Joey Sommerville
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Joey Sommerville

Atlanta, Georgia, United States | INDIE

Atlanta, Georgia, United States | INDIE
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"Atlanta Magazine January 2010 - Georgia Music *In Tune:Joey Sommerville"

In Tune: Joey Sommerville
Kimberly Turner
1/1/2010

Though it seems unlikely, hip-hop’s Jazze Pha, jam band Phish, and Cirque du Soleil do have common ground—they’ve all worked with Atlanta trumpeter Joey Sommerville. A Detroit native who grew up on Motown, Sommerville’s influences are diverse. “Music has gotten so compartmentalized and segmented,” he says. “People ask what I play. I play music. Sometimes it’s gospel. Sometimes it’s jazz. Sometimes it’s pop.”

Sommerville first picked up the trumpet in the fifth grade; by high school, he was playing at church. “Church harmony and gospel music is a large part of my musical DNA, but I also learned to try to phrase and interpret a song like I’m singing it when I’m playing trumpet. It just comes out to be more musical that way, more human,” says Sommerville. That distinctive approach to melody and his diverse stylings—smooth jazz merged effortlessly with Latin, R&B, gospel, and pop—earned him a spot beside the likes of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson at last summer’s American Society of Young Musicians Awards. There, he received the All That Jazz Award for his contributions to the genre.

The horn player hopes to release the follow-up to his 2008 release, Like You Mean It, by year’s end. He’s working with L.A. jazz star Jeff Lorber on the album, but Sommerville never has difficulty finding artists to work with in Atlanta. “Sometimes people here don’t realize how good they’ve got it in terms of the caliber of musicians that they get to hear on a regular basis.” To bring jazz fans together, Sommerville will launch thegetdownclub.com this month.

Photograph by C. J. Garcia - Atlanta Magazine


"Rhythm Jazzations' Malibu Extravaganza Had Something For Everyone"

Rhythm Jazzations' Malibu Extravaganza Had Something For Everyone

By Paula Edelstein

Millions of tourists travel to Malibu, California each year to experience the luxury, sun, surf, and fun of "the West Coast Riviera. Located on a 17-mile stretch along the Pacific Ocean, Malibu has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and is home to the rich, famous and some of the most exclusive and extravagant mansions in California.

One of the surefire ways to a person's heart is to produce a brilliant and entertaining event that has something for everyone. So that's exactly what Herman Regusters of Rhythm Jazzations did when he hosted his birthday celebration and fund-raising benefit for A Place Called Home and Project MuszEd recently. The event drew over 3000 invited guests who danced and dined into the wee hours of the morning at one of Malibu's most exclusive estates.

At the poolside cabana affair, held at the edge of a magnificent infinity pool, starlets in bikinis showed off their buff, tanned bodies, while concert enthusiasts were treated to the sounds of Ka'tia Moraes and Joey Summerville. In the Estate's Great rooms, Himalya and Marcus Johnson entertained guests with their musical thoughts and rousing instrumentals. In the Mansions Nightclub, special guest DJs from London, New York and Los Angeles kept the music happening alongside Ronnie Gutierrez Latin Jazz Band and Susie Hansen's Latin Salsa Band.

Overall, Regusters' guests were very happy with the elegance and positive atmosphere that also included a beautiful bengal tiger (with his trainer of course), a hot air balloon, and a laser light show. Now that's a birthday party! Stay in touch with more events produced by Rhythm Jazzations at www.rhythmjazzations.com - soundsoftimelessjazz.com


Discography

Like You Mean It -2007 - Sojo Music, Inc. - Top Ten National Indie Chart - First single released nationally in April '08 - Album features Wayman Tisdale, Mike Phillips, Marion Meadows and Phil Perry - Street date May 18th on Three Keys Music label and Distributed by Koch Entertainment distribution.

Ride To This - 2002 - Sojo Music, Inc.

Rhonda Smith - "RS2" - 2006 - 10 best of 2006 - Music Magazine - Japan

Khat Phud - "Protect The Innocent" - 2007

Rhonda Smith-"Intellipop" Slow Wine Music 2001-Producer/Engineer/Mixer/composer

Cirque du Soleil - "Alegria"- BMG Music- featured soloist - Juno Award winner/Grammy nominee

Belizbeha - "Charlie's Dream" Sojo Music (1996)
Producer/Engineer/Performer

Unwrapped Volume 4 - Hidden Beach (2006) -featured soloist

Photos

Bio

Trumpeteer Joey Sommerville’s musical essence lies in the Baptist church. "When I was a teenager, I would judge the caliber of my playing by the number of people in the congregation who 'got happy'. If you aren't touching the listener's soul, then you aren't really playing music. Soul communication is the key."

He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including The American Society of Young Musicians 2009 All That Jazz Award.

He has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists including mega-rock group Phish. He was the featured instrumental soloist on the Cirque de Soleil's Grammy-nominated and Juno Award winning album, Alegria. In 2001, he scored a Gavin Top 20 Contemporary Jazz hit as a writer/producer with Bob Baldwin for the single "Business Call". In 2006, Joey took his turn as a featured soloist on Hidden Beach Recording’s “Unwrapped Volume 4”. He also produced bassist/vocalist Rhonda Smith’s “RS2” which features Prince, Sheila E. and gospel great, Fred Hammond. The was voted one of the 10 best albums of the year (2006) by Music Magazine (Japan).

In 2007, Joey started The Smooth Jazz After Dark Series at Sambuca Jazz Café in Atlanta. The Series features Joey and his group performing with a special guest. Past special guests have included Eric Marienthal, Wayman Tisdale, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Jeff Lorber, Phil Perry, Everette Harp, Jessy J, Gerald Veasley, Paul Brown, Nelson Rangell, Ronny Jordan, Chuck Loeb, Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, Peabo Bryson, Ann Nesby, Ronnie Laws, Jeff Golub, Chieli Minucci, Jeff Golub, Jackiem Joyner, Bob Baldwin and Eric Darius. Joey has also performed at major venues and festivals worldwide including The Capital Jazz Festival, Nashville's Music City Jazz and Blues Festival, The Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Discover Jazz Festival (Burlington Vermont), Atlanta Jazz Festival, The Preserve Jazz Festival, Jazz Summer Festival (Nassau, Bahamas), Uptown Market Festival (Hamilton, Bermuda) and The Capital Jazz Cruise 2009.

His latest musical offering, " Like You Mean It" is more than a title, it is a philosophy and code of conduct. "Whatever you do, do it like you mean it!" The album is a labor of love that is both passionate and a whole lot of fun at the same time. Notable collaboraters include Wayman Tisdale on the Average White Band classic, "School Boy Crush"; Mike Phillips playing his heart out on the quiet storm ready instrumental version of Floetry's "Say Yes"; Marion Meadows lending his signature sax sound to "Follow Me" and Phil Perry going where no other vocalist can go on "Reflections". Other standout songs include "Johannesburg" which was recorded in part in Johannesburg with South African musicians and singers and "I Want You Back", a fresh read on The Jackson 5 classic.

The song that gets the most reaction and the one that people always demand at shows is the title cut,"Like You Mean It". “ It appeals to everyone from little kids to grandparents crossing all demographic boundaries. “ I constantly have people come up to me singing what they refer to as "the song"… I love it!”