Rodney Gipson is a Chicago-rooted pianist, guitarist, and composer/producer. Gipson is the CEO of Audible Edge Music, a label that creates and distributes traditional jazz, Neo Soul, and Afrobeats music. His influences include Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, the jazz fusion group Weather Report, as well as the Portuguese fado artist Mariza, and Shona music icon Thomas Mapfumo.   

Gipson has performed in several respected local venues from Epiphany Center for the Arts and Grant Park, to the blues venue Kingston Mines. Additional Chicago performance credits include: Velvet Lounge jazz club, the iconic Heartland Café, and the University of Chicago International House. He’s performed at Harlem’s the Shrine World Music Venue; Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit; and Ria Ras in Louisville. 

Rodney Gipson collaborates with Coffee Jazz Collective & The Back Alley Jazz series often. In addition to leading his own bands, Rodney has collaborated with composer Regina Harris-Baiocchi, as well as members of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) such as Dushun Mosley, Saalik Ziyad and Edwin Daugherty 

Gipson’s advocacy work includes contributing original music to causes ranging from literacy and food insecurity to regional economic development. He is passionate about the arts community and is a strong supporter of the community garden scene in Chicago.  

Current projects include a collaboration with Chicago muralist Robert Valdez that pairs original music with new paintings to celebrate legendary jazz musicians. Gipson is in the final stages of completing the production of his documentary film focused on community gardening on the South Side of Chicago.