A God-loving Black man proud of his church roots and his north Minneapolis community, the percussionist/educator touts his deep, thoughtful music as revolutionary, mixing jazz, rock, funk, gospel and hip-hop. In 2020, his self-released album "Big Homie" surprisingly
topped iTunes' jazz charts the week it was released. L.A. — it stands for Little Arthur — is known as cohost of the Webby-winning PBS music-education series "Sound Field" and a teacher at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. In addition to leading his own group, the versatile Buckner, 31, also has performed with rapper Dem Atlas, funk band Pho and gospel artists Darnell Davis and Jovonta Patton.
Strengths: With his uncompromising personality, ferocious drumming and loud, intense jazzy fusion, Buckner makes irresistibly powerful statements.
Listen to: The African-infused
"Dddun" and the building, hard-grooving 2021 single "Not Today Karen, Not Today."
Up next: A new album, "Live at the Icehouse."