The JuJu Exchange

The Juju Exchange fuse acoustic and digital elements into an atmospheric, spiritually resonant, and globally oriented fusion of jazz, hip-hop, electronic music, and R&B. Their first full-length project, Exchange, appeared in 2017.

Formed in Chicago that same year, the trio consists of longtime friends drummer/producer Nova Zaii (born Everett Reid), his brother and keyboardist/producer Julian Reid, and trumpeter/producer Nico Segal. After completing high school, Zaii attended the University of Michigan, where he obtained degrees in jazz studies and performing arts technology; in addition to drums, he performs on his own patented touch-free instrument, the Nova Portals. Reid pursued studies at Yale and at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, ultimately receiving his Master of Divinity; outside of performing he maintains careers as a writer and educator. Segal, previously known onstage as Donnie Trumpet, gained widespread recognition through his collaborations with Chance the Rapper, notably as part of the Social Experiment. The Juju Exchange’s debut album, Exchange, included bass contributions from Lane Beckstrom, while their second release, the 2020 EP The Eternal Boombox, followed three years later.