Profile by JayLey Designs
As long as I can remember I've been attracted to music with funk and soul. It started with Stevie and expanded quickly to Hip-Hop. Now living in heart of Harlem I don't have to look far; its all around me. I am a big fan of all the talented artists that have something to say, and give back. They're the performers that head charities, build schools, buy books and make a positive change. That is the road less taken, but it is the primary force that drives me. Also around 18 I was introduced to tap dancing and the ole movie musical. I was floored and challenged by the caliber of performer; this is when I was introduced this incredible music. The more I learned 'bout that time period and the music, the better it got. These performers rose to the occasion of being stars, they were more than familiar faces; they were personalities that the fans could count on and believe in. Music meant more to these people who were going through the depression and world wars; it was more than just a catchy phrase and a hot video. And the songs, the songs were gems that flowed out of these composers' open hearts through these performer's souls. Of course in the 21st century we have a couple wonderful personalities who fit that description; I'd just like to join the ranks. I want to bring brilliant and still relevant tunes back that the younger ears have never heard, (sometimes, with drastic interpretations, sometimes not) and write songs that will be as immortal as the ones from the American Songbook. I know the power of the right song is incomparable to any other art form. Whether it is expressing the words for how someone feels for the love of their life, inspiring someone to be the best person they can be, taking the listeners to a better world, or sharing oneself completely and singing about a broken heart. It is a wonderful gift to give, and I couldn't dedicate my life to anything else.
"Lucky Me," a continuous steadycam one shot. Bethune Street, NYC"
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I intend to bring my music, along with the songs forgotten, to the generations of today by giving them something they've never heard before. I'll start the journey by getting everyone's head bobbin' to a funked-up standard. Next hit 'em with a tune that they can groove to, featuring the upright bass. Then casually mention before they slow dance to a ballad that the cut they were just feeling was written in 1935, we just put a little spin on it. I'm not here to stand on a soapbox and tell these kids that they should appreciate the music that I love; they're too independent, and would change the channel before I finish my first sentence. I am going to bring the music to them, bring it to 2007- give it some flava. That way I can sing and spit rhymes to songs of substance. Reaching the kids from the 'burbs to the cities. I live up in Harlem and love New York. I love the history, the opportunities and the mix of cultures and people. I also love almost every genre of music, depending on my mood. That being said; I don't just have an appreciation for standards and hip-hop, I swear by both of them. The top dogs on the hip-hop scene prove that you can do amazing things with pro-tools in the studio, and lay down incredible beats layered with a thousand intricacies. But having that acoustical-live sound cannot be touched. Seeing a singer scat or genius musicians improvise in the pocket is on a whole different level. I'm a pretty simple guy- I love real music- I love a funky beat – I've don't drink or do drugs- I love clever, thought provoking, or beautifully metaphorical lyrics- I love to perform- I listen to music spanning centuries- I want to inspire and give back- I'm pretty talented (a wee bit confident maybe), but know, without a doubt, my head and heart are in the right place. We are the Evolution of Jazz standards. I love certain aspects of hip-hop today. I love the way Eminem and J5 are storytellers who know the power and effect the words can have on their fans. I love the beats, layers, and the way people sing hooks together. But, imagine those qualities "amplified" with a real band. Having a piano player, an incredible one, that goes crazy on a brilliant solo. Or inspiring an urban kid to learn the upright bass because it is cool to be talented, and he can express himself that way. I want to educate them the way Nas does in the song "I Can." And introduce themes of forgotten tunes… then in a couple years I can do a straight standard CD, and it will be cool to like and listen to my music… I will bridge that gap…I hope to interpret old tunes, write new ones and have them written for me with as many incredible artists as I can fit into one lifetime. My buddy Joe and just finished writing songs that fit into a bunch of different genres because "Good music is good music" - right? and "All you need is three chords and the truth"- right?
Well, you be the judge You gottttta like a couple of 'em, you just gotta
