Welcome to Jazz Em' Up. I love, love, love jazz and blues. This site will not only feature some of the greatest artist from the Washington, DC area; but, hopefully, some of our neighbors will join as well. Anybody and everybody is allowed to join. Don't be shy. If you have an artist you want to see profiled, just give me a shout. Heard any groovin sounds, have any jazz related videos, or want to promote your CDs or events? By all means add them here; but, remember, no nudity, violence, offensive material or language, etc., etc. Pretty soon you will be able to sell your CD's, videos, or whatever right here. So, let your friends know that we are here. But, most of all, just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Usher Tribute to Michael Jackson

SPOTLITE: Arthur Prysock

Arthur Prysock was born on January 2, 1929 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In his teens, the younger brother of Saxaphonist, Red Prysock, moved to Hartford, Connecticut. There he worked in the aviation industry and sang with several small bands by night. He was discovered in 1944 by jump blues bandleader Buddy Johnson, who signed him as lead male vocalist and brought him to Harlem.

During the '50s, Prysock recorded for several smaller labels, but his popularity in concert gradually gained him more exposure. He began a long relationship with the Old Town label, scoring R&B hits with "I Worry 'Bout You" in 1958, Ray Noble's old allad "The Very Thought of You" in 1960, and "It's Too Late Baby, It's Too Late" in 1965. That year, he fulfilled a dream by recording an album with Count Basie on Verve, the label he remained with for most of the '60s. Prysock performed at Carnegie Hall in 1966, and hosted his own TV show for a short time. Prysock died on June 21, 1997.

Autumn In New York

SPOTLITE: Benmol Jean Telfort

Bemol Jean Telfort was born to play music. The Good News Is That The Bad News Was Wrong, his first solo project consists of original tunes, that he composed and arranged himself preserving his distinctive sound. Bemol has written more than sixty songs and performed on more than fifty albums in various capacities. His live performance credits include Guy Dirosier, Gerard Duperrvil, Ansy Derose, Roger Colas and Max Pickion. He is an accomplished arranger and composer with credits too numerous to list. Bemol performs throughout South Florida and the Caribbean. As a child growing up in Port Au Prince, Haiti, Bemol hungered to play and create his own music. At the age of six he began to play the conga, and at eight learned body percussion when he could not afford to buy a drum set. At the ripe age of ten, he made his own guitar out of a gallon jug, some wood, and nylon that he borrowed from his uncle. That guitar was quite different from the regular ones and he tuned it and played it in his own way. The first time Bemol attempted to play a "traditional" guitar, he needed assistance to find the "c" major scale. He was left handed and all the guitars he created himself were done with that in mind...."Nobody had ever seen anyone play like that..." he remarked. Bemol also purchased every guitar book that he could get his hands on. A passion became his guide as he taught himself to play his homemade guitar, conga and transformed his own body into a living, breathing percussion instrument. Some times playing the guitar, he gives an impression of conga sounds: as in the song "Solitude" for example. He continued to hone his skills as a guitarist and created melodies unlike any other. At the age of fourteen he became the leader of a Christian Band that lasted for seven years and recorded four albums. While at home one day he heard the soulful sounds of George Benson playing the guitar. After hearing George Benson, Bemol would never be the same. He then started spending a lot of time teaching himself Jazz and impressed people by playing body music with only his hands, feet and body. Bemol decided it was time for him to leave his home and come to the United States and put his lifelong dreams into motion. When he arrived, he brought Rabordaille (Roots) music, a Haitian street sound that had never been refined. He added other instruments like the guitar, and composed the drum beat. He has created his own style and calls it Rabordialle or Roots music. Another big influence on his musical style was Wes Montgomery. He has combined the styles of these Jazz greats as a guide to refine his own unique sounds. Bemol admits that his music has a certain amount of sadness and melancholy woven into his complex melodies. In "Sadness Is My Best Friend", he is a consummate perfectionist never quite satisfied, but always reaching for greater heights. In 1990, Bemol went to school, as a self-taught musician he sought to correct mistakes and learns techniques to improve his playing ability. He is now an accomplished musician, guitarist, bassist, conga player, composer, arranger and bandleader. Once crazy to be like Benson or Wes Montgomery, he came to realize that there could never be another Benson or Wes, finally he has found his own style .

Check out Benmol's new CD, and videos to the right, to hear his oh so sultry sounds. You can visit his Jazz Em Up page, or go to www.myspace.com/bemoljeantelfort. You're gonna love it!!