted "Comedienne of the Year" title from Church Stars in 2019.
Her extensive performance experience spans opening for music legends Kirk Whalum & Bebe Winans on Royal Caribbean's 2023 Capital Jazz Festival "SUPERCRUISE," sharing the stage with acclaimed comedians such as KevOnStage in Columbus, OH, and Small Fire in Buffalo, NY. K-Mack has also opened for Michael Colyar at prestigious venues including the Comedy Loft in Washington D.C., The MET Theatre, and Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia.
Bassist Richard Hill Jr.
Richard Hill, Jr., a 2024 Delaware Division of the Arts Established Jazz Composition Fellow, has been deeply involved in making music since his high school days. A Philadelphia native, he grew up with his parents and younger sister in that city’s vibrant jazz milieu, and in 2014 his exceptional bass playing garnered him an award from Philly’s legendary home of jazz greats, the Clef Club.
Hill’s very busy career has included performances with national and international jazz legends like Betty Carter, Bobby Zankel, Sumi Tonooka, Wynton Marsalis, Bilal, Nicholas Payton, and even the United States Army Band. He has also recorded with Javon Jackson and Jill Scott, among others, and was a resident composing artist at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
In 2022 Hill married the love of his life, Comedienne K-Mack, and relocated to Wilmington, DE. Since arriving in the First State, as he did in Philadelphia, he has avidly immersed himself in the jazz scene, collaborating with Delaware artists like Gerald Chavis, Tony Smith, and Fostina Dixon (also a Division Award winner). He is currently the Minister of Music at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Newark, DE under the leadership of Pastor Dontel Hawes.
Hill’s current – and most personal – project is the dance of diversity, a suite that employs the “rhythms of the various micro communities in Wilmington.” Quoting the great Charlie Parker, Hill feels that “now is the time” for it. He’s also immensely serious about passing on the jazz tradition, working to guide and inspire the next generation of young musicians. One of his great rewards is “seeing my past students becoming the light.”
One of Hill’s early influences was the great 20th century giant Billy Strayhorn, “whose use of melodies really touches your soul.” And one of his first professional jobs as a musician was connecting with the music of another great – he worked at Philadelphia’s Annenberg Theatre in a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, a musical based on the life and music of Fats Waller.
He feels strongly that jazz allows you to “be in the moment. In our digital world, we forget about the importance of the ‘now’.” Hill also enjoys listening to gospel music and putting together Comedy and Jazz concerts with his wife “that anyone at any age can enjoy.” During the pandemic, as Hill worked to help a brick-and-mortar school “navigate to a virtual model,” he felt fortunate to be able to communicate directly with artists worldwide – from Africa, Europe, and South America.
Since 2010, K-Mack, the "Comedienne with the Big Heart who gets the Big Laughs," has delighted audiences nationwide with her refreshing and clean comedy. As co-founder of Jazz & Jokes International alongside her husband, composer and jazz musician Richard Hill Jr., she proudly represents Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware.
K-Mack's impressive accolades include a 2024 Kingdom Image Award nomination for "Comedienne of the Year," a 2nd place win in the 2023 Sinbad Southern California Inspirational Comedy Competition, and the coveted "Comedienne of the Year" title from Church Stars in 2019.
Her extensive performance experience spans opening for music legends Kirk Whalum & Bebe Winans on Royal Caribbean's 2023 Capital Jazz Festival "SUPERCRUISE," sharing the stage with acclaimed comedians such as KevOnStage in Columbus, OH, and Small Fire in Buffalo, NY. K-Mack has also opened for Michael Colyar at prestigious venues including the Comedy Loft in Washington D.C., The MET Theatre, and Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia.
Bassist Richard Hill Jr.
Richard Hill, Jr., a 2024 Delaware Division of the Arts Established Jazz Composition Fellow, has been deeply involved in making music since his high school days. A Philadelphia native, he grew up with his parents and younger sister in that city’s vibrant jazz milieu, and in 2014 his exceptional bass playing garnered him an award from Philly’s legendary home of jazz greats, the Clef Club.
Hill’s very busy career has included performances with national and international jazz legends like Betty Carter, Bobby Zankel, Sumi Tonooka, Wynton Marsalis, Bilal, Nicholas Payton, and even the United States Army Band. He has also recorded with Javon Jackson and Jill Scott, among others, and was a resident composing artist at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
In 2022 Hill married the love of his life, Comedienne K-Mack, and relocated to Wilmington, DE. Since arriving in the First State, as he did in Philadelphia, he has avidly immersed himself in the jazz scene, collaborating with Delaware artists like Gerald Chavis, Tony Smith, and Fostina Dixon (also a Division Award winner). He is currently the Minister of Music at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Newark, DE under the leadership of Pastor Dontel Hawes.
Hill’s current – and most personal – project is the dance of diversity, a suite that employs the “rhythms of the various micro communities in Wilmington.” Quoting the great Charlie Parker, Hill feels that “now is the time” for it. He’s also immensely serious about passing on the jazz tradition, working to guide and inspire the next generation of young musicians. One of his great rewards is “seeing my past students becoming the light.”
One of Hill’s early influences was the great 20th century giant Billy Strayhorn, “whose use of melodies really touches your soul.” And one of his first professional jobs as a musician was connecting with the music of another great – he worked at Philadelphia’s Annenberg Theatre in a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, a musical based on the life and music of Fats Waller.
He feels strongly that jazz allows you to “be in the moment. In our digital world, we forget about the importance of the ‘now’.” Hill also enjoys listening to gospel music and putting together Comedy and Jazz concerts with his wife “that anyone at any age can enjoy.” During the pandemic, as Hill worked to help a brick-and-mortar school “navigate to a virtual model,” he felt fortunate to be able to communicate directly with artists worldwide – from Africa, Europe, and South America.