Jaared : The New Star of Smooth Jazz Sax

When your musical resume includes stints with Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Najee and Kim Waters you know you're headed in the right direction. Jaared who has one of the busiest concert schedules of anyone in Smooth Jazz spoke with us about his radio, overcoming illness and his love for his Sax.

John Beaudin - Hi Jaared and welcome to Smooth Jazz Now.com

Jaared Arosemena - Thank you so much John, it's a pleasure to be here.

John - I talked to Dave Brubeck a while back and he said he was saddened by the state of music programs in schools. You came up through that and it must be important to you. How do you feel about it?

Jaared - I totally agree with Mr. Brubeck. Right now the music programs in so many schools are going defunct because of lack of funds and support. I'm in total support of programs like "VH1's Save The Music" programs. I'm hoping that a "Smooth Jazz" supporter will step up to the plate and start a program along those lines because I'm sure that all of the jazz musicians will agree that having music in schools is a very important and a very necessary part of the schools curriculum.

John - Have you ever taught the Sax?

Jaared - I have taught beginner students young and old alike. Even though I've been playing sax now for over twenty-nine years I'm in a constant state of learning. I learn from all sax players and every musician has something to offer, a different flavor to bring to the table if you will.

John - You have played with so many of the biggies in Smooth Jazz like Rick Braun and Jonathan Butler. Who else is on that list?

Jaared - Well let's see, I've had the privilege and pleasure to play along side such great musicians such as Peter White, Marcus Johnson, Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, Najee, Kim Waters, Bobby Lyle, Maysa and the list just goes on and on.

John - You are on the road with Peter White now, tell us something that might surprise us all about Peter?

Jaared - Oh boy, let's see here, I have to be careful! (laughing) Peter White is the most down to earth person I think I've ever met. I remember when I did my first concert with him that was when he met me at the airport in Albany, N.Y. I was at the baggage claim area waiting for my luggage to come on the carousel and he came up and asked me how my flight was and we had a small conversation until I received all of my baggage. Once I had it all I'll never forget this as long as I'll live he said, "Let me get that suitcase for you" and he pulled up the handle on it (since it had wheels on it) and pulled it for me as I had my other stuff! Now that may not sound like much or it may sound "normal" for someone to offer a hand like that but understand this, he is the number one smooth jazz guitarist in the world now for the last three years in a row! Yet he was nice enough and down to earth enough to give me a hand. He then proceeded to drive the entire band to the hotel, then to the venue, then did two ninety minute shows, then signed CD's for his fans until the last fan had left and then he drove us back to the hotel. He didn't rely on limo's or roadies or anything of that nature. Peter White is totally down to earth and a wonderful person. I just can't say enough nice things about the guy!

John - What's your thought on Smooth Jazz radio in the U.S.?

Jaared - Wow, that's a very loaded question! Let me say this, I love Smooth Jazz and it's where my passion is. I don't have any problems with Smooth Jazz radio per se. I do think that the people who program smooth jazz radio stations could actually be a little more on the "cutting edge" side of it. I'm not talking about the Program Directors of the radio stations, I'm talking about the people who tell the Program Directors of the radio stations to play this and don't play that! I think that when you listen to Smooth Jazz stations now you have a tendency to hear a lot of the same grooves, melodies and feels. It's only the Program Directors who have the foresight and vision to step out of the box and say, "Why shouldn't I play this? I like this and I'm going to play it anyway!" Those are the people who need to be commended!

John - Where do you think radio will go in the next few years?

Jaared - I'm really not sure John that's a tough one to answer. I think that with satellite radio and systems of that nature coming out I think that will hurt radio as we know it today. That's the wave of the future. People in certain sections of Europe have had that for years now and it seems to be working really well over there. We'll see if it catches on here in the U.S. as well.

John - Is the new album you're working on anything like the last one?

Jaared - In my opinion, not very much at all. My last album, 'Foreward' had mainly an Urban flavor to it which is not bad by any means at all! However, this new CD is geared towards more of a mixture, if you will. I really can't describe it at this point. I can tell you this much though it will be out by the end of September 2002 and when it comes out, watch out! I'm very excited about this new CD. It will have a lot of very familiar guest artists on it and that's all I can say about it for now.

John - What do you tell the people who say there's too much sax in Smooth Jazz?

Jaared - I'm a sax player, what do you think I tell them? (laughing) You know the old saying, "You can NEVER have too much sax in your life!" (laughing)

John - You started playing when you were seven, were there any breaks in your learning? Did you ever give it a rest or was it straight dedication?

Jaared - I actually started playing when I was six years old. I did it because when I was born I was diagnosed with chronic asthma and I almost died when I was five years of age due to this disease. It was suggested to my family by my asthma specialist that I learn a "wind" instrument to strengthen my lungs. Well, when I was very young I grew up with my great aunt in Thaxton, VA.which is just outside of Roanoke, VA. My aunt loved to watch the Lawrence Welk Show and we watched it every Thursday evening. One night when it was on a very old man by the name of Skeets Herbert stood up in the sax section of the band and took a solo and when I heard it I turned around and said to my aunt, "That's what I want to play, I want to play that instrument." Skeets was playing an alto saxophone. So, my aunt saved up some money and my grandmother saved up some money and bought me a student model alto saxophone and an instruction book and I taught myself to play.

John - What was it about David Sanborn that touched you?

Jaared - I'd always had an idea of what I wanted my sax "sound" to sound like. And when I first heard David Sanborn I said, "That's it, that's the sound I'm looking for!" So, I always worked on "emulating" David's sound. After a while after I felt like I had the "sound" I wanted I then started working on my own style and sound. That's when I started working on "Jaared".

John - Have you met him?

Jaared - Yes! I've had the opportunity to meet him twice in my life. The first time was in 1988 and the second time was just about three weeks ago at the 'America's Jazz Fest' at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. He was very nice to me and I think he's still the best! Nelson Rangell is my current day "hero" but David Sanborn will always be my inspirational idol.

John - Jaared, thanks so much for joining us on Smooth Jazz Now.com

Jaared - John, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to reach out to the wonderful people of Canada. I hope to visit your wonderful country in the very near future.

Check out the official Jaared web site