J’Nae -- songwriter (all lyrics and music), vocals and Piano/Rhodes
Influences
Alana Davis, Al Green, Alicia Keys, Alvin Youngbood Hart, Amos Lee, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Annie Lennox, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Aretha Franklin, Art Blakey, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand, Beastie Boys, Ben Folds, Bill Withers, Billie Holiday, Billy Joel, Billy Strayhorn, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Marley, Bobby McFerrin, Bonnie Raitt, Bono, Boston, Captain & Tennille, Carlos Santana, Carmen McRae, Carole King, Cassandra Wilson, Chaka Khan, Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Claude Debussy, Clifford Brown, Count Basie, Cyrus Chestnut, DAngelo, Dave Matthews, Depeche Mode, Desree, Diana Krall, Diane Schuur, Dianne Reeves, Dinah Washington, Dionne Farris, Dizzy Gillespie, Donny Hathaway, Doobie Brothers, Doors, Duke Ellington, Eagles, Earth Wind & Fire, Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Erykah Badu, Etta James, Frederic Chopin, Gavin DeGraw, George Benson, George Gershwin, George Harrison, George Michael, Georg Frideric Handel, Gladys Knight, Harry Connick Jr., Howlin Wolf, India.Arie, Indigo Girls, Israel Houghton and The New Breed, Jaco Pastorius, James Brown, James Taylor, Jamie Cullum, Jamiroquai, Janet Jackson, Jewel, Jill Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Johann Sebastian Bach, John Coltrane, John Lee Hooker, John Lennon, John Mayer, Jon Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Karen Carpenter, k.d. lang, Keb Mo, Kirk Whalum, Lauryn Hill, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Leonard Bernstein, Lionel Richie, Louis Armstrong, Ludwig van Beethoven, Luther Vandross, Lyle Lovett, Macy Gray, Marshall Tucker Band, Martin Sexton, Marvin Gaye, Maxi Priest, Maxwell, Meshell Ndegeocello, Melissa Etheridge, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Muddy Waters, Musiq Soulchild, Nnenna Freelon, Nikka Costa, Nina Simone, Nine Inch Nails, Nnenna Freelon, N.W.A., Oscar Peterson, Otis Redding, OutKast, Ozomatli, Patti LaBelle, Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, Phil Collins, Prince, Rachelle Ferrell, Ray Charles, Remy Shand, Robert Johnson, Robert Randolph, Rolling Stones, Run DMC, Sade, Sam Cooke, Sam Harris, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Vaughan, Seal, Shelby Lynne, Sheryl Crow, Sly & The Family Stone, Steven Schwartz, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Take 6, Teena Marie, Terence Trent DArby, Thelonious Monk, Three Dog Night, Tina Turner, Tito Puente Jr., Tori Amos, Tower Of Power, Tracy Chapman, Van Morrison, Vanessa Williams, Willie Nelson, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Wynonna, Yolanda Adams
J’Nae recently returned from JAPAN where she was performing her music, writing and doing promotional work for Japanese radio, TV and publications. Her time in Japan included photo shoots and interviews for various magazines, filming for various TV shows, obtaining placement for licensed original songs, radio shows featuring personal interviews and her music, performing almost nightly and pre-production work for her new album. Already receiving radio airplay, J’Nae met with radio personalities and promoted her music. She worked with amazing musicians and shared her music with Japanese audiences on a nightly basis. J’Nae also recorded a studio album in Japan with twelve songs. She has only recently returned to Los Angeles and is already busy with many exciting opportunities.
Growing up in Texas as an only child gave J’Nae the family support and opportunities to participate in many diverse musical activities. Dance lessons in jazz, ballet, tap, hip-hop, and modern dance began at age 3. Piano lessons started at age 7 and by age 8 she was winning Texas state wide classical piano competitions. She then began singing in church when she was 8 years old. At age 10, she was singing and performing weekly. Throughout high school, she was competing and winning state dance competitions as well.
J’Nae graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California as the first person to major in Vocal Jazz. After USC, she then completed post-graduate work in Music Business and Songwriting from UCLA. She also attended numerous master classes and studied privately under the great jazz pianist Lori Mechem at the Nashville Jazz Workshop (Nashville, TN.) as well.
J'Nae is a full-time professional musician that performs numerous shows every month. She continuously plays the most coveted artist clubs/venues in the Los Angeles area such as The Temple Bar, The Mint, The Derby, Tangier and The Baked Potato, just to name a few. She has also played such festivals as the John Coltrane and Long Beach Jazz Festival. In addition to her singing, J'Nae has obtained song placement in TV/Film, toured as a professional back-up dancer, worked as a correspondent on the internationally syndicated cable TV show, “Entertainment That Counts” (with Arthelle Neville) and has performed/recorded numerous voice-overs and jingles for TV including Squirt soft drink and Blockbuster. She continues to obtain TV/Film song placement and currently records jingles/voiceovers as well. J’Nae sings for private corporate functions and works as a studio musician, including background vocals and songwriter demos. As a vocalist, J’Nae consistently plays/records with prolific, talented musicians including Shelly Berg, Katisse Buckingham, Kirk Whalum, Jay Gore, David Leach, Lori Mechem, Roger Spencer, Chester Thompson, Jack Pearson, Pat Bergeson, Edwin Livingston, Donald Barrett, Brandon Coleman, Tim Kobza, Chris Wabich, and Michael Bluestein.
J’Nae recently received several honors as an artist and songwriter. She was named Music Connection's "Top 100 Hot Unsigned Artists". This competitive list includes ALL genres of music and J'Nae made the cut being only one of three jazz artists named on the entire list. She was also recently named ‘Top Female Artist’ for the “So Cal Live Acoustic Competition”. J’Nae competed against numerous female singer/songwriters over six months of competitions for the title. And, with over 15,000 applicants from all over the world, J'Nae placed in the ‘International Songwriting Competition’ in both the “Jazz Composition” and “Performance” categories last year. She is a prolific ASCAP singer/songwriter, writing her passionate music and confessional lyrics for almost three hundred-fifty songs. J'Nae not only sings, writes, dances and plays piano but she also acts and plays acoustic guitar.
J'Nae has recorded two albums: “Soultry Jazz” and “Unconditionally”. “Soultry Jazz” includes jazz standards, pop songs arranged in the jazz genre and original songs. It receives consistent airplay on several jazz radio stations in the South Eastern United States and Japan. “Unconditionally”, an album recorded just for her Japan adventure, consists of all original jazz tunes along with one live version of J’Nae’s favorite Billie Holiday song. She is currently in pre-production on her next full original album, due out in Summer 2009.
J’Nae gives her entire soul in each performance, whether acoustic with only her piano or high-octane energy with her full band. Her smile, down-to-earth Southern persona and charisma only add to her charm. J'Nae's commanding stage presence, powerful three-octave range, heart-felt piano playing and soulful voice combine to make her a ‘one-of-a-kind’ performer and life-long, true artist.
How have you been ? It's been awhile since I've talked to you. I hope that this comment reaches you and your family in great health and spirits. I'm doing well and as usual working on music and performing. Stopping by to say "Hi" and send my love and well wishes. Take care, stay safe and have a wonderful weekend beautiful lady !
Hello Gorgeous! It was so great to see you last night! I could listen to you and watch you forever, I throw in foot massages for my part. :-) I can't wait for your new CD. See you again soon. Hugz, Bill
