About

 JACQUES IS A DETROIT, MICHIGAN NATIVE. HE IS CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA.  HIS CLASSIC STYLE, ALONG WITH HIS INNOVATIVE, YET SINCERE APPROACH TO THE MUSIC, ARE  INTEGRAL PARTS OF HIS SIGNATURE SOUND.

IT'S A SOUND STEEPED IN THE RICH TRADITION OF MENTORS LIKE GEORGE BENSON, KENNY BURRELL, AND A HOST OF OTHERS, BUT  EXPRESSED IN HIS VOICE.  IT’S NO SECRET THAT HIS MUSIC IS ROOTED IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOSPEL, BLUES AND IMPROVISED BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SOUNDS OF “TODAY” ARE EQUALLY RELEVANT AS THOSE GLORIOUS DAYS GONE BY. IT IS THAT SYNERGY THAT MAKES HIS MUSIC SWING WITH A STYLE LIKE NO OTHER.

JACQUES IS PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS WJ3 RECORDS  IMPRINT AND NOW HAS THREE RECORDINGS AS AN ARTIST ON THAT LABEL. ALL HAVE RECEIVED GREAT REVIEWS INCLUDING A FOUR STAR RATING BY DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE  AND ONE OF THE “TOP 100” ON THE JAZZ WEEK CHART.

JACQUES HAS PERFORMED AND RECORDED WITH SOME OF THE TOP NAMES IN MUSIC. HE HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH MUSICIANS IN MANY GENRES. HE HAS  PLAYED FOR ARTISTS SUCH AS BERNADETTE PETERS, PHARAOH SANDERS, GREGORY PORTER, JIMMY SMITH, CARMEN LUNDY,THE CLARK SISTERS, LITTLE MILTON ,JAMES BROWN AND MANY MORE!

HE HAS APPEARED IN SEVERAL TV SHOWS,STAGE PLAYS AND MOTIONS PICTURES INCLUDING THE OSCAR-WINNING FILM “LA LA LAND”

HE HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A JAZZ STAPLE IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREAS PROVIDING THE BEST LIVE JAZZ MUSIC AT SEVERAL LOCAL VENUES FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

HE IS A PROFESSOR IN GLOBAL JAZZ STUDIES AT UCLA. 

HE IS A MEMBR OF THE JAZZ EDUCATORS NETWORK, THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS. HE SITS ON THE BOARD OF SEVERAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 

AND IS A MENTOR.   

JACQUES HAS A PASSION FOR CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF JAZZ MUSIC. THROUGH HIS WORK WITH THE THELONIOUS MONK INSTITUTE, MUSIC LOS ANGELES, AND THE DOLO COKER FOUNDATION,  HE MENTORS YOUNG MUSIC ARTISTS. JACQUES IS AN ADJUDICATOR, JUDGING COMPETITIONS BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONWIDE  HE IS A MEMBER AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF  THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ CAUCUS.. 

JACQUES IS ACTIVE IN  HIS COMMUNITY. IS HE SITS AS CHAIRMAN ON THE INGLEWOOD ARTS COMMISSION AS COMMISSIONER AT LARGE. JACQUES IS A MEMBER OF “ 100 BLACK MEN” LOS ANGELES CHAPTER. HE IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE GATHERING SPOT LA.