The Jaystorm Project

KNOXVILLE — For nearly a decade Jaystorm has built a following as one of Knoxville's top R&B and soul performers. With full backing band of renowned players, The Jaystorm Project, his music lends itself to live shows better than most chart-topping national acts. On the verge of his upcoming full-length album release, Jaystorm will begin the promotion campaign with a music video for his single "Get Wit' Cha."

Like any good showman, Jaystorm is a master of creating anticipation. To whet fans' appetites for the summer unveiling of "A Brand New Funk: The Album," he released a sampling of some of the tracks with the aptly titled "A Brand New Funk: The EP." The album boasts an increased hip-hop influence over The Jaystorm Project's trademark funk backing. Jaystorm credits the honing down of his style to the number of emerging R&B acts in Knoxville, inspiring him to further distinguish himself.

"The R&B scene is trying to emerge here because there are more bands doing it," Jaystorm says. "It makes a huge difference when you aren't the only one knocking it out. Enthusiasts are growing daily because they finally have access and variety to see in this town. Things have changed in Knoxville from when I first started. There are more and more R&B/hip-hop groups emerging and doing big things."

For his upcoming video, Jaystorm spared no expense, enlisting Pack Dog Productions' Michael Samstag, known for his work on special features for "Van Helsing" and three "Harry Potter" DVDs. Despite the producer's previous focus on fantasy, the "Get Wit' Cha" video follows a more typical R&B theme of love in the club.

"I have seen the video and was absolutely wowed by the quality and direction that it went in," says Jaystorm. "The theme is kind of like what you see just about at every nightclub, a dude making passes at a female at the local bar.

"This video is the perfect way to start the whole thing off. I have shot videos before this one and loved it. I shot one called "Twentyfourseven," which really gave me standing in the independent music world and started a fire like you wouldn't believe. It established me as a strong independent. Having this new one as a follow-up shows tremendous growth, which I am very proud of."

While the Jaystorm Project may sit at the forefront of Knoxville's soul and R&B efforts, Jaystorm's frequent performances still feature a large quantity of cover tunes. As his fan base has increased, the ratio of covers to originals has tilted in favor of originals, but Jaystorm acknowledges the fact that covers still draw a crowd, especially when adapted specifically to his own style.

"Never had I thought about doing covers until I saw how many people it can get you in front of," Jaystorm says. "Some folks feel like they are selling themselves short by doing covers, and a piece of me feels that way too, but if this is how I can get to the masses, then I will incorporate accordingly.

"We aren't your typical band that 'covers' songs. My take on it is that if you have to do covers, put yourself in the cover like it was written for you and not try to duplicate the song. That particular route has got me where I'm at today, which is long way from where I first started.

"I admit we do covers because it pays the bills, but don't get it twisted, because we have a live show full of originals that will stand next to anybody 'round these parts and way further."
- Knoxville News Sentinel - Jer Cole (Music Journalist)

Since Cincinnatti Red's pitcher Mike Lincoln opened Lincoln’s Sports Grill in Oak Ridge, TN on March 15th 2010, it easily taken it’s place among some of the very best restaurants around. It is known for its food, family fun and an array of live music.
Every Thursday-Saturday typically from 9PM-Midnight, the air becomes electrified as new and exciting live bands takes center stage. The bands genre ranges from Bluegrass, Country and Rock to Funk.
When we stopped by, they featured a well-known Knoxville band, The Jaystorm Project (www.JAYSTORM.net). Jay and his band have been voted the #1 Band in Knoxville (via Metropulse), not once but twice (2008 & 2010). Musically some of their influences are: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gay, Jimmy Hendrix, and RUN-DMC.
The Jaystorm Project is an original band even though they do a lot of covers, they do them in such a way, the songs seem like their own.
When I first heard that this group’s genre was Funk, I didn’t quite know what to expect. However, I was not disappointed. Jay and his crew consistently blew every cover they did out of the water.
Collectively they sounded better than the original groups. But my complements don’t end there. I feel this article would be insufficient if I failed to mention that this band achieved the highest possible mark that I could ever give any group. The Jaystorm Project actually performed several songs that I personally dislike, however, they played, sang, and stylized them so well that the songs actually became something fantastic.
It seems that each and every member is both highly animated and well above average in how they play. Quite honestly this is the sort of band that does so well, they make other bands look bad. Bringing a whole new life and energy, The Jaystorm Project is something people will have to see to believe.
- The Daily Express

The Jaystorm Project does it again! - MetroPulse 'The Best Of Knoxville" Issue 2012

It’s midday on a Monday afternoon, and Jack Greene Park is deceptively empty save for one man, sprinting across the stage.

He pauses at the top of the stairs and gazes wide-eyed at the expanse of green grass, empty except for an occasional walker circling the Greenbelt. It is an oasis of calm in the middle of downtown Maryville, but in his head, he hears the screams of thousands of fans, and in his eyes you can see the wheels turning.

He will own them all. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Foothills Fall Festival, Reba may be the headliner, and up-and-coming country acts Steel Magnolia and The Band Perry may go on after him. But come 3:45 p.m., he will have that crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

“Boy, I’m gonna be all over this stage!” he says, taking a practice run from the spot where the drums will likely be to the edge, hands clutching an invisible microphone, eyes a blaze of intensity. “The funk is coming straight at them, and it ain’t gonna be nothing nice. It’s gonna be high energy, and those people better be ready.”

Foothills Fall Festival organizers pride themselves on offering something for everyone, but this year’s lineup may be its most diverse yet — as well as the one throwing the biggest curve ball at fans. The classic rock headliner has been moved to Sunday night and will be preceded by hardcore local country bands Southbound and The Drunk Uncles, among others. Friday night, local rockers Jonathan Sexton and the Big Love Choir and Oh No Fiasco will get the crowd primed for country star Sara Evans. And Saturday, Jaystorm is one of the outside-the-box performers who go on before Reba and her tourmates.

It’s something different, to be sure. But Jaystorm — born J.J. Sarden in Greeneville — is nothing if not up for a challenge. He’s hustled and muscled his way to one of the most in-demand performers in the local music scene, and the way he sees it, performing for a sold-out crowd at the Foothills Fall Festival elevates his status even further. It hasn’t been an easy path, but then the way of the local troubadour never is.

He was 9 years old when he first became aware of music’s power, he said. His brother used to listen to a lot of George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, sounds that gave him a funky foundation he still builds his music upon today. Growing up in Greeneville, he found himself surrounded by the classic rock sounds of bands like Foreigner and AC/DC as well, and he soaked those up, too.

“I started lip-syncing, pretending I was a star, about the fourth or fifth grade,” he said. “I was up every morning with a comb in my hand, reciting Prince’s whole album ‘1999.’ I’ve always envisioned wanting to be a star.”

Attending Union College in Kentucky, he entered a lip-syncing contest one night, and the effect was electrifying, he added.

“It was like a huge deal — I got on that stage, man, and those people were cheering even though I wasn’t singing one note,” he said. “The feeling that gave me was amazing.”

Deciding the feeling was worth walking through the fear of having others hear his voice, he started writing and reciting his own rhymes, and in 1991, as part of the group PD-6, he cut his first studio product at Underground Studios in Kodak. PD-6 made a name for itself as a local hip-hop unit, opening shows for 95 South and Blessid Union of Souls, before the members decided to go there separate ways.

“It got to where I could go right or left; left was the safe way, going back to school and starting a family and getting a 9-to-5,” Jaystorm said. “Me, I went right — but I kept my 9-to-5.”

He went to college and obtained his accounting degree; his education in the music business was largely a process of trial and error. With PD-6, he learned the ins and outs of booking shows, managing a music career and securing financial backing. In 2002, Jaystorm, the entertainer, was born.

At first, he tried to do shows to pre-recorded music tracks. He quickly learned that’s a dead end, no matter how lyrically witty or awe-inspiring his rhymes might me.

“There’s no money involved in that,” he said. “I found out it was difficult to do shows to tracks and do more than five shows in a year. The only way to do it is to sell your CDs. I figured out I had no choice but to do live music, because I saw that the people playing live were playing out all the time.”

He gained some exposure opening for such hip-hop artists as Mystikal, Coolio, Petey Pablo and Sir Mix-A-Lot, but for the longest time he never connected with live performances. Friends would take him to see bands, and boredom would set in shortly after his arrival. Local singer-songwriter Dave Landeo helped change his band, along with the band Skinny Little White Girl.

“They used to let me get up and rap, and I just did my rhymes over their beats,” he said. “Every time they’d play out, I would try to be there to get on stage, and the nights I couldn’t get up there, I was very disappointed. The same thing happe - Steve Wildsmith - The Daily Times

AJ&DBS Management, a talent support and development company based in Miami Beach, Florida and Los Angeles, California interviewed Jaystorm (The Jaystorm Project) about future endeavors on their musical journey - Aj & dbs

The Jaystorm Project’s ‘Get Wit Cha’ has turned quite a few heads on the first leg of the marketing campaign led by Andy Gesner, president of Hip Video. The champagne has taken off full steam ahead bring a total of ten adds during the first installment of the promotion. It seems that programmers across all platforms are taking notice of The Jaystorm Project.
The “Get Wit’ Cha” clips has landed on the play lists of multi-market, regional, retail pool, and internet outlets so an impressive number of eyeballs have definitely connected with this video.
“The initial feedback and support the video has received thus far is quite impressive”! says Andy Gesner, Hip-Video Promo “As the weeks progress, we expect to see many more programmers to come out and support this excellent song and video”.
- Andy Gesnar, Hip Video Promo

Jaystorm

While the Knoxville music scene is quick to glorify its hyped-up rock hopefuls, the next big talent to emerge from the small pond may very well erupt out of one of the city’s largely unsung genres-- R&B. With a new live band and an unparalleled professional diligence, Jaystorm is on course to realize his dreams of national attention.

Jaystorm’s pride is in his versatility. Having collaborated with rock and hip-hop outfits in the past, he never lost focus on his individual project which has combined elements of hip-hop and R&B and now emphasizes funk and soul to boot. The evolution was made possible by a backup band of local notables (Dave Landeo and brothers Aram and Sevan Takvoryan) who see the potential in Jaystorm’s voice and business sense.

“I finished that one album ‘Let’s Do This’, and now I’m working on my second one,” explains Jaystorm. “The first was to electronic beats and I’ve had a few producers; now I’m trying to come out with a live album, half and half, because I’ve got a live band now. My style on the last album was R&B with a twist of hip-hop. What I’m graduating to is funk-soul with a twist of hip-hop.”

Since incorporating live instrumentation, Jaystorm has been able to book an impressive quantity of live shows, many of which have been opening for superstars such as Coolio, 112, Nappy Roots, Mystikal, and Petey Pablo. Despite his association with such big names, what brings most fans back for more is his personal touch. Jaystorm’s likeability prevails in post-show promotion as the singer makes an effort to meet and thank all in attendance. This is but one staple of a persistent marketing agenda that has and will almost certainly continue to pay off for the enterprising vocalist.

“I’m a marketing dude,” Jaystorm admits. “I’m all about marketing. I think that this business is 95 percent marketing. Yeah, you’ve got to have talent and stuff like that, but it applies to any product. I think Tide with bleach is the best damn detergent out there, but Tide with bleach isn’t going to sell-- even though it’s real good-- it ain’t gonna sell without no commercials. It’s about the marketing and it’s about stepping up and taking charge.”

Other triumphs for Jaystorm’s work have come in the form of rave reviews and international web-zine top ten listings. After seeing such support for the act, it is a wonder that East Tennessee doesn’t produce more R&B-related ensembles. Jaystorm theorizes that the scarcity of such projects doesn’t result from a lack of interest.

“I think the market is so saturated with the other genres, these other guys don’t feel like they even have a shot to play at any bar,” asserts Jaystorm. “That’s what I think. There’s definitely a market for it. People want to see more stuff like that. You’ve got a couple of bands that do some, but me, I’m bringing it all night.”

Although Jaystorm has his sights set on national fame, don’t expect him to neglect his home base just yet. His route to the top will consist primarily of regional gigs as he notes the importance of local recognition.

“Everything I’ve ever read says even though you may have a lot of talent, if you move somewhere else you’re starting all over,” he says. “There are bands where you’re going, and they’re known and you’re not, so they’re way ahead of you. A lot of record execs say you have to show a label that you can blow up your own spot before you go somewhere else. You have to show that you can start a regional buzz and that’s what attracts. When they see you blowing up, and you’ve got more of a buzz than their artists in their area, and you’re doing it on a limited budget, that’s something to look at.”

Jaystorm plays tonight at The Downtown Grill and Brewery. The show starts at 9:30 and is free. In addition to his set list of soulful funk and R&B, expect a surprise or two when Jaystorm breaks out acoustic renditions of crowd-pleasing rock anthems such as Whitesnake’s “Is This Love.” Jaystorm will also appear at Gatsby’s in Johnson City Saturday night. For more news and upcoming show dates visit www.jaystorm.net.

- The Knoxville News Sentinel - Jer Cole (Band Scene Journalist)

Get ready Knoxville, because the funk revolution is coming to the Old City. Local independent artist Jaystorm will be performing live at Patrick Sullivan’s tomorrow night with special guest Skinny Little White Girl.

Jaystorm is one of Knoxville’s own rising musicians, noted for his soulful sound blended with undertones of hip-hop and funk. As a musician, Jaystorm said he feels confident in performing a wide variety of styles.

“I have a solid combination in the delivery of all my songs,” Jaystorm said. “I can sing and rap — like Lauren Hill and Missy Elliot do. I put all my energy and emotion into each song.”

Noted for his onstage presence and versatility, Jaystorm has quickly risen through the ranks of a genre that is relatively new to the region. Drawing from such influences as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Jaystorm’s abilities as an artist have allowed him to open for such major label artists as The Nappy Roots, Mystikal, Young Joc and Petey Pablo.

After completing two full-length albums with his former R&B group PD-6, public demand forced Jaystorm to release his first solo album “Let’s Do This” in 2004. Since then, he has worked for various fundraisers and charity events throughout the upper east Tennessee region.

While promoting the album, Jaystorm racked up some noteworthy credentials, including a nomination for 2005 Southern Entertainment Awards’ Independent R&B Album of the Year, a nomination for a Chicago-based Battle of the Bands national competition and a music video that saw regular rotation among several television stations. Currently, Jaystorm is preparing for and promoting his much anticipated sophomore release “TwentyFourSeven,” which is due this spring.

“Jaystorm definitely has the gift of groove,” Mike Allison, a sophomore in engineering said. “I’m looking forward to getting my funk on Friday night.”

Opening for Jaystorm will be another of Knoxville’s own intensely funk bands, known as Skinny Little White Girl. The band is made up of seven musicians and adds a stylistic edge by featuring three vocalists and a saxophone. Skinny Little White Girl has been performing regionally for several years and seems to pick up more funk followers everywhere they go.

So start the weekend right by supporting two of Knoxville’s rising stars, and expect nothing short of a good time. Whether you’re a funk band lover or just looking for the party, Jaystorm and Skinny Little White Girl are sure to provide it. For more information on the event, check out www.jaystorm.net or Jaystorm’s page on MySpace. The concert starts at 9 p.m. at Patrick Sullivan’s on Friday with a $7 cover.
- The Daily Beacon

Nobody besides Jaystorm would have ever considered putting both singer/songwriter Dave Landeo and rapper Mr. Mack on the same disc; even if the two don’t perform on the same song, A Brand New Funk still wins the prize for pairing the two unlikeliest guest spots on a local record in recent memory. Jaystorm is himself an unlikely performer, mixing rapping and singing—sometimes it’s hard to say whether he’s doing one or the other or something in between. With Landeo, he does a low-key, irony-free version of Whitesnake’s "Is This Love?" with surprisingly resonant results, his smooth vocals working the chorus for every ounce of emotion over Landeo’s classically inspired acoustic guitar. On "That’s the Shhh," a bouncy club anthem featuring Mr. Mack, Jaystorm works in R. Kelly territory, putting staccato R&B vocals over a high-pitched, slightly monotonous synth track. Mack’s verse wins, but Jaystorm more than holds his own.
The other three tracks feature Jaystorm rap-singing over live funky R&B. Some of it, like "Reddy 2 Ride," recalls early commercial hip-hop; some is contemporary throwback soul ("Get Wit’Cha," "Can’t Go On"). It’s not as unexpected as "Is This Love?" or as fresh as "Shhh," but it shows Jaystorm and his band in comfortable territory.

- Matthew Everette - Metro Pulse

The jaystorm Project does it again in 2010 - Metro Pulse

JAYSTORM AT SWANK'S: What happens when the Jaystorm Project hits Swank's Jazz Restaurant and Bar (100 N. Court St.) in downtown Maryville at 8 tonight? It's gonna get funky up in there, that's what. We first wrote about Jaystorm, a funk/soul/hip-hop artist with a band of instrument-playing ninjas, a couple of years ago, and if you saw him then ... well, just trust us -- you owe it to yourself to check him out now. The man is a consummate professional, a guy who's honed his skills in clubs and bars and taverns and everything in between. He's sharpened his rhymes, improved his voice and become one of East Tennessee's consummate entertainers. It's going to be a night of funky goodness, featuring originals and old favorites, and it's free. Be there.
- The Daily Times - Steve Wildsmith

"Jaystorm and The Project have reenergized the originality of where music was and has taken it to its limits and beyond. If you want funk-rock with a boom of hip-hop and a sweet southern-soul all you need is Jaystorm with a mic and his band The Project backing." - Hometown Sevier - Denver Stevens - Writer

Jaystorm – Let’s Do This. It’s time to ditch that old Babyface and R. Kelly records, you know the ones you break out on those special occasions, because one listen of the debut album Let’s Do This from Jaystorm and the smoothness in his voice is all you’ll ever need. When Jaystorm is not laying down true soul/R&B tracks, he switches gears and gives you a healthy dose of hip-hop that puts the southern roots of his crew on full display. Jay is so versatile that he can take a bad Whitesnake song "Is This Love" and turn it into a slow jam gem. There is a Jaystorm on the horizon here to take us away from the over-produced weak jams that pass as R&B these days (yes, Ruben, RS is talking about you) Jaystorm has the talent, has the look and definitely has the voice to put the south back on the musical map.
- 2 Walls Webzine (Radar Screen) - Gregory Joseph / music journalist

When it comes to hip-hop, R&B and other forms of urban music, East Tennessee's scene leaves a little something to be desired.

Roll up to a red light, and chances are that the thumping bass and blaring rhymes three cars back is by a hip-hop artist. Certainly, the music has its share of fans. And while there are plenty of local artists doing that style of music, few of them get out and perform live.

Greeneville native Jaystorm is one of the exceptions to that trend. Tonight, he'll bring his brand of hip-hop and soul to AJ's Sports Bar in Maryville, and for fans who turn out to see him, he promises one thing -- live music by a real band.

``I don't think a lot of urban and R&B artists around here truly understand that to make a dent in this scene, you've got to have live music,'' Jaystorm told The Daily Times recently. ``So many of them rap or sing along to [pre-recorded] tracks, but all of that music can be done live and acoustically, and you can do so much more with it. A lot of singers, R&B artists and hip-hop groups depend on tracks, but there's a big difference between using tracks and having a live band.

``People really, really enjoy live music vs. tracks. If you're a celebrity, you can do that. But when you're trying to get people to notice your music, your crowd is limited when you're performing to a track, unless you're doing karaoke. People enjoy live music, and that's what's taken me to the next level.''

It doesn't hurt that Jaystorm has won the respect of his peers in the local music scene. His band has included local singer-songwriter Dave Landeo, and now he performs with Aram and Sevan Takvoryan, brothers who play in a number of jazz-related projects around the area, and Kenneth Brown, a drummer and the son of local jazz guru Donald Brown. He won them over the old-fashioned way -- by putting his music to the test in front of a crowd.

Although Knoxville may seem like a strange place for an urban music artist to relocate, its advantages were more than evident to Jaystorm when he lived in Greeneville. The scene in the nearby Tri-Cities area was lacking, so in 1997, he packed up and headed south. For another four years, he remained a part of his old hip-hop group, PD-6, but in 2001, he decided to go solo.

``Everything changed for me about a year and a half ago when I decided to go live and use a live band,'' he said. ``I have a lot of versatility, and I think that's what helped me build an audience. I can rap and I can sing in a lot of genres, but I stick to the strength of funk and soul and hip-hop. I'd do a few acoustic gigs and kind of slid in that way, and it's been skyrocketing ever since.''

He's had the privilege of opening for major-label hip-hop artists, including Mystikal, Petey Pablo and the Nappy Roots, and he's made an effort to win over fans through a grassroots campaign by which he corresponds via e-mail with those who enjoy his shows. He's made a splash in the local scene, performing everywhere from the friendly neighborhood pub confines of the Corner Lounge to the upscale jazz venue 4620 Club, and right now, he said, he's trying to put together some overseas dates for the summer.

More importantly, he added, performing live turns him into something greater than the laid-back, mellow-sounding guy he comes across as in casual conversation.

``I think what people connect with is pretty much my live stage performance and the energy I give off from the stage,'' he said. ``They just tune in because I'm giving it my all each and every time, in each and every song. The stuff I'm doing, I don't think people have seen it before. I'll do a funk song or a hip-hop song, and then I'll turn around and do something acoustic.

``They're not used to seeing that sort of versatility, and it's caught on pretty quick. Some people might have started coming to my shows expecting to see some jazz or a smooth, slow sort of song, but they get much, much, much more than that.

``When I'm behind the mic, I've got one mission -- strictly to entertain,'' he added. ``I feed off of the energy of the crowd, and I throw it right back at them. It's a wonderful feeling, because it's what I've always lived to do.''

- Steve Wildsmith - The Daily Times Staff

In a town where mainstream hip-hop acts are just now beginning to surface, a guy like Jaystorm isn't just in the running, but ahead of the pack. As much funk and old-school soul as hip-hop, with a hint of reggae, there's no denying the hip-hop influence on his R&B. The big difference is the band behind him, a collection of ace musicians with a tight, intuitive ensemble relationship and impeccable taste. It may not be exactly what you think of when you think of hip-hop, but watch it shake your butt. (M.E.)

- The Metropulse - Volume 18 #17 (4-24-08)

Urban/Soul artist Jaystorm was one of the 3 finalists of a vocal soloist competition, winning a spot to perform at the prestigious musical production “Kingsport ShowTime” held at the Troy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center Auditorium in Kingsport, TN last month.
"ShowTime" is a locally produced musical-variety show that captivates audiences with high-energy, fun-filled, family oriented entertainment featuring popular, rock country, gospel, Broadway and patriotic music. "ShowTime" dazzles audiences with a large cast of volunteers, lavish costumes, elaborate sets, and special effects. The production has been a premiere event of Kingsport Funfest for over 17 years and has practically been a “sold-out” show for as long as it’s been in existence. The ShowTime “STAR” search was an added segment to the show as of last year.
Jaystorm performed a cover tune by Billy Vera & The Beaters called “At This Moment” The production ran 3 nights consecutively (Sun, Mon, & Tues) The Troy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center Auditorium was at capacity seating approximately 1500 different on-lookers each night. “Jaystorm was a fantastic addition to our production this year” added Mrs. Louise Dickson, Director of Kingsport ShowTime “His stage presence & performance was incredible!! He was very well received”


- The Greeneville Sun

I would like to say "an excellent job" in Cookeville, TN at the Obsecure Cafe. The Jaystorm Project really deliver an excellent package to the crowd. Cookeville just recently got a live entertainment venue just last month, and we need groups like yours more often. Let's try to make this a monthly thing in Cookeville, and I guarantee it will be worth it. I work in Promotions at Kicks 106.9 fm in Cookeville. If you want to pitch your music here in Cookeville, I would be more then happy to. Hope to here from you soon. - Tyrone Carver - Radio Promotions & Overnight DJ / Kicks 106.9 fm

“14 cuts of soul-infused, crunkified, booty-shakin' hip-hop/R&B. Without a doubt club-ready and more "mainstream" than the majority of rap music we're liable to review. The music is an agreeable blend of R&B sensitivity and ultra-sleek club hip-hop”. - Performer Mag - Kieth Mikkelson / Music Journalist