Iqua Colson

Iqua Colson, born Kristine Browne in 1953 in Chicago, is a celebrated jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist, educator, and arts administrator. She started studying piano, voice, and dance as a child and went on to attend Northwestern University School of Music, later finishing her music degree at Chicago Musical College. Iqua was one of the first women to join the influential Association for Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in the early 1970s. She has been praised by international media and named by DownBeat Magazine as a Vocal Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, often compared with legendary vocalists like Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan. Her collaborations are frequently alongside her husband, pianist and composer Adegoke Steve Colson, and her work is recognized for its innovative blend of melody and lyrics.

Beyond performing, Iqua is deeply involved in arts education and administration, currently serving as Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts for the East Orange School District in New Jersey. She helps develop arts curricula and has been honored with awards like the Shirley Chisholm Award for Arts and Entertainment for her contributions to arts education. Across her career, she has recorded six albums, including the Grammy-nominated collaborative project *Hope for Love*, and her music archives have been acquired by Northwestern University Libraries, highlighting her influence on contemporary music.

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