Bio
Exciting, independent artist, AJay Parham, returns to D.C. to drop his freshman CD, Spiritual Soul. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, moved to the Washington Metropolitan area at age eleven, he realized his musical talent through the encouragement of his mother. She played piano, and organ in church since he could remember. “She bought me a trumpet after taking me to see Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, at the age of nine. Little did I know Hugh and Miriam were exiled from South Africa. This later explained the intensity of the performance.”
“The trumpet was just one of the many instruments that didn’t keep my attention until, later arriving to my voice as an instrument.” By then, through the art of scat vocal improvisation, I had developed an ‘ear’ that could translate the sound of most of those instruments I had left on the shelf.”
“Growing up in my household, a typical musical week would sound like Motown, Funk, and soul music. Saturday we cleaned the house to Coltrane, and Sunday we would be in Baptist church.”
“Al Jarreau was the first artist I had ever seen scat (at the Kennedy Center, 1981). Knew inherently that’s the type of artist I wanted to be. Able to tell stories intimately as well as chameleon into an instrument as a band member.”
“I would go on to study the styling of Dianne Reeves, Betty Carter, Leon Thomas, and John Hendricks (who I eventually met in New York). I have a lot of favorites such as, Stevie Wonder, Gil Scott Heron, Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Bill Withers, George Benson, mostly for their ability to tell great stories.”
After numerous club dates, rotating rhythm sections and bands, AJay made his 1993 debut, opening for Carlos Santana, another personal hero of his, Randy Newman, and Keb Mo.
The Spiritual Soul CD song are heartfelt, and have a profound cultural importance to AJay “After traveling the country and world I fell in love with the sound of the world’s music and storytelling styles, which I’ve incorporated in the songs from Spiritual Soul.” Considerably a bold freshman project, filled with sixteen tracks of music that smoothly transition you from super-conscious spiritual experiences to the whispers of world peace. So hold on to your seats, it’s a funky ride!
Pat Lauren
Pendulum Productions