Jazz Articles about Jae Sinnett

Hampton Roads Jazz at the Ferguson Center for the Arts

by Mark Robbins
May 30, 2025

Hampton Roads Jazz (HR Jazz) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and presenting jazz in both performance and educational settings. Based in the Hampton Roads (Norfollk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach), the organization aims to enrich the local cultural landscape by bringing world-class jazz musicians to perform, teach, and inspire aspiring artists. Founded by Jae Sinnett, a jazz drummer, educator, and radio host, Hampton Roads Jazz Inc. offers masterclasses, lectures, clinics, and showcases for student musicians. The organization ...

Jae Sinnett Quintet Featuring Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti at the Attucks Theater

by Mark Robbins
November 24, 2024

Since the mid-'70s, when he came to this part of Southeastern Virginia to serve in the Navy, Jae Sinnett's name has become synonymous with excellent jazz drumming nationally and internationally. His first album as a leader, Obsession (Self Produced), was released in 1986 and featured Frank Foster, John Hicks, Wallace Roney, Steve Wilson and Clarence Seay. As either leader or sideman, he has appeared on countless albums since, many of which have featured his compositions, played by some of the ...

Jae Sinnett's Zero to 60 Quartet: Commitment

by Jack Bowers
May 23, 2023

Commitment, drummer Jae Sinnett's nineteenth album as leader, is a generally admirable session wherein his Zero to 60 Quartet is in fact a Quintet on most numbers thanks to the inclusion of renowned trumpeter Randy Brecker who shares the front line with veteran saxophonist Steve Wilson. The quintet comes out smokin' on Sinnett's “Takin' It There" and pianist Allen Farnham's “Wait for Me," after which Sinnett chooses to slow the tempo and lower the heat, not raising ...

Jae Sinnett Quartet at WHRO Studios

by Mark Robbins
February 17, 2023

WHRO is the home of public radio and television in the Norfolk and environs area. As a way of thanking their donors this past year Jae Sinnett and company Terry Burrell, Allen Farnham, Steve Wilson and Randy Brecker performed a Christmas concert for around 100 patrons in the WHRO studios which was recorded and will be released as a holiday special later this year. This group has been performing together for a while and will be releasing an album in ...

Jae Sinnett: Zero To 60

by Dan Bilawsky
February 24, 2016

The title of this record is something of a double entendre, referencing both the arrival of a milestone birthday for drummer-composer Jae Sinnett and the specific decade that helped influence his outlook on music, art, and life in general. But don't let that information fool you. This isn't some nostalgia-filled date with flower power filigree. This is modern jazz that sells itself through the marriage of sophistication and accessibility. And while those two might seem like strange bedfellows, they shouldn't. ...

Jae Sinnett: It's Telling...A Drummer's Perspective

by John Barron
May 27, 2008

It's Telling...A Drummer's Perspective is the brain-child of powerhouse drummer/composer Jae Sinnett. The disc features eight original pieces for quartet, composed by the veteran drummer, ranging in style from hard-hitting fusion to straight-ahead bebop. The music is challenging, yet saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist Allen Farnham and bassist Terry Burrell, all long-time Sinnett collaborators, perform flawlessly through the intricacies of odd-meters and acrobatic song structures.

As the title suggests, this is a drummer's record. Sinnett is not shy about putting himself ...

Jae Sinnett: Off The Myopic Avenue

by Todd S. Jenkins
October 1, 2000

Master drummer Jae Sinnett strikes more gold with his sixth album, full of adventurous time signatures, ear-grabbing melodies and no small dose of funk. The ensemble includes keyboardist Allan Farnham, bassist Terry Burrell and saxophonist Elias Haslanger (who has recorded several excellent albums on his own, including 1997's For The Moment). The tracks include a fun-spirited 7/4 tribute to Keith Jarrett, the mysterious 11/4 'Snake Charmer', a lovely jazz waltz, a nightmarish piano/drum improv and 'Velas' by Ivan Lins (of ...