Alfred Howard & the K23 Orchestra is a unique blend of hip hop, spoken word and jazz fusion. The band consists of eight pieces, two keyboardist, a guitarist, upright bass, drums, percussion, sax and a lyricist. They play weekly with regular shows at the Hard Rock Cafe, Winstons, Galoka, Blind Melons & the Belly Up.
The shows are based around structured improvisation, stretching the 5 minute songs on their cd to 15 minute jams with intense crescendos. The band has become unique in the hip hop world by giving the musicians an equal voice to the lyricist therefore creating a collective and cohesive expression.

Alfred Howard & the K23 Orchestra has shared the stage with OzomatH, Klarl Denson's Tiny Universe, Soundtribe Sector 9, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, the Living Legends, the Beat Junkies, Mikah 9, OMD, ALO and Antibalas. Alfred Howard, the mc, has read his poetry to assemblies at Torrey Pines, Sunset, Valley Center and La Costa Canyon high schools. He has been invited to speak at SDSU and UCSD and has won the UCSD Poetry Slain.

The band presents an eclectic collage unparalleled in the local music sphere. The message is positivity and social change through music.