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 On
February 17, 2003, jazz music welcomed the birth of six sons - Jaspects.
Since its inception, its sole purpose has been to “redefine all aspects
of jazz.” Jaspects, first a brotherhood and medium through which a group of
friends would better their musical gifts, has evolved into a vessel for
six men to share their gifts, as a means to inspire and uplift. It strives
to bring jazz, molded by African Americans, back to the forefront of
poplar music by introducing it in a way that other generations can
understand, appreciate, and digest. Sons
of the illustrious
Morehouse
College
, Jaspects infuses its influences of jazz, R&B, hip hop, and gospel
music to create a sound that exists in all musical realms.
Individually,
band members’ works have appeared in 2005’s major motion picture, Hustle & Flow, on Carlos
Santana’s latest album, “All
That I Am,” and the 2005
and 2006 Historically Black College and University All-Star Big Band that performed for the International Association
of Jazz Educators (IAJE). Collectively, the group has performed for Yolanda
Adams, Ted Turner, and
even the ultimate jazz lover himself, Bill
Cosby. After performing for Dr. Cosby, the band was asked to perform
during the Ray Charles Tribute held
in
Beverly Hills
,
California
, where Samuel L. Jackson,
Quincy
Jones, and Stevie Wonder were in attendance.
In
both 2005 and 2006, the band completed one-week, self-produced tours
across the southeast and mid-west regions of the country. The first tour
served as the unveiling of the group’s debut release, “In ‘House’
Sessions…,” which was met with critical acclaim. Thomas R. Erdmann, Jazzreview.com critic, wrote, “It’s not often
one encounters a jazz recording where every single composition stands out,
but they do in aces on this collection.” During those same years, the
band won the “Future of Jazz Competition” in
Atlanta
,
Georgia
, which created an opportunity for them to perform at the 28th
and 29th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festivals. They intrigued several
media groups including BET Jazz, which featured the band in a documentary
covering jazz festivals around the world in 2005.
With
the release of the sophomore album, “Broadcasting the Definition,”
Jaspects has accompanied Purple Ribbon recording artists Scar and Janelle Monáe
(under the direction of Antwan “Big Boi” Patton of Outkast),
as well as collaborated with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former personal
assistant, Fonzworth Bentley and rap-artist David Banner, exhibiting the
versatility to perform all music forms, including jazz and hip hop,
without compromising the two.
Jaspects strives to “redefine all aspects of jazz,” by
first defining its source of strength as God. Through help from God and a
commitment to the pursuit of excellence, the group’s chief objective is
to convey all positive universal truths through the only universal
language – music.
Terrence LeVelle Brown
Piano
– Music Director (MD)
Born October 16, 1983
 Terrence Brown has been a true lover of music since
birth. His desire to play the piano was instilled in him at about age
four. As he began to evolve as a pianist, he began to excel in the styles
of music that allowed room for improvisation and "ad lib," thus
his forte became gospel, neo-soul, R&B and jazz. Although he mastered
several instruments, including the alto sax in middle school and later the
bass guitar, Terrence never formally studied music until college.
Terrence
was named the #1 High School Jazz Pianist in the state of
Tennessee
and was therefore granted the opportunity to perform with the late jazz
piano legend, James Williams. He went on to win a number of awards for
soloing and sight-reading, specifically in the
University
of
Memphis Jazz
. He won
First Place
in the NAACP ACT-SO Competition for Instrumental Music Contemporary in
Memphis
, qualifying him to enter the national competition where he placed second.
Terrence’s
arrangement of the Negro Spiritual entitled "Changed Mah Name"
was used in the Oscar-winning film “Hustle and Flow,” produced by John
Singleton and directed by Craig Brewer. Paramount Pictures released this
movie in July 2005. “My inclusion in the award-winning ‘Hustle and
Flow’ project was genuinely humbling. To have my work be the catalyst
for the turning point of the film is something that I am immensely proud
of.”
As the music director of Jaspects, it is Terrence’s
responsibility to guide the ideas of each member to guarantee a
distinctive musical compromise. “My
ultimate vision for the band is to speak inspiration into the lives of
others through music, Terrence stated, “With a balance of musical
creativity that represents us all, we can begin to reach the masses.”
Henry C. Conerway, III
Drums
Born November 14, 1984
 Henry Conerway, III was
not only born into a musical family, he was born in a city that produced
several jazz greats. With his parents’ recommendation, he took his first
piano lesson at age four, and from that time, his passion for music has
blossomed. His influence, as it pertains to jazz, is the responsibility of
his father. “I heard it
around the house and in the car and he’d play it when he helped me
practice for my piano lessons. I gravitated towards the freedom that jazz
represents,” he stated.
In middle school, it was Henry’s goal to impress the band director so he
chose to learn the only instrument available, the violin, but he longed
for the chance to play the drums. Two years later, he got that chance.
Music became his focus in high school when he received several significant
awards acknowledging his musical accomplishments. He received excellent
ratings at Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA)
competitions at both the district and state levels, Youth Arts Festival
Chairs, and experienced some of his proudest moments as Drum Major in his
senior year. His musical activities extended beyond school and band camps
to include performing with the Detroit Civic Orchestra, the Civic Jazz
Orchestra, and the city’s first All-City High School Marching Band where
he took on leadership roles.
Henry
is well rounded, and has developed musical expertise performing in various
musical genres. His influences
stem from the likes of Marcus
Belgrave, Art Blakey and Ali Jackson. He
is recognized for his ability to provide music in any venue from the
church to the symphony hall, but his loyalty remains with jazz.
“It’s cool to play someone else’s work, but jazz allows room
for creativeness. When playing someone else’s compositions in jazz, I
can tell their story the way I experienced it. I don’t just have to add
my emotion, I can tell my story through it because I can relate,” the
percussionist expressed.
Henry
now attends
Morehouse
College
where he majors in Music with a concentration in Composition and a minor
in Spanish. His music activities on the collegiate scene include section
leader status in the marching and concert bands, the principal chairs in
both the Atlanta University Center-wide Orchestra and the Morehouse
College Jazz Ensemble, and other performing ensembles around the
community. He believes his role in Jaspects is more than that of
a drummer, but an ambassador of beats. “I must move the listener
and make them feel what I feel. I do that by keeping an authenticity about
my craft.”
Dwayne R. Dugger, Jr.
Tenor Saxophone
Born
February 6, 1984
 Being raised in
Queens
,
NY
, by musically-inclined parents, Dwayne studied the piano, played drums
and also sang in the choir by the age of ten. His interest growing up
mirrored the talents of his mother, a singer, and father, a pianist.
But it wasn’t until a member of his church expressed how much he
was touched by his talent, that Dwayne realized his God-given gift of
music.
When
he was old enough to play instruments in school, Dwayne chose to play the
saxophone, simply because it was shiny. Each evening, his father would
play the sounds of Thelonious Monk and Grover Washington, Jr., and that
served as an unconscious influence on him.
Because of this, he acquired an attraction to jazz music and a
unique sense of rhythm that was apparent as he learned to play the
saxophone.
Dwayne
achieved many musical accomplishments during his grade-school years for
his vocal and instrumental capabilities. He sang in the All-County Choir
for two years, and received excellent ratings for classical saxophone
performance in several high school competitions.
He also won 3rd place in the NAACP ACT-SO (Academic,
Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) regional competition, by
performing two classical piano pieces, “Chopin Waltz in B minor,” and
a rendition of the gospel piece “Holy, Holy, Holy”. In addition, he
was a member of the concert band, jazz band, and the musical pit orchestra
while in high school.
“I
never aspired to be a jazz musician, I wanted to be an architect,”
Dwayne said, despite his musical background.
“I wasn’t sure if I should consider music as a profession,
until I realized that I couldn’t see myself enjoying anything other than
music,” he added. Dwayne arrived at
Morehouse
College
as a Computer Science major and then switched to Music/Performance after
his first week as a freshman. He
graduated magna cum laude, earning a Liberal of Arts degree in
Music/Performance in May 2006. Because
of his superior academic achievement, he was accepted into the highly
prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. His instrumental abilities
gained him initiation into Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America,
Inc. He now attends
Georgia
State
University
, pursuing a master’s degree in Jazz Studies.
James Edward
King
Trumpet
Born
October 19, 1984
 James King attributes his involvement in music to his
mother and older brother. When
James reached middle school, he started music lessons offered in school.
Wanting to follow his brother, he picked up the trumpet and has
since gained his own musical spirit.
Originally
from
West Orange
,
New Jersey
, James and his family moved to
Stamford
,
Connecticut
, and there he began performing with various ensembles in and out of
school. He continued to excel in music and received the Musicianship and
First Chair Awards consecutively in middle school and was selected to
perform in the all-western
Connecticut
concert band.
James
discovered his true love for the trumpet after taking a two year absence
to play high school football and the drums. When he returned to the
trumpet, he was introduced to jazz by his music director. “Jazz was the
only genre in which I heard a commanding voice for the trumpet. In jazz
music, you’re not boxed in and you are free to make your own
interpretations,” James said. He began performing with the jazz ensemble
in school that competed regularly at the Berkley College of Music Jazz
Festival. While a member, the ensemble placed 2nd at the
Norwalk Jazz Festival and performed at various events across the state.
James’s presence in the jazz, symphonic orchestra and concert bands
contributed to the one gold and two silver awards in the Heritage
Festival, making it evident that he possessed a special gift.
James’
mother, a classically trained singer, recognized his musical ability, but
was hesitant about her son pursuing music professionally. “She feared
the possibility of me being a struggling musician, but I know that through
God, all things are possible. What makes me happy is playing my
trumpet,” he said. He received a B.A. in Music/Trumpet Performance from
Morehouse
College
in 2006, where he performed in the Marching, Concert and Jazz ensembles.
While there, he received a performance scholarship and was
initiated into Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc. He now
attends
Georgia
State
University
where he will obtain a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies.
Jaye Patterson Price
Alto
Saxophone
Born February 17, 1984
The late Linda Price declared her unborn son a skilled
musician after his constant kicking during gospel saxophonist, Vernard
Johnson’s concert. The kicking was so disruptive, that she left the
concert early and instead, purchased the record to enjoy at home. Sure
enough, her son’s kicking would continue with every blow of the
saxophone and since his birth, Jaye Price has proven his mother’s
intuition to be true.
The
Anniston
,
AL
, native’s musical journey includes a number of accolades for
outstanding musical performance. In high school, he was recognized for
being the Most Valuable Musician, Most Outstanding Musician and
Oxford
High School
’s first African-American drum major during the 2001-2002 academic year.
He was also presented with the John Phillip Sousa Award for his superior
musical abilities as a high school student.
While currently attending
Morehouse
College
as a Music/Performance major, Jaye is a member of the school’s elite
marching, concert, and jazz ensembles. This has afforded him the
opportunity to perform along side of some of the world’s renowned
players including Bill Pierce, and Jimmy Heath.
When Jaye came to college, it was his plan to form a band similar
to the band he was a member of in high school.
While he made new friends, he also made a mental note of those who
were musically inclined. “The
guys say I subconsciously auditioned them, but I wanted to make sure we
all connected musically,” he said. His vision for Jaspects encompasses
more than just a band, but a source of “infotainment” of jazz as it
correlates to hip hop. “We
understand the language of jazz in order to interpret the message it
conveys,” he said.
Jaye’s eclectic mind and eccentric personality attribute to
the accomplished musician he is today. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc. and a recipient of the Metro Atlanta
Musicians Association (M.A.M.A.) scholarship for the city of
Atlanta
.
Jon-Christopher Sowells
Bass Guitar
Born
January 24, 1986
Jon-Christopher
Sowells innately possessed an enthusiasm for music performance. His
musical talents have been passed through four generations of guitar
players, including his grandfather who was taught to play the lead guitar
by the great Muddy Waters. But before Jon picked up a bass guitar, he was
an aspiring drummer.
Jon
received his first bass at the age of 12, and although others saw his
potential as a future bass player, he wasn’t convinced. The pearl-white
Peavey five-stringed bass guitar went untouched by him for two years, as
he continued to play drums. Over time, his passion to perform outweighed
his apprehension towards the bass, and there was an opportunity to take
over as bass guitarist at his church.
Voted
‘Most Talented’ in high school, initially, Jon had much difficulty
learning to play the bass because he was left-handed. That is when he
decided to teach himself to play by turning the bass upside down. Since
training his ear, playing bass has opened up many doors and has molded him
into an even better musician. In
both 2003 and 2004, he won Best Bass Player at the State Gospel Choir
Competition in
Texas
.
As
the youngest member of Jaspects, Jon was also the last member to complete
the sextet. He was looking for
a gig, during his freshman year at
Morehouse
College
, when he met Jaspects Music Director/pianist, Terrence Brown, in the
music room on Morehouse’s campus. “I’d
heard of the band and thought they were so cool, until I met them,” he
teased. He refers to Jaspects
as a brotherhood. “I’m
like the little brother, but I’d like to think I’m the most mature
when it comes to taking care of business,” he said.
As a Business Management/ Double Bass Performance major, it was his
idea to incorporate Jaspects as a multi-faceted music group.
“Being a member of Jaspects is a blessing.
I feel like my presence was the missing piece to the puzzle,” the
college junior, stated.
All
musicians, young and old, influence Jon. He believes every musician
uniquely contributes to the universe of music. When asked what kind of
lasting impression he would like to make as a musician, the
Dallas
native expressed, “I want to be known as an incredible and respectable
musician, the world’s most famous left-handed bass player.” He is
highly supported by his family and friends, who have taught him to revere
God in all that he does musically and otherwise.
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