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 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 produced bassist/vocalist Rhonda Smith’s “RS2” which features Prince, Sheila E. and gospel great, Fred Hammond. The album made the 2007 Grammy Ballot and was voted one of the 10 best albums of the year 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 Wayman Tisdale, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, Paul Brown, 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.
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!”
