Description
Through Improvisation, Jazz teaches you about yourself. And through swing, it teaches you that other people are individuals too. It teaches you how to coordinate with them (Wynton Marsalis)
History – the study of past events, particularly in human affairs; the whole series of past events connected with someone or something.
Improvise – create and perform spontaneously without any preparation; produce or make something from whatever is available
Meets the teachers
John A. Lumpkin II
John Lumpkin II is a producer, mentor, and artist. He obtains a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida under the direction of Danny Gottlieb and a Master’s degree from Florida State University under the leadership of Leon Anderson. In 2009 he was also a part of the Ravinia Steans music institute and betty carter jazz ahead program, John grew up in the Pentecostal church and still plans to exercise his gifts there as well as in other national venues. However, he says “The church is the root of my zeal for music and forever shall be”.
While carrying his talents between Japan and Switzerland, he has also internationally been a part of the Jazz at Lincoln Centers Artist in Residency Program. In 2017 Wynton Marsalis combined with the Dr. Phillips Fine Arts Center in Orlando, FL to create the Dr. Phillips Jazz Orchestra of which John was a part.
Along with his passion for the church, he is also a part of Beyond Music. Beyond Music is an online platform where artists from around the world can create music. The late co-founder Tina Turner was a part of the Ambassadors for this movement and the artistic directors have been Larry Klien, Manu Katche, Michael League, and Bill Laurance.
Throughout his career, John has shared the stage with artists such as Emmet Cohen, Delfeayo Marsalis, Sean Jones, Marcus Roberts, Arturo Sandoval, Curtis Fuller, Doug Carn, Houston Person, Rufus Reid, Vanessa Rubin, James Moody, Nathan Davis, and David Baker. From serving on staff at the University of North Florida and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, he is also the founder of the Jazz Discovery Series, The John Lumpkin Institute, and The Covenant which extends to the community based in Jacksonville, FL and abroad. His level of expectancy drives him to see many other things emerging from his gift of music to the world through his faith.
Wayne Tucker
WAYNE TUCKER is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, violinist, vocalist, actor and model based in New York City. He has released 5 albums under his name and performs regularly with his band, The Bad Mothas in New York City.
Wayne has toured and recorded with a diverse array of notables such as jazz musicians Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Cyrille Aimée; pop acts Taylor Swift, David Crosby, Elvis Costello; r&b singers Ne-Yo and Gabriel Garzon-Montano; hip hop artists Jidenna and Ryan Leslie; and with the rock band Brass Against. This diversity is represented in The Bad Mothas energetic sound where the American Songbook gets a welcome update, including selections by Michael Jackson or Earth Wind & Fire. The group was featured in the New York Times for its steady schedule of street performances during the 2020 shutdown, representatives of New York City’s infamous grit.
Wayne continues to maintain a dedicated presence in the small clubs of New York City alongside a career which makes occasional forays into venues like Madison Square Garden, The Hollywood Bowl, and The Tonight Show, to name a few. As an actor/model he has been featured in ads and commercials for companies like Dove, Mastercard, Bonobos and GMC, and appeared on television shows like Succession and Blacklist. Tucker wrote the soundtrack and co-stars in the short film Hotel Bleu.