THE BEGINNING Blu'Z, born Willie Washington, is a native son of New Orleans. He grew up in a musical family. His grandfather was a respected Jazz Drummer in and around the Cresant City. ............................................................ ...............Blu'Z smooth melodic sounds were influenced by soulful greats such as, Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye. Blu'Z instrumental talents are comprised of the Keys, Drums and Bass........................................................ .............Blu'Z has a knack for writing catchy hooks. This is evident in his past work with local artist like, Black Menace, and The Ghetto Twins. One of his prized projects was with Big Boy Records. The album Smokin' and Rollin', were Blu'Z sung chorus was on Q-93's Top Ten List for a few weeks. This project allowed Blu'Z to showcase his talents..................................................... ......THE MIDDLE After Hurricane Katrina, Blu'Z established temporary residence in Memphis, Tennessee. The storm may have forced him out of the City but the strong soulful musical bond only grew stronger. Blu'Z developed a band. Using the three musical styles which courses through him, (Jazz, Funk and Soul) JaFuSo was born and so was a faithful following............................................THE FUTURE The passion for music drives Blu'Z to return the SOULFUL SOUNDS back to R&B by writing enlightening lyrics, composing eloquent tracks and engaging performance at his shows. Blu'Z has the desire to compose and produce for other artist...................................................... ..........................................THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THIS TALENTED COMPOSER, SINGER, SONGWRITER, ASPIRING PRODUCER AND FATHER OF TWO (LIL WILL AND DASANI)!!! © 2007 Blu'Z....................................................... ...................................... ............................................................ New Orleans jazz rebuilds Musician aims to return home By: Eric Bishop Issue date: 3/30/06 Section: Recess Last update: 4/3/06 at 8:40 AM EST PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 Willie Washington, Jr., knows what it means to miss New Orleans.Washington-known to the music world as singer/keyboardist "Blu'Z"-has been living in Memphis with his 7-year-old son since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.His home in Carrollton, a neighborhood in Uptown New Orleans, was flooded with eight feet of water, destroying his keyboard among other possessions.Before the storm, Washington was a regular on the New Orleans music scene, playing in different groups with musicians such as trumpeter Kermit Ruffins. But for Washington, and for many other New Orleans-based musicians, the need to take care of basic necessities like housing forced music into the backseat immediately after the storm."We drove the car out of town after they declared martial law," Washington said. "There were dead bodies all over the bridge."But with a new keyboard and a new band at his side, Washington will return to the city and the music scene he calls home.The group is a jazz/funk quartet called Jafuso that Washington formed with two Memphis-based musicians and a Mississippi musician also displaced by the storm. The band has been spending 13 hours a day composing and practicing their songs, including a tune called "Katrina." The song takes the melody from Ray Charles' "Georgia" and features lyrics about the pain wrought from the hurricane.Jafuso made its New Orleans debut at Cafe Brasil last Thursday, and the band recently auditioned at House of Blues New Orleans. Washington said he hopes to move back to the city for good once his son finishes his elementary school's spring term in Memphis."I can gig every night of the week in New Orleans-it's like a dream come true," Washington said. "Music is an everyday way of life down there. You just can't get that anywhere else."-Eric Bishop ..
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