Groovemaker of the Month:
Jamey Jaz
About
Jamey:
Having literally grown up in recording studios surrounded by his musical family, Producer/Writer/Arranger/Musician Jamey Jaz's first language is music. A prolific and versatile writer, musician, and producer, Jamey Jaz has co-written and/or produced songs for many artists, including Chaka Khan, Rahsaan Patterson, Gladys Knight, Dionne Farris, Guy Sebastian, Taye Diggs, Tamia, Tevin Campbell, Shanice, D.J. Rogers, Az Yet, Yasmeen, Jody Watley, Ray J, Changing Faces, Zeke Lewis, Vesta, and UK artists Lynden David Hall and Damage. He's collaborated with Ambi, Kiley Dean, Debi Nova, Goldie, Idina Menzel, Terry Dexter and many others. Jamey's recent producing and writing credits include songs on Shanice's "Every Woman Dreams" CD and Mikelyn Roderick's "Copasetic Is."
A
few questions for Jamey:
1.
What are the qualities of a good producer?
Wow what a question! I first would say the ability to enjoy all types of music. Appreciating the fact that there is so much to learn from so many different styles other than one's own comfort zone. I
myself am one of those guys who generally produces the track after
the song is written. I like for the production to compliment the
song rather than the song being sung to a track. Of course I enjoy
doing tracks first as well, but I have to say the records that I
believe are the best seem to be the ones where the song came first.
These days anyone can go to K-mart and pick up some sort of
production tool that allows them to make beats and actually do pretty
decent tracks. I think this is why we have so many songs come and
go. The actual songwriting is not something you can buy from your
local store. It actually requires something beyond technology. When
a Producer can combine technology with raw creativity it seems to be
the element that seperates the men from the boys...or the women from the girls.
2. Give us a quick story or moment with an artist you've worked with in
the studio or otherwise.
Well, of course there are many stories with many different artists.
So it is in fact hard to single out just one. Oh yeah...me
whoopin' Eric Benet in ping pong on my knees!!! And watching Rahsaan
sing "Can't We Wait a Minute" in one take while improvising the lyrics
on the fly.
Groovemaker Archive:
Keith Crouch