Jesse “JTJazz” Thompson is reviving Dayton’s jazz heritage by infusing funk elements into modern jazz, resulting in a fresh and captivating sound. Brace yourself for a smooth jazz revival with his newest music! 

 INTERVIEW BY: GINA SEDMAN, WRITER/JOURNALIST & HEAD EDITOR 

 Emerging from the vibrant musical hub of Dayton, Ohio, known as “The Land of Funk,” Jesse “JTJazz” Thompson is a multi-talented composer, pianist, and keyboardist with deep roots in a family of musicians. His journey began with the influence of his professional drummer father, his mother, who played organ and piano in church, and his brother Marvyn Wheatley, who collaborated with Parliament and Slave. He was further inspired by legendary soul/funk bands like The Ohio Players, Lakeside, and Zapp featuring Roger Troutman. 

 Thompson’s drive to honor his family’s musical legacy led him to join the well-known Columbus-based R&B/Jazz group NexLevel. The group enjoyed several successful years, releasing two albums and numerous singles and performing with many notable artists. 

 In 2021, amidst the global pandemic, Thompson’s creativity flourished, resulting in the release of “Weekend Groove,” an upbeat, feel-good track featuring Althea Rene. The song quickly gained popularity, achieving nearly 200K streams on Spotify and marking Thompson’s emergence as a solo artist. 

 Building on this momentum, Thompson released a 7-song EP in 2022 titled The Inauguration of JTJazz (Jesse Thompson—the man behind the keys). This EP signaled a new direction in his career, spawning several hit singles and solidifying his solo presence. 

 Thompson’s artistic path crossed with Judah Sealy, a rising star in contemporary jazz. Sealy’s distinctive saxophone sound, influenced by greats like Kirk Whalum, George Furlow, Gerald Albright, and Boney James, blends R&B, jazz, gospel, neo-soul, and funk, creating a harmonious synergy with Thompson’s style. 

 Looking ahead to 2024, a leap year often seen as a time of inspiration, Thompson remains dedicated to his musical passion. He has collaborated with renowned Producer/Guitarist Adam Hawley and the in-demand Saxophonist Judah Sealy on a captivating mid-tempo track titled “Late Nite,” now available on all digital platforms. 

Jesse “JTJazz” Thompson continues to evolve as an artist, deeply rooted in his musical beginnings yet constantly pushing forward, ensuring his place in the future of music. I had the opportunity to interview this talented emerging star and here’s what he shared with me.  

Hi, Jesse, how are you? I’m fine. 

Awesome! Where are you? Where are you located right now? I’m actually in Columbus, OH.  

OK. Is it cold out there? No, thankfully, it’s pretty warm today. It’s supposed to get into the upper 80s, believe it or not.  

Oh, I’m so jealous. It’s super cold here in the UK.  Oh no!  

Yes, and it’s summertime. But praise God for life. So, Jesse, let’s talk. I want to learn a little bit about you and your new project. Let’s dig in. All right.  

Awesome! Well, first of all, it’s an honor to interview you today. Thanks for having me. I really appreciate this. I’m honored. Thank you. 

You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure. So, Jesse, where are your roots, and where do you currently live? Originally, I’m from Dayton, OH, the land of funk. I was born and raised there. My mom was a church organist and pianist, and my dad was a professional jazz drummer.  

My brother, who plays keys, performed with Slave, Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame, and Parliament. So, I acquired my talent, honestly, and it’s been a wonderful ride. My house was filled with everything from gospel to R&B, funk to big band, jazz, swing to blues. It was just a bunch of really cool genres.  

Absolutely. So, how did your musical environment and your early exposure to legendary bands such as Slave, Ohio Players, and ZAP featuring Roger Troutman shape your musical style and aspirations? Oh yeah, it shaped my identity, helping me realize who I am and where I’m from. It also taught me how to express myself musically, especially dealing with funk and R&B. Being around those guys and seeing them regularly in the streets or at stores was inspiring.  

I used to see Shirley Murdock at “Metro Market,” our top grocery store back in the day. It was in the hood, you know? (Laughs) But, occasionally, I would also see Roger Troutman and all those guys.  

Being around them helped me identify myself and where I wanted to go musically. It also helped me embrace the music, the vibe, and the genre. It was quite an experience.   

Absolutely. You’ve had opportunities to perform with a wide range of artists, from Eric Darius to Paul Taylor. Can you share any memorable experiences or significant learning moments from your time on the road with those musicians? Yeah. I call Eric Darius my big little brother because he’s younger than me, but I learned a lot from him. Being on the road with Eric, Nick Colionne, and other artists like Fourplay and Boyz II Men taught me a lot. 

One key lesson is to always have an open mind as an artist and musician. Always be willing to learn and be a student. It’s also important to understand the business and technical aspects.  

Hanging around independent artists like Eric Darius showed me that sometimes you have to do a lot on your own without a big team like you would have with a label.  

Eric taught me how to approach people, handle business, and treat others. You should always give your best, even if things don’t go as planned at a show. Always treat engineers and staff politely because you never know what someone is going through, and you never know when you’ll cross paths again. Keeping your name and brand clean is crucial. These are valuable lessons I learned on the road with incredible artists.  

Absolutely. Those are wonderful lessons. I have so much respect for Eric Darius. Not only is he incredibly talented, but his heart is beautiful. I loved my interview with him. Such a great guy and a hard worker, too.   

Now, Jesse, the pandemic prompted many artists to explore new creative avenues. For me, it deepened my relationship with the Lord. I got super close with Him during that time and haven’t stopped pursuing my relationship with Him since. I surrendered my entire life to the Lord and haven’t looked back. Yes, ma’am.  

Musically, there was a lot of creativity and self-reflection during that time. Let’s talk about how the mayhem sparked your creativity, resulting in your solo album “Inauguration Of JT Jazz.” Can we discuss the process and inspiration behind creating “Weekend Groove” and how that album represents a new chapter in your musical journey? Yes, to add to what you said, the pandemic was a time to focus and recalibrate spiritually and in everything else. I was blessed and grateful to do something that would bless people, taking their minds off the difficult times and helping them feel grateful, enjoy life, and appreciate it, even during such a depressing time in history for many of us. 

It was laid on my heart to come up with a great tune, and that’s when I created “Weekend Groove.”  

I wanted to create a beat that people could tap their feet to, and it all started coming together. I felt very blessed and fortunate for that. Then, I thought it would be a great idea to add a flute for something different and thought of my sister, Althea Rene.  

I’ve played with her before, so I gave her a call and said, “Hey, sis, I have this tune I’m working on, and I would love for you to consider playing on it.” She agreed, saying, “Absolutely, just send it to me.” I sent her the tune, and she said she’d get to it by Monday or Tuesday since it was the weekend. I said, “No problem, no big deal.” 

She immediately called me back and said, “I love this! This is hot! What are you hearing for this track?” I told her my thoughts but encouraged her to do her thing and be herself. I didn’t want to box her creativity in. I gave her the chorus melody and let her handle the rest. She asked for some time to work on it.  

Gina, she gave it back to me the very next day, and I was blown away! It was incredible! I was so excited and told her, “You killed this! This is awesome!”  

At that point, I contacted another friend, Kelly O’Donohue, who is overseas. I played some of the brass parts, and Kelly understood what I wanted. She did the horn section for me, and it all came together. 

From there, I pieced everything together and released it. It was my first solo single, “Weekend Groove,” and to this day, people love the song and its energy. That’s exactly what I aimed for.  

I wanted it to be a positive listening experience and hoped to bless and encourage people. That was the reasoning behind this project. It’s all about helping, encouraging, motivating, and inspiring people.  

This led to the creation of the entire project, which was a wonderful process. I collaborated with amazing artists like Carl Cox, a saxophonist from Maysa Leak and Incognito, and RiShon Odel, an artist and bassist for Brian Culbertson, Najee, and Rene. It was incredible!  

Lin Roundtree, a trumpet player, and I did a project together called “It Doesn’t Matter.” Remarkably, everything came together. I prayed for things to work out because funding was low, but they did, and here we are. Working with all these amazing artists is such a blessing! 

God is so good, Jesse! I have a question for you. Back in the day, smooth jazz was more instrumental, but now I hear more singers on smooth jazz radio stations. Even artists like Brian Culbertson and Kenny G feature singers on their albums. What do you think about this change in the smooth jazz industry? Music is like a melting pot of creativity and a universal language. Regarding smooth jazz, do you remember when George Benson first came out? He was all instrumental. Then they heard him singing, and it became part of his act because it worked for him and helped him cross over.   

I think the industry is trying to expand smooth jazz by including vocalists instead of keeping it purely instrumental. However, as an artist, you have something to say musically, whether instrumentally or vocally. It’s your canvas to paint. You should be free to express yourself without being forced in any direction. When you enter this business, know your purpose and your why. If your thing is to combine vocals and instrumentals, go ahead. If you’re an instrumentalist, stick to what feels right for you.  

Absolutely! I agree. Growing up in the 70s, I identify as an old soul. I’ve experienced exceptional music from that era. It’s concerning to see genres like soul, R&B, and jazz being marginalized while pop dominates the scene. Rap and pop seem to be the most widely promoted today. However, it’s encouraging to see jazz, R&B, and soul artists collaborating, which strengthens our community and broadens the music industry.   

Instead of isolating ourselves in our respective genres, we can create something bigger together. As we get older, we gravitate towards more laid-back, jazzy vibes. It’s all about relaxing and enjoying the music rather than jumping around on stage. After all, we’ve got to think about that Epsom salt for our sore muscles tomorrow! (Laughs) Right! We’ll have to soak a bit. (Laughs)  

At our age, we just want to chill. But Jesse, congratulations on your new project. Where is it available? It’s available on all digital platforms like iTunes and Apple Music. You can also purchase it on my website at jtjazz.com. I have all my projects there, and if you order from the website, I’ll send an autographed hard copy on CD.  

Awesome! For the younger generation, CDs don’t really exist, but folks like us still love them. (Laughs)   

I know, right? You can count me in that category because our generation is awesome! (Laughs) Yes, and sometimes, people want something tangible. So, I have something for everyone.  

We’re still playing records here in the UK. I love that! I’ve decided that my next project will be an LP because it’s coming back. A guy I know went to a conference and was shocked to hear conversations about hard media making a comeback, like LPs, CDs, and everything else. It’s a revolving door, and I think it’s really cool!   

Absolutely. The music scene in the UK is thriving, with record stores everywhere. People are going crazy buying vinyl records! It’s a way to preserve music. Many artists struggle because of music downloads, but the solution is simple. Let’s go back to the old days of buying albums from the store and supporting the artists.   

Let’s make it more difficult to download music and encourage vinyl, CDs, and cassette tapes. Believe it or not, cassette tapes are also making a comeback. They’re cheaper to reproduce, can hold more content, and have a cool retro look. It’s important to encourage fans to support you by purchasing your music because creating music requires time, sacrifice, and money. That’s right. And you know what, sis? I’m glad you said that because I really want to do that, and I am going to do it. We need to keep the music alive! What you said is golden. Thanks for sharing that; it’s confirmation for me.  

Thank you so much, Jesse! I can’t wait to hear your new album. One last thing before we wrap up – I always like to end interviews with some words of wisdom. Indie Post Magazine was created for up-and-coming independent artists who look up to people like you, who have made significant career progress. What advice would you share to encourage and inspire them? Absolutely. Know your why and who you are and embrace your gift and talent. Don’t take it for granted. Work on your craft and learn the business side of things. Don’t be afraid to learn the business, ask questions, and collaborate. Collaboration is key because there’s strength in numbers and unity. You’ll grow and learn more. Never give up.  

When I talk to young people about music, I tell them it’s okay to pause but not to quit. Sometimes, you need to hit the pause button to refresh yourself but don’t stop. Keep pushing and persevering. Be grateful for where you are and where you’re going. Have a vision and stay focused.   

Don’t let distractions, which I call weapons of mass distraction, throw you off. When you’re in tune with yourself, pray, and believe in your gift, the best is yet to come.  

Those are the main points I would share. We should help one another because that’s the purpose of being here. It’s not about being selfish; it’s about supporting each other. Never quit, and never give up on what you love doing.  

That is so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. Jesse, it is an absolute pleasure and honor to interview such an amazingly talented individual like you. Not only are you talented, but your heart is golden. I’m a heart person, so I love that! I love kind people who want to help others.  

My prayer for you is that God blesses the works of your hands according to His will for your life, that the Lord opens doors for you, blesses you and your family, and keeps you safe in these uncertain times. I also pray that God sends good, genuine, trustworthy, and integral people your way. I am so proud of your achievements and your drive. Continue being a role model because this world needs great role models. God bless you. Thank you! Oh, thank you! God bless you too, Gina. It’s been an honor, and I appreciate it. Thank you so much.