BIO
 Khris Royal was born to be a musician. This young and exceptional New Orleans native began playing the saxophone at seven years old, and producing and writing music at fourteen. Royal's musical talents were nurtured at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) High School, in classrooms once shared by jazz greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Terrence Blanchard, and Donald Harrison. When Royal was only 16, he was granted a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and his career has taken off since then.
To date, Royal has played with hip-hop giants and jazz and funk legends alike, from Lettuce, to Bobby Brown, Alvin Batiste, Ellis Marsalis, Christian Scott, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis, Tony Clifton, The Sam Kininger Band, and Johnta Austin. The impressive young artist has recorded with Mary J. Blige, Ashanti, Nelly and The Game, Erykah Badu, Goapele, D.J. Quick, and is also featured with the Regiment on Season 2 of The Boondocks. Royal has developed relationships with prominent New Orleans artists as well, such as George Porter Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste, Fred Wesley, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Galactic, and countless more. The range of Khris' musical relationships is versatile and reflects the scope of his talent. Although Royal continues to expand and develop his craft, from Jazz, hip-hop, rock, soul, electronic, funk, R & B, Blues, and Ska--musically, there is not much Khris Royal has not already mastered and incorporated into his unique style.
In addition to leading his own band, Khris Royal & Dark Matter (see below), Khris Royal has been the only horn player in George Porter Jr. & the Runnin' Pardners since Fall 2009. This summer, Royal has been on tour with the popular West Coast rock/reggae band, Rebelution, who have been headlining their own national tour on the club and summer festival circuit, as well as providing support for international acts like Steel Pulse.
KHRIS ROYAL & DARK MATTER
 Khris Royal & Dark Matter, is a young alternative funk band steeped in jazz flavors on the forefront of the NOLA music scene. They have secured their spot among the immensely talented acts emerging from a revitalized New Orleans by headlining at local music meccas such as the Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street and the famed Maple Leaf Bar. Khris Royal & Dark Matter are also quickly building momentum on a national scale, with killer debut sets at both the N.O. Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Tent) and Gulf Shore's popular new Hangout Festival. During Jazz Fest 2011, Khris Royal & Dark Matter had the honor of backing funk legends Doug Wimbish & Corey Glover (of Living Colour) as part of their side project, WIMBASH, and opening for the Funky Meters at Tipitina's. As Alison Fensterstock of nola.com observed, "[KRDM is] relentless and explosive: aerobic, heavy-handed drumming, whomping basslines, Royal's quick fingers on the alto sax and powerhouse guitar that slid from slick funk to grinding rock riffs. Dark Matter plays with conservatory chops, but with the energy cranked up."
PRESS
"Now the highlight of Jazz Fest for me this year was... seeing Khris lead his own band, Dark Matter. Khris and his band mates played with conservatory intelligence and youthful high octane energy as they unleashed their unique brand of progressive jazz/electronic funk music. Most of the explosive set was made up of Khris Royal original material." -Tish Michel of the Coconut Times
"New Orleans Khris Royal has it all: talent, drive and work ethic, and he’s not too hard on the eyes..." WHERE Y'AT MAGAZINE (June, 2011)
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