BAAS Entertainment Podcast

Episode 115. Join host Troy Saunders as he chats with writer, producer, multi instrumentalist, and pianist, Jesse Thompson!

Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, known in music circles as the land of funk, Jesse Thompson couldn’t help but be influenced by the city’s great R&B pioneers – including Slave, Ohio Players, Lakeside and Zapp featuring Roger Troutman. For the past 20 years, the multi-talented composer, pianist and keyboardist manifested these inspirations - and helped bring the legacies of these legendary bands forward - as a former member of the popular and prolific, constantly gigging Columbus-based R&B/jazz ensemble NexLevel.

Unlike many long-time band members and sidemen who work towards someday expressing themselves as solo artists, Thompson was content with his existing whirlwind of activity playing with others. But when the pandemic hit, he instinctively used his downtime to, as he says, “sow a seed of happiness” to create "Weekend Groove" - an irrepressible next-gen disco vibin' house beat-driven track featuring flutist Althea Rene, and a horn section by Kelly O'Donohue, that ultimately became the lead single to his uniquely-titled debut album, "The Inauguration of Jtjazz (Jesse Thompson the Man Behind the Keys)."

Though its dance floor-ready lead single "Weekend Groove" will immediately spark excitement and lift the spirits just as Jesse Thompson intended, there are a multitude of other pleasures to experience on "The Inauguration of Jtjazz (Jesse Thompson the Man Behind the Keys)" - an album which truly rolls like an autobiographical blend of his many influences, from those Dayton funk legends to George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample and Brian Culbertson. The album's latest single, "It Doesn’t Matter, " is a sensual, easy-grooving romantic joint featuring Thompson interacting with #1 Billboard charting trumpeter Lin Rountree - who he connected with via mutual connections at the individual HBCU schools they attended. As a showcase for Thompson's great talents on Fender Rhodes, creating a moody effect, and his sparkling acoustic piano, the song taps into Thompson's love of Joe Sample's vibe both with the Crusaders and as a solo artist. The elegant funk ballad "The Right One Baby" offers a similar seductive duality. Troy highlighted three songs from this incredible project, "Weekend Grove," "Obsidian," and "It Doesn't Matter".

Being the son of a father who was a professional jazz drummer and a mother who was a church organist/pianist, Jesse Thompson, aka JTJazz, came by his musical gifts naturally and started playing the drums as his first instrument at the age of five. By the time JT was twelve years old, he played a total of thirteen instruments, the piano being one of them. In addition to his parents, he was influenced by his oldest brother, Marvyn Wheatley, who recorded and played with Parliament and Slave. Thompson spent time with his brothers in the studio hanging out with Slave, Roger Troutman & Zapp, Steve Arrington and other.

These experiences fueled his musical passions and ambitions. While he studied manufacturing engineering and IT at Central State University in Wilberforce, OH, he played in the school's marching band and jazz ensemble and joined the national honorary band of the Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity. His other influences include Alex Bugnon, Jimmy Smith, Billy Preston, Jeff Lorber, James Lloyd and Bob James.

Troy and Jesse discusses Jesse's musical bucket list, future endeavors, giving back, and more.

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