Interview with Ace Livingston

By: Tariq Richardson

Courtesy: JRoberts Management

New York, the vibrant city that never sleeps. It’s home to the iconic Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where the energy is electric. Who can forget the thrill of Aaron Judge launching home runs into the night sky? And we can’t forget about the city’s rich nightlife and music culture. Every time Ace Livingston comes to town, it’s always an atmosphere he enjoys. Livingston knows that New York will always tell the truth—either you got it, or you don’t.

“It’s New York,” Livingston said with a laugh. “It’s gonna let you know if they’re feeling what you’re presenting or if they’re not really feeling it. And fortunately, it’s a city where if it’s authentic, it will be felt.” That authenticity was on full display Saturday, the 13th, when Livingston took the stage at the legendary Ashford and Simpson Sugar Bar. For Livingston, performing there didn’t feel like a road stop; it felt like home.

“The love received was amazing,” he said. “It was like playing at home in New York. Legends have performed on that stage. So being there, feeling that love— it was something special. I always look forward to performing there again and again.”

Beyond the music, the Sugar Bar experience stood out for its warmth, food, atmosphere, and community—what Livingston described as a family reunion. “It’s like Thanksgiving dinner,” he said. “The food is 10 out of 10. You never know what you’re going to get, but you know it’s going to be good.”

Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Quincy Jones—these legends have performed at the Sugar Bar. But Livingston’s story stretches far beyond New York. Born in Jamaica, where music is king, and later settling in New Britain, Connecticut, his path to becoming a music director, collaborator, and respected bassist wasn’t linear, but he wouldn’t change a thing.

“The more mature I get, the more I appreciate that everything happens for a reason,” he said. “Every lesson learned was preparation for this moment.”

Regret isn’t part of his vocabulary. “If I changed one little detail, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you right now,” he said. “Everything mattered.”

Growing up, music wasn’t his primary dream at first. Soccer was king. “Honestly, growing up, soccer was my thing,” Livingston admitted. “Music wasn’t my focus. Growing up in a religious household—my mother was a pastor and my late father a bishop—music was Monday through Sunday, seven days a week. Church meant singing, instruments, rehearsals, and performances. We had to do everything.”

However, an injury ended his soccer aspirations. Music, once secondary, became central. “When soccer went down, music became the love of my life.” Without a single musical idol to follow, he immersed himself in drawing inspiration from bassists like Marcus Miller and Richard Bona. “Every bass player I heard, I tried to grab from,” he said. “Everything was exciting because I was behind, and I was trying to catch up.”

One of Livingston’s breakthrough moments was working with Montel Williams. While Williams is best known as a talk show host, Livingston revealed another side.

“He has a passion for singing,” Livingston said. “A lot of people don’t know that.” Their work together extended into musical moments on the show, including a Christmas special featuring Ruben Studdard. Years later, Livingston learned that episode marked the final appearance of Studdard’s mother.

“That moment showed me how music bookmarks life,” he said. “When you see it again, it brings back everything—the emotions, the memories.” That experience deepened his appreciation for music’s power. “You never know what something will mean to someone else,” he said. “So you have to put your heart into it every time.”

Livingston has collaborated with some of the best musicians of his era, featuring a lineup that resembles a Hall of Fame roster. He’s worked with artists such as Bobby Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Pink, Harry Connick Jr., and many more. But the moments that resonate most aren’t centered on ego.

With Bobby Brown, it was the intensity. “When Bobby steps into rehearsal, he’s locked in,” Livingston said. “Performance is everything.” Feeling acknowledged by an artist of Brown’s stature was empowering. “It made me go harder,” he said.

Another defining moment came while touring with the vocal group 98 Degrees, performing at Madison Square Garden for Michael Jackson’s 30th anniversary.

During costume breaks, the band had moments to step forward and perform solos. “You get 30 seconds to be memorable,” Livingston said. “To captivate.” When the crowd responded, chanting his name and feeding off the energy, it was affirmation.

“That moment lets you know, ‘You’re all right,’” he said. “But it’s not a reason to be arrogant. It’s a blessing.”

For Livingston, musicianship isn’t about speed or spectacle. “What’s the message?” he asked. “Even in a bass solo, what are you taking away from what I played?”

Quoting his mentor James Brown, he added, “You can’t be talking loud and saying nothing.” Music, in his eyes, must always mean something.

“Music is medicine,” Livingston said. “It’s love. It’s healing. It’s a companion when the world turns its back on you.” He spoke about music’s power in moments of isolation—how sound can lift someone out of darkness and help them experience life through the artist.

“We do it for the listener,” he said. “Unselfishly.”

Looking ahead, Livingston’s creative vision is expanding. Rather than traditional full-length albums, he’s focusing on a series-based approach with shorter projects centered around specific themes.

“Instead of movies, I’m doing a series,” he explained. Future releases will include spoken-word collaborations, tribute projects honoring his parents’ favorite hymns, jazz-driven storytelling, and thematic EPs that focus on inspiration and healing.

“My music is my journal,” he said. “Each chapter shows where I am.” With a dedicated management team and a clear sense of direction, Livingston is entering what he calls the next phase: graduated, tested, and ready for what’s next.

Outside of the studio, he stays active with hobbies like grocery shopping—he even jokingly calls himself the mayor because he loves making friends and talking to everyone.

“I love watching movies,” he said. “I could collect DVDs. I’ve got all the classics—‘Coming to America,’ ‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ ‘Loving Basketball,’ and more. I used to have a crush on Tia from ‘The Best Man,’ and I gotta admit, I got a little teary-eyed just thinking about it. But I’m going through my healing process now.”

As the conversation wrapped up, Livingston’s gratitude was evident. “You made me think,” he told Richardson. “You did your homework.”

For an artist rooted in sincerity, that mutual respect said everything.