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jaelun washington
About Me
Jaelun Washington’s passion for music has always
been in his blood. In 1980, he was born into a
house full of music in Dallas, TX. Both of Jaelun’s
parents, Kenneth and Quieda Washington were
musicians.
Jaelun’s dad, Kenneth had a band, The Mighty
Supreme Voices. When they would take breaks
Jaelun would make his way to the empty drum set
to play. Soon, he began to play in his
grandmother’s church.
Jaelun’s school years sharpened his skills on the
drums. He made the drum line at DeSoto High his
freshman year, and continued to perfect his skills
on percussion, snare drum, and drum set. By the
time he graduated he was playing drum set in the
jazz band and snare drum in the DeSoto drum
corps.
He was also beginning to get noticed and
recruited by other colleges as graduation
approached. He received a scholarship to attend
the University of Texas at Arlington. There he
continued to diversify his studies, playing in the
jazz combo, wind ensemble, orchestra and many
other groups.
In 2002 Jaelun won an audition and was on track
to perform with the Disney All-American College
Band. Unfortunately when a health problem
occurred it kept him off the drum set and in the
hospital for a time.
Having to relearn how to play drums was Jaelun’s
rehab and it consisted of long hours of practicing
behind the drum kit.
He then moved to Fort Worth and the town’s top
jazz players recognized this talented drummer.
Jaelun has performing with a wide variety of
bands since 2001 and he continues to be invited
to perform in venues all over the Dallas-Fort
Worth area.
On any given night you can find Jaelun performing
with some of the best musicians and band mates
like legendary: bassist Chuck Rainey of Steely
Dan fame, and Sheryl Crow's saxophonist Shelley
Carrol, Pete Gallio, tenor sax man for the Woody
Herman Orchestra, and Tod Parsnow, guitarist
with trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Jaelun has also
played with the famous Duke Ellington Orchestra.
These performers recognize that Jaelun
Washington respects the fundamentals of music
and looks forward to the positive changes the
future will have on music. He has absorbed the
influences of his favorite players, Elvin Jones, Art
Blakey, and Tony Williams, among others, and
developed them into a style that is immediately
identifiable as his own.
If you’re lucky enough to see Jaelun behind the
drums, you’ll agree he’s a outstanding drummer!