There is a dusty old phrase that some music writers use: “If you only buy a ticket for just one live show this year, make it this one”.
Well, that is most definitely our message about outrageous young talent, Justin-Lee Schultz, and his one-night-only gig at Ronnie Scott’s famed London club on Tuesday 23rd June (2026).
Prepare to be gobsmacked at this gifted 19-year-old’s prodigious talents, which have attracted lavish praise from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Bob James, Robert Glasper, Kevin Whalum and many more stars across the years.
The South African-born, US-raised multi instrumentalist played piano like a master from the age of five, and now he sings, plays piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, trumpet and harpejji (a cross between a guitar and piano), writes his own songs and leads his own band.
His precocious talents are spread across many genres of music from r&b, pop, blues to fusion and gospel. But jazz is where his heart is.
After starting to play at just five, he was snapped up for an endorsement from Yamaha South Africa that same year. His first stage performance was with his musician dad Julius, just two weeks after he started playing. At 13, he started adding guitar as well as vocals to his repertoire.
This incredible LA-based (since 2015) musician prompted the late and legendary Quincy Jones to exclaim:”This kid is something special”, and American pianist, composer and producer Robert Glasper to comment “Justin is an older man in a boy’s body! It’s so great to see somebody so young have such a vast love of ALL kinds of music!! He sounds amazing.”
Justin’s solo album “Gruv Kid”, was released in 2020 when he was 13 and the follow-up, “in The Moment” came out in 2023.
Surrounded by his musical mentors on and off the stage, with professional and personal friendships with Stevie Wonder, T-Pain, H.E.R. and Jojo to name just a few, at such a young age, he represents a new generation of artistry rooted in timeless musicianship
In an era where technology is often crowned “king”, Justin is here to remind the world that music still lives and breathes through real instruments and unfiltered live performance. His sister Jamie-Leigh Schulz is on drums in his band and like her sibling, is also a gifted musician.
Justin: Genius, prodigy, astounding, unbelievable, mind blowing, no hype required….Yep, all of that and more. Find out for yourselves on 23rd June 2026 at Ronnie’s!
Justin’s “Track Record”
1. First song you can recall hearing as a child?
The first song I remember hearing as a kid was ‘Better Days’ by my dad, Julius Schultz. That song has been part of the soundtrack of my life since I was born. It was always a killer at his shows — and now at mine too.
2. First CD you owned?
I remember my dad having some of Fred Hammond’s CDs and a bunch of different DVDs, growing up. Instead of watching cartoons or Disney channel, I was watching ‘Stevie Wonder: Live in London 2009’, Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’, and Fourplay concert DVDs. Even before I started playing, I was completely obsessed with music.
3. Last music you bought and in what format?
RAYE’s, and Olivia Dean’s new albums on digital. I wish I grew up in the era of going to a record store and buying an album. Everything is streaming now. The last vinyl I bought though was ‘The Definitive Collection’ by Stevie Wonder.
4. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
‘Night Train’ by Oscar Peterson or ‘Exclusively For My Friends: My Favorite Instrument’ [set of six albums on the MPS label] By Oscar Peterson. Either one on vinyl would absolutely make my day.
5. Favourite album?
That’s a tough one! Here’s a top five based on influence, in no particular order:
‘Thriller’by Michael Jackson.
‘Songs in the Key of Life’ by Stevie Wonder.
Purpose By Design by Fred Hammond.
‘Exclusively for My Friends’ by Oscar Peterson.
‘Color Blind’ by Julius Schultz.
6. One of the best records ever made?
Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ is pretty tough to beat. Prince: ‘Purple Rain’. Pretty much anything from Stevie Wonder’s classic run. I grew up studying the architects of modern music and the artists who inspired them. At my core, I’m a straight-ahead jazz musician, so I spent a lot of time with Chick Corea’s ‘Now He Sings, Now He Sobs’, Oscar Peterson records, Fourplay, and many others. There is so much incredible music out there, and I’m always looking to the greats for inspiration.
7. Anything unusual or perhaps unexpected in your music collection?
I listen to all kinds of music; from Holst to Britney Spears. I grew up playing in church, so Gospel music is a huge part of my upbringing, along with jazz. Being unusual is just in my nature!
8. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
Music is everything to me. At its core, it’s the way I express myself most honestly. Most days it feels more natural than talking. Without music, I genuinely don’t know where I’d be. It’s the one thing I’ve always felt I was good at, so I’m sticking with it forever.
9. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson, or ‘Round Midnight’ by Thelonious Monk.
10. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
Probably ‘As’ by Stevie Wonder. Honestly, the entire ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ album. It feels like there’s a song on that record for every season of life, so I’m sure it’d fit a film about mine.
11. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
‘Suzanne’ by RAYE has been on repeat since it came out. ‘MUTT’ by Leon Thomas too. Both of those always bang in the car.
12. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
My go-to karaoke song is ‘She’s Out of My Life’ by Michael Jackson. I get completely dramatic with it too!
13. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory?
‘Pineapple Getaway’ by Fourplay. When my family and I still lived in South Africa, we’d take road trips from Johannesburg to Durban to visit my grandparents, and that song was always playing in the car. The entire ‘Let’s Touch the Sky’ album by Fourplay takes me right back to those memories.
14. Favourite singer (or singers)?
Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, and Fred Hammond, just to name a few. There are so many incredible singers out there. I’ve always been drawn to artists who sound unmistakably like themselves from the very first note.
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