Artist Spotlight: Jaspects

Jaspects is a group of friends all formally trained in jazz at Morehouse College. Jaspects works to rescue the struggling concept of musicianship while breaking down the structural constraints of hip-hop. The band promotes the idea that the culture of hip-hop can support an entity that focuses on musical depth without ostracizing the mainstream fan of hip-hop. Individually, Jaspects’ works have appeared in the 2005 major motion picture “Hustle & Flow,” on Chamillionaire’s platinum albums “Chamillitary” and “Sound of Revenge,” on Carlos Santana’s “All That I Am,” with platinum recording artists David Banner, Wyclef Jean, Big Boi (“Kryptonite”), Mary J. Blige (“Just Fine”) and newcomers Janelle Monae, Algebra, PJ Morton, and Fonzworth Bentley. Collectively, Jaspects has performed on bills with Herbie Hancock, Eric Roberson, Patti LaBelle, George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Regina Bell, Yolanda Adams, Dwele, Bilal, Mike Phillips, the late Gerald Levert and blues legend Francine Reed. After playing for jazz lover Bill Cosby, the band was selected to perform during the Ray Charles Tribute held in Beverly Hills, California, where Samuel L. Jackson and Quincy Jones attended. Jaspects is a two-time Atlanta Jazz Festival “Future of Jazz” winner (2005 & 2006) and was awarded the critic's pick for “Best Atlanta Jazz Band” for 2007 & 2008 by Atlanta weekly magazine Creative Loafing. CNN featured four selections of Jaspects’ music in the 2008 documentary “Black in America.” The National Urban League featured Jaspects during the 2008 National Urban League Gala honoring Nancy Wilson in Orlando, Florida.




For more info on Jaspects check out their Myspace & Facebook.

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