Durham Jazz Supergroup 'The Sistering' Releases Debut Album

Four accomplished artists come together to celebrate their shared wisdom and musical journeys.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:26pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of shimmering sequins and plush velvet textures, captured in dramatic studio lighting to create a high-fashion, glamorous aesthetic that conceptually represents the artistry and community of the jazz supergroup The Sistering.The vibrant musical collaboration of The Sistering shines a light on Durham's thriving jazz community.Durham Today

Four renowned Durham jazz artists - Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Lois Deloatch, Nnenna Freelon, and Kate McGarry - have come together to form the supergroup 'The Sistering' and release their eponymous debut album. The album reflects the group's individual and collective experiences, exploring themes of love, loss, and the power of community.

Why it matters

The Sistering represents a unique collaboration between four accomplished musicians who have long orbited each other's careers in Durham's vibrant jazz scene. By joining forces, they are creating a validating space for support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, while also documenting their shared wisdom and life experiences through their music.

The details

The Sistering formed in 2023 when Deloatch, Freelon, and McGarry hosted an artist conversation to celebrate Helm's latest album release. The women soon realized they should collaborate on a project together, and gathered at Helm's home to begin writing and composing the album's first song. The 12 tracks on The Sistering reflect the group's respective journeys, traversing seasons of love and loss with grace and wisdom.

  • The Sistering formed in 2023.
  • The Sistering's debut album was released on March 20, 2026.

The players

Lenora Zenzalai Helm

A vocalist, composer, and conductor of the Tribe Jazz Orchestra, as well as the Dean of Professional Education at Berklee College of Music.

Lois Deloatch

A vocalist and songwriter with a strong gospel music foundation, who immersed herself in the local jazz scene in the late 1970s and 80s before releasing her own music.

Nnenna Freelon

A Grammy-nominated artist who has built a decades-long musical career on stage, traveling the world while building community in the arts in Durham.

Kate McGarry

A vocalist and songwriter who studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst under the tutelage of NEA Jazz Masters Billy Taylor and Max Roach, and cut her musical teeth over two decades in LA and New York City before moving to Durham in 2009.

NorthStar Church of the Arts

The Durham venue that hosted the release event for The Sistering's debut album.

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What they’re saying

“It was an aha moment. We said, 'Look at us, we are all here … Why don't we do something together? Why don't we celebrate each other?'”

— Nnenna Freelon

“Composing together was such an exciting way to bring a pot to the party or a potluck. We each are whole women who have whole lives and careers. This legacy project galvanizes everything that we are and have done, and the sum of the parts are enriched by each other.”

— Lenora Zenzalai Helm

“Sistering, being that support, that anchor for each other in a variety of ways, is more than a title—we are a collective. It's almost like our lives named our group.”

— Nnenna Freelon

“The anchors of the music here were what drew me to jazz. It was not difficult to immerse myself in it, build partnerships, and be a part of a community around the music.”

— Lois Deloatch

“Part of the power of coming together is that we are all of a certain age, and we've all experienced everything in life—loss, heartache, joys, triumphs. We're creating spaces where the full range of human experiences is welcomed and embraced into a container where people can gather, remember, feel, and heal.”

— Kate McGarry

What’s next

The Sistering is planning a national tour to promote their debut album, with dates to be announced in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Sistering represents a powerful collaboration between four accomplished Durham jazz artists who are using their music to celebrate their shared wisdom, document their life experiences, and create a supportive community for themselves and their audiences.