THE JAZZ NETWORK ~ "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG"
-
Jason Parra
EastCoast/Northwest
United States - Share
- Applications
- Blog Posts
- Discussions
- Events
- Groups (4)
- Photos (22)
- Photo Albums (1)
- Videos
Jason Parra's Groups
-
Artists Recording Collective
80 members
-
Songwriters, Arrangers, Composers
91 members
-
Jazz Trumpeters
25 members
-
The J@zz Network Listening Room
194 members
Profile Information
- Marital Status
- Single
- Where are you located?
- Northwest/Eastcoast
- Tell us a little about you....
- Biography---Jason Parra---Contemporary Jazz Trumpet
Jason Parra picked up the trumpet at the age of three; it was his father Julian’s. It was twelve years later that he would start playing the instrument in High School. He was a natural on the horn and after only two years of playing was the principal player in all state, all- northwest and accepted into the prestigious McDonalds All American Band and Jazz Band. As a senior he received a new trumpet for winning the solo competition at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Hampton invited Parra to perform with him and his New York City Big Band during the Festivals closing performance. Jason didn’t disappoint, and after a scorching improv solo he brought the crowd to its feet for a five minute standing ovation. Afterwards Hampton called the performance “outstanding, he’s a remarkable player”.
Jason went on to attend two Universities and eventually finished his studies under Dick Shear (Stan Kenton Orchestra) and noted arranger Dave Barduhn. Parra then formed and started playing with several groups from jazz quartets to funk and rock bands. His first big break was to join Actor Bruce Willis’s blues band the L.A. Accelerators. He later moved to New York City where several opportunities as a writer, studio session player and touring performer presented themselves.
During his career Jason has performed and toured with over a dozen Grammy Award Winning Artists. A short list includes the late Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Arturo Sandoval, Bill Watrous, Dave Weckl, Chuck Mangione, Red Rodney, Gene Harris, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Carl Fontana, Ernie Watts, The James Brown Band and numerous others. After countless suggestions and requests of fellow artists and industry professionals, Jason released his debut solo album Two Reasons”. The music of Two Reasons is a very unique blend of Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, Funk and the modern “cool/smooth” sound. The style was a bit of a risk, as it had the potential to be very successful or to offend jazz lovers the world over. Fortunately for Jason it was the former scenario that occurred and Two Reasons was surprisingly successful. As an independent release the album quickly dominated the independent and internet radio markets. But with the first single release of the song Aguamala things really took off. The CD went for R&R ads and Aguamala sailed into the top of the billboard radio charts for jazz. CD Sales and radio play continue to be strong and Jason’s website has received over a half million visits to date. The critics started taking notice and several of the top Jazz writers from around the world wrote reviews and features--- not a single article had anything but rave reviews. This obviously set’s the stage for a follow up album; as numerous top record labels and industry heavies have shown a great deal of interest in Parra’s music and solo artist career. With the obvious attention and anticipation of a second release that is exactly what Parra will deliver.
The next album is already near completion, as a prolific songwriter Jason merely had to choose which tunes will make the final cut. The next CD will once again stretch the boundaries of contemporary jazz, and this time there will be no holding back. Over the years Parra has developed an incredible virtuosity of the trumpet, as well as the ever elusive distinctive sound that player strive to achieve. This next release will not only showcase the jaw-dropping range and solo technique of Jason Parra, but will also feature some of the worlds best known and unknown talent as guest artists.
“Jason is on the brink of making it big in the modern jazz scene today. He has an undeniable talent on the trumpet and is a prolific songwriter. He also has that intangible mystique of stage presence that is so hard to find. Standing at an imposing 6”3 with dangerous good looks he is the epitome of the jazz cool”. ---SmoothJazz.com
- How did you hear about the Jazz Network?
- trumpet city
- Website:
- http://jasonparra.bandvista.com/
Pictures
Jason Parra's Photos
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
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
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
<"
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"
googled77eeec400d24e5e.html
Comment Wall (22 comments)
You need to be a member of THE JAZZ NETWORK to add comments!
Join this network
I like the photo of you holding your horn.....would make a great portrait.....what do you say? You like too many of my pieces.....which two do you like best?.....how much money you want to spend? I'll make you a great offer.
Did you take that photo of EWF? Wonderful shot.
Holla,
EZ$
:-)
The Mint I performed at was in Los Angeles.
Have a wonderful day
Amber
Nice to meet you. I really liked your groovy tracks, especially Equinox, and your warm sound on Jastomasi. Very cool and smooth. Wishing you continued success and creativity!
Cheers,
Kathleen
View All Comments