As soon as the doors opened at Public Records’ Sound Room on Saturday night, a warm, amber glow settled among the crowd with smooth sounds of Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar, priming the atmosphere for an evening of music with a cause. In Gowanus, Brooklyn, the intimate venue was filled to the brim with anticipation as jazz saxophonist and Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts contemporary music major, Kobie Dozier prepared to bring his EP, For the People, to life on stage for the first time.

Released on Jan. 19, For the People is a four-track project that blends jazz, soul, and hip-hop influences into a seamless fusion of improvisation, rich harmonies, and storytelling. Organized with support from Lang’s Civic Engagement and Social Justice (CESJ) program, the performance doubled as a benefit concert for families displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires — an issue that hit close to home for Dozier, who is originally from Los Angeles.

Inspired by his mother’s suggestion, Dozier decided to turn the event into a fundraiser, using music to bridge his two homes in New York and LA. “I have a lot of love for the city,” he said in reference to LA. In addition to ticket sales, the event raised funds through merchandise, with customized Union Los Angeles t-shirts featuring Dozier’s personal logo and EP name. Half of the show’s proceeds will go toward families affected by the wildfires through the Displaced Black Families GoFundMe Directory. The funds, including earnings from ticket and t-shirt sales, will be distributed to families who are still far from reaching their fundraising goals.

While Dozier was the main act of the evening, the night opened with a solo set by the rap artist known as Aman, a third-year contemporary music major at Lang. Originally from Los Angeles, like Dozier, the two have known each other for several years, with their latest collaboration being “No Breaks” on Dozier’s EP. With sharp lyricism and an undeniable stage presence, Aman wasted no time drawing the audience in. His rap performance was full of movement, with the artist dancing across the stage and reciprocating the crowd’s excited energy. One of the standout moments of his set was “Internet Politikin,” a track that pulsed through the venue with fast-paced verses tackling themes of digital culture and self-awareness.

Following Aman was alana amore colvin, a performer-composer master’s student in her final semester at The New School’s College of Performing Arts. Her electric guitar and silky vocals brought an introspective depth to the night. She performed “waves,” an original from her EP jane doe, released in 2020, which explored themes of depression and paid lyrical homage to Stevie Smith’s poem “Not Waving but Drowning.” Her second song, “wives,” ruminated on love and detachment, weaving echoes of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar into its verses. Each of colvin’s lyrics carried weight, her voice and instrument fusing together to create a hauntingly beautiful synergy.

Between sets, the musicians refused to let the energy die down. What started as a simple beat from Bella Malika’s steady drums grew into a spontaneous jam session to fill the pauses. One by one, the other musicians from colvin’s band joined in — Nash McBride layering keys and Julian Silva grounding the sound with deep, resonant bass. These moments embodied the spirit of jazz — improvisation grew into cohesion, creating something that felt present yet so seamless one would assume it was rehearsed. 

When Dozier took the stage, the low murmur of conversation faded as the band took their positions. Opening with the title track of his EP — a song he described as his own personal theme song — Dozier immediately established the soulful, expressive sound that defines For the People. The harmonies of the band — made up of both current students and alumni of the New School: Maya Price, Haley Driver, Wanyana Ruth, and Dela’t Angeni — filled the space with layers of hypnotic rhythm. Amid it all, Dozier’s saxophone soared, tying all the musical threads together.

Dozier’s set unfolded effortlessly, moving into “Our Lives” before transitioning into “My Heart,” featuring Price, whose voice glided over the instrumentation with ease. Then came “No Breaks,” a high-energy shift that brought Aman back to the stage. Dozier and Aman’s performance became less of a single song and more of a showcase, highlighting the individual strengths of each musician as they took turns stepping into the spotlight. Solos from nearly every band member — saxophone, violin, trumpet — transformed the moment into a dynamic burst of energy before the night wound down.

But the crowd wasn’t ready for the music to end. As the musicians stepped off stage, chants for an encore swelled through the venue. Moments later, Dozier and his band returned, closing out the night with one last song — a rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s “Untitled #05.” The set closed with an extended solo from Dozier, his saxophone weaving through the melody in a display of skill and endurance that had the audience hanging onto every note. Before leaving the stage, Dozier turned to the audience, thanking them for their support and for being part of his journey. He gave a special shoutout to his mother, prompting cheers from the crowd, who joined in to celebrate her. Wanting to capture the moment, he asked for a phone from the crowd, turning his back to the audience and holding it high to snap a selfie with everyone behind him. He then switched to video, panning across the room as he thanked the audience once more, their voices erupting in screams and applause one last time.

For Dozier, Saturday night’s concert wasn’t just about showcasing his music, but also about building connections: between New York and Los Angeles, between artist and audience, and between the musicians themselves. Reflecting on the night, Dozier said, “I hope this show inspired anybody else who’s been working hard on their own passions to continue building the dream they have for themselves.”

Beyond the evening’s success, Dozier emphasized the importance of collaboration and connection, especially within a place like The New School. “The connections that you’ll be getting here last lifetimes,” Dozier said in reference to meeting people across different disciplines and practices. 

If the night proved anything, it’s that with the right people around you, anything is possible. “I want to show everybody that even if you don’t have a direct plan, as long as you have a goal or a vision, there’s no limit to what you’re capable of,” Dozier said.