A native of Portland, Oregon, J.J. has just completed his sophomore year at Beaverton Arts and Communications Magnet Academy. He began to play the trumpet at eight and while his parents played jazz recordings in his home when he was a youngster, he only began playing jazz two years ago. He says, “I was mainly an athlete until I discovered jazz, then I quit sports to…study jazz.” A member of his high school jazz band, which competed in this year’s Essentially Ellington Competition in New York, J.J. has won outstanding soloist awards at the Reno Jazz Festival, Skyview Jazz Festival and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. He also plays in his church band and credits his high school music teacher, Thara Memory, with inspiring him to help kids in his community.