I've played in several bands dating from elementary school through my post-college years. So upon the arrival of my birthday in March of 2001, I decided I'd like to try leading a Jazz band. Where to start? What to play? How many pieces? How far do I want to take it? And most important...How much stress medication would I need? All of those questions circled in my brain.
I started with the name. I wanted to try and be unique so I went with " The Jteam". I didn't want to use the Jeff Lawrence Quintet. Even though it's traditional, I didn't feel comfortable with it because groups with that type of moniker connotate a different image in my head and besides, I grew up in the 70's. My musical influences were all over the map. From Soul and R&B to Classic Rock to Jazz/Rock Fusion to Funk up to Hip Hop. I don't know if you realize it or not but Disco almost smothered funk and when funk was almost down for the count, it re-surfaced in the form of Hip Hop. Anyway, thats my opinion. But I digress.
So I've got all these influences coursing through my veins. If I'm going to have a Jazz band, there's no way we're gonna play just straight ahead and swing ALL the time. There's got to be some funky stuff to make your head nod mixed in there somewhere. (even though swingin' at certain tempos can make your head nod just as well). So I stuck with "The Jteam". It's kind of corny, but it's different and you can remember it by thinking of the "A" Team..." I pity the fool!"
As far as the repetoire, I wanted to feature alot of my own music. I respect Jazz standards alot. They are the institutions through which Jazz musicians grow from. And wanted to use some of my favorites in the band. But everyone's heard standards. No one has heard my music and I needed a vehicle to feature my writing. The great Jazz pianist and my former teacher, Kenny Barron told me " Keep writing". So that's what I need to do.
When it comes to instrumentation, I've always loved a classic quintet. Trumpet, Sax, Piano, Bass and Drums. Quartets come a real close second. But there is so much you can do with those five pieces if you really put your mind to it. People like Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis did amazing things with that format.
Who knows how far this band will go? One thing I learned early was that it's almost impossible maintain a steady working unit when your band is unsigned and unknown...big emphasis on unsigned(As I type this, my Bass chair is in rotation and my Drum chair may be next). That being said, I just wanted to know that I could put a group together, get a few gigs, make a record and if that was all I did, I could say at least I did that. Now that I've done those things, it seems I just cant stop. I guess the main thing is that I try to keep making more recordings and hope that people will enjoy them. Even if it's just friends and family and maybe...YOU!
