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Jamie Fox
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- Jamie Fox, originally from California, has performed world wide, in concert and on television, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival. He was a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar competition in 1995 and lead guitarist for Blood, Sweat, & Tears (1998-2000). Jamie has worked with artists as diverse as Brother Jack Mc Duff, Dr. John, Ernie Watts, Gene Harris, Tiger Okoshi, Carla Thomas, Otis Clay and The Shirelles. He played guitar and served as Musical Director for the Joan Baez World Tour (1989-1991), filming a popular PBS television special with Baez and Jackson Browne. In addition to his own projects Jamie is a freelancer on the New York City scene and currently performs and records with singer Jen Chapin ("Linger" "Ready"), Stephan Crump ("Rosetta", "Tuckahoe") and Combo Nuvo
(Acoustic World Jazz).
"...his style is uniquely and wonderfully his own." — Bud Spangler, KCSM-FM, San Francisco
"When I Get Home," the new album by guitarist Jamie Fox, explores the idea of home: what is it, where is it, and how do we know we have found it. This energetic and sensitive collection of songs visits various landscapes in a jazz instrumental context, casting a number of moods, grooves, and feelings. "I didn't set out with a particular concept in mind for this record" says Fox, "but later recognized this emerging theme." The CD will be released September 18 on Rare Cat Records.
Working with some of the great musicians on the NYC scene -- Kenny Werner on piano, Dan Willis on sax, Stephan Crump playing bass, and Michael Sarin on drums -- Jamie has created a dynamic, subtle and richly-textured collection. "I wanted to have something a little different than the average jazz blowing session," Jamie explained. To this end, he established the guitar trio as the foundation, while also recording some tunes with saxophone and others with piano. The layers of sound added later are vital and fine-overdubbed guitar textures, and background horns played by reed and brass master Peck Allmond.
Jamie's journey from blues and rock-loving teenager in Southern California, then busy San Francisco sideman, to respected member of the New York jazz scene -- is one we can follow through his songs here. As a boy in LA, Jamie was exposed to classical and jazz on the radio and studied piano, violin, and cello ("without excelling at any of them," he confesses), until he reached that universal turning point: The Beatles, and the possibilities of rock and roll. At the urging of a guitar-playing friend, he got himself an electric bass so they could start a band. He switched to guitar and the floodgates of sound opened: in came soul, R&B, and the powerful grooves from New Orleans — the latter becoming an especially deep part of his musical identity.
Kicked off with a drum beat invoking the 60's Lee Dorsey hit "Working in A Coal Mine," Jamie's "Mine and Yours" is a testimony to Jamie's love of the great city (a devotion which eventually had its reward in a gig with Dr. John at the famous San Francisco club, "Slims") and his admiration of greats like Dorsey and Allen Toussaint. "Mine and Yours" features a cheerful melody, buoyant background horns, and a good-time, gospel-flavored solo from Kenny Werner that all follow a typical Fox song structure of unexpected twists and turns. He explains: "My tunes tend to grow organically, without a preconceived idea of form. I just try to follow where the music leads."
Meanwhile, back in the San Fernando Valley, Jamie watched the seemingly endless stretches of orange groves be gradually eaten up by more and more suburban tract houses, a loss he mourns in his "Row After Row." Similarly bittersweet is "Childhood," evoking some of the lovelier work of Keith Jarrett. In this piece, a guitar solo full of quietly intense feeling leads to a wonderful bass solo from Stephan Crump (Vijay Iyer, Mahavishnu Project), a steady musical partner of Jamie's since their meeting in 1997, shortly after Jamie's move East. (Jamie and Stephan also perform and record together with the wonderful singer and songwriter Jen Chapin, and Jamie, along with guitarist Liberty Ellman, is featured on Stephan's new release "Rosetta".)
While an early guitar teacher steered him toward jazz guitarists like Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Django Reinhart and Charlie Christian, Jamie's explorations of jazz did not blossom until his years in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, where he eventually immersed himself in African and Brazilian forms as well. It was in the latter city where he met the subject of "Five One & A Half," a lovely Bossa Nova dedicated to his lady and the home they create together. On this tune Dan Willis conjures the spirit of Stan Getz, while being completely himself on the tenor sax. "Ognat" is one of the most dramatic and original pieces on the record. Its South American flavor (try spelling the title backwards) leads to strong solos by Stephan on bass, Jamie on acoustic guitar and Kenny once again contributing a brilliant turn on piano. Then a more traditional jazz approach peeks through, in the uniquely structured "Moniker" which hints at the influence of Thelonious Monk.
While jazz was growing in importance for him, rock and blues still made up the bulk of Jamie’s work and sound in San Francisco, and he took advantage of plentiful opportunities to catch bands like The Band, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and The Grateful Dead. Thrilled by the atmosphere of a "real" city and inspired by all the sounds he was taking in, Jamie co-founded with saxophonist Ron Stallings a band called "The Blues Among Us," combining jazz with blues and R&B, juxtaposing repertoire from Ornette Coleman to Aaron Neville. Similarly in "When I Get Home," the closing and title tune hints at the feeling of the classic rock bands while keeping the elements of jazz and improvisation in the forefront. Acoustic guitar plays the melody and solo with some wonderful accompaniment from the rhythm section and Peck Allmond on trumpet and euphonium (Jamie adds: "Peck plays any instrument that he can blow into." The outro is a magnificent slow build that adds electric guitar into the mix and horns that have a Monk-like angularity as well as a feeling of spaciousness as wide as the West.
Then came the move East. As Jamie relates, "When I moved to New York in the mid nineties it was a huge change for me. Much of the music for this CD was written or finished here. "New News" is the one that directly came out of hitting NYC and getting into the amazing energy flow of music that surrounds us." Good things come to those who wait -- "All In Time" plays with the idea that everything one desires will come in time. The concept applies to the composition of the song itself. "I had the initial theme for many years, but only recently came up with the funk section that made the song complete." After an initial tempest of sound driven by Michael Sarin on drums, the first theme has the serpentine quality of a Lennie Tristano line played over a pastoral background featuring both acoustic and electric guitar. It then morphs into a section of polyphonic and dissonant lines over a funk groove - setting the mood of a party where lots of folks have something to say but everyone is grooving together. The guitar solo explores both of these moods before returning to the theme.
Jamie has played funky jazz with Hammond B3 master Brother Jack Mc Duff, horn-based rock with Blood Sweat & Tears (lead guitarist: 1998 – 2000), ballads and folk music with Joan Baez (lead guitar/musical director 1989 – 1991), and rhythm and blues backing the likes of Dr. John, Carla Thomas, and Otis Clay. He is committed to playing jazz guitar but improvising and composing in a way that brings all the places that feel like home together. Elegant jazz, youthful rock, New Orleans swamp swing, silky samba - in the end Jamie Fox just writes and performs music, music without genre or strict rules, and music with a subtlety that betrays his mastery, with history, reverence, humor, and love.
- Website:
- http://jamiefoxguitar.com
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
Uncle Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum is my 80 year-old uncle who has FORGOTTEN more about jazz than I've even learned yet! He released his CD "Introducing Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum" after gigging in the St. Louis scene for over 55 years! Needless to say his voice, his saxophone, his piano... like a fine, aged Merlot. His energy?! I dare not try and keep up. I'm on stage falling asleep by the time he gets going good – cut from a different cloth. Arnette, Coleman, Hamp, Hank... fine cloth.
Why do I bring them up? Because they represent something really important that we now get to enjoy, like they did back then, but now through technology on sites like this, that we've been missing.
The good news, since family – in this case JAZZ FAMILY – and relationships are much more important, more fulfilling... is that I feel RICHER knowing and following you guys music on THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Sincerely,
Kirk WHALUM
www.kirkwhalum.com
"Congratulations on your creativity, energy and dedication to Jazz, knowing and have worked with your Dad ~ its all in the genes".
~Clem De Rosa
Professional Musician, Educator, Arranger, Composer and Band Leader
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ADVERTISE YOUR ARTISTRY, BUSINESS OR EVENT HERE ON THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Give the gift of some of The Jazz Network Members music for the Holidays!!
Just click your favorite artist, its as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4!! :-)
Available on iTunes and www.fredricklevore.com
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The Jazz Network Holiday Promotion offers its members a spot on the front page to display your CD cover for immediate click-thru for purchase for holiday gifting! Feel free to contact Jaijai for details for now is a good time to start promoting Holiday sales!
If you have interest in having a featured spot, want to be spotlighted, promote a 'gig' or CD release party with a flyer or banner, stream your gigs live from a venue worldwide, give a shout-out for any reason ~ post a press release...have a business we should know about?... or even a "sneak peek" of your upcoming release? How about managers looking for artists, or indie labels looking for submissions...This is the place to do it!
Jaijai is also making herself available to help you promote your artistry with marketing tips that will take you to the next level.
If you are interested in becoming a client, please let her know.
If you want your page designed with your CD cover and special slideshows, or that 'extra special touch' Jaijai will also lend her design skills to those that want that 'extra splash' to their pages.
Contact her here on the site to discuss your creative thoughts!
Happy Networking!
:-)
Artwork courtesy of Jeff Laibson
SPOTLIGHTED ARTISTS
Finding THE JAZZ NETWORK has been an amazing experience for Musique Noire. The opportunity to not only gain exposure among the jazz community, but to also learn and network with others in the jazz world has been invaluable. It is a place where we are all treated equally, whether one is a major label act or an indie artist, whether one plays traditional jazz or any of the "branches" of the jazz Family "tree".
Musique Noire is honored to be spotlighted here and are deeply grateful to Jaijai for creating this wonderful world. We're here to stay!
~ Musique Noire
Jaijai, what a wonderful mission you've undertaken to create such a place for artistic minds to meet and share their hearts. A place to renew faded determinations, and revive lessened momentums. A place to display our wares and reconfirm to one another that we actually are on the right track.
I commend you, Jaijai, for caring so much that you created this castle of the heart for all of us. I want to share my praise for all of the new friends as well as old friends that I've met and will meet here in our castle. Here we can garnish the where-with-all, the strength, the conviction, and the selflessness through our symbiosis, to share our gift to the world with an unbiased agenda.
My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda says of art: "A beautiful flower delights and refreshes the hearts of all people equally, no matter what soil it grows in. That is the power of beauty. The same is true of great art. It is this spirit that the German poet Heinrich Heine sang of when he wrote that once the peapod bursts open, the sugar peas inside are for everyone to enjoy."
Let's be audacious, my friends!
Buster Williams
"It was a pleasure to be featured on the Jazz Network Main Page. This Network is a unique forward step for independence, contact and conversation between artist, promoters/agents and fans.
Thank you Jaijai for offering a professional meeting place. I've met new musicians and rediscovered old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. May we all continue to expand this network.
~ Will Calhoun
"I think that what Jaijai Jackson has done with the Jazz Network shows how the eternal love for this music is passed down from generation to generation. The fire her father lit in her has burned brightly and has inspired her to pass this torch on to future generations. I'm very proud to be featured and I'm very happy that Jazz has a voice and spirit like Jaijai looking after it."
~ Ron Kearns
I am so honored to be on The Jazz Network with so many wonderful and dedicated musicians. Jazz is the truly American art form and as I travel to other countries I find that their appreciation for jazz is really uplifting. There are so many excellent jazz musicians around the world now and The Jazz Network is helping us to find each other. Thank goodness for people like Jaijai who have dedicated so much time and effort to keep the jazz community together and for opening doors to us that we may never have found.
Regarding education in jazz, having done Master Classes in many places I find students need to take time and learn from the Masters and LISTEN. They should go back in history to appreciate ALL styles of jazz and its development. They need to learn melodies and lyrics (yes, even instrumentalists need to know lyrics) and that jazz is not just a series of modes and riffs. I think The Jazz Network can be an excellent tool for that also.
Thank you Jaijai...you are awesome!
~ Lenore Raphael
"Thank you Jaijai for creating a space for the likes of me! I truly enjoy being featured here and really hope it can give me new contacts and opportunities.
Keep up the good work!"
~ Patrick Rydman
Sweden
"The Jazz Network has come into being at just the right time. I believe that we are forever in need of spiritual and artistic enrichment and the way I see it, music, particularly jazz music, is all about the spirit. The Jazz Network allows us to reach out to our fellow artists across the world, in a way that has not been seen before, enlightening us as to who's out there making hip and happening music and helping to shape the culture. Whether artists approach this music from traditional perspectives or attempt to create new and radical sub-genres of jazz, the Jazz Network
is providing exposure, performance and recording opportunities that we might never have found on our own.
The Jazz Network is an amazing resource for the Jazz community. I'm
honored and happy to be a part of it.
Jaijai, thanks for your faith and what you're doing for the jazz community"
Best,
Nicolas
It’s a rare occasion when you meet someone who you feel a real connection to … Someone who possesses a kind spirit, unyielding generosity and a dedication to the jazz community beyond expectations.
Jaijai, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic website for the jazz community. You’ve helped artists connect with each other around the world.
I’m proud to have The Jazz Network be the first site to promote my latest recording. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to the music and the artists.
With much love and gratitude,
Denise Donatelli
Hi Jaijai,
Stopping by to show you some love and tell you just how much I appreciate all you've been doing here, not just for me but for this incredible community of jazz musicians. I see that The Jazz Network is growing in leaps and bounds daily and want you to know that I recognize the importance of what's going on here, musicians having a place to connect with each other, young musicians having a place to meet and be mentored by musicians who have been around the block. You've created a beautiful space here and it's obvious that folks are feeling very much at home. Thanks for sharing your time, your heart, your soul. This is a huge commitment and you've taken it on with such determination. I wish you and The Jazz Network continued success and support you in all you're doing.
~ Marcus
© 2008 Created by Jaijai Jackson aka. "Woman of Jazz"
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Comment Wall (12 comments)
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Musically yours,
Maria
www.mariahowell.com
Have a great Monday!
Karina
Let me know what you think of me.
Julie Anne
I would love to stop in and watchyou when you (if) you hit the Seattle area...we have a great venue's....!
Thank you...
Cheryl
Why hello there!
Cheryl
All the best,
Bibi
Bill
long time no see...hope all is swell
what's up?
dave s
www.creatingcommunities.net for my new dream (fast becoming reality!)
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