Jesse Boyd
Encyclopedia
Jesse Boyd is an American Jazz
bassist
, session musician
and music educator.
, North Carolina
. Boyd's skills for improvisation had their roots in Church, where his father was a minister. At the age of 12 years, Jesse recorded his first album with his family. The same year he also recorded several other gospel
albums. At age 18, he moved to Los Angeles
, where he discovered the possibilities of rock
and played with many touring bands. Back in New Orleans, he went back to a more acoustic sound and started to play upright bass again. Not only did he return to play Jazz, but also Classical music
. During his time as an undergraduate in Loyola University New Orleans
he studied with Betsy Heston. He studied with Bill Huntington and Ellis Marsalis
at University of New Orleans
, where he obtained a Master's degree
in Jazz Studies.
Currently he is a professor at Loyola University New Orleans
, both in the Jazz and Music Industry departments. He performs regularly with Charmaine Neville
, Ingrid Lucia, Leah Chase, Bob French, Michael Pellera, Al Belletto, Ellis Marsalis, Topsy Chapman, and Larry Sieberth to name just a few. He also spent several years performing as a member of Jeremy Davenport’s band.
’s guitarist) and Jesse on bass. The latter was a live recording with Ingrid’s full band (Don't Stop, CD). Another forthcoming CD is with pianist Michael Pellera and drummer Joe Dyson. "True Stories" is the name of Boyd's Debut CD, produced by Andrea Gomez in 2008. It features only original compositions for jazz trio. Michael Pellera (piano) and Troy Davis (drums) were the sidemen for True Stories.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bassist
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
and music educator.
Biography
Jesse Boyd was born in GreenvilleGreenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Boyd's skills for improvisation had their roots in Church, where his father was a minister. At the age of 12 years, Jesse recorded his first album with his family. The same year he also recorded several other gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
albums. At age 18, he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he discovered the possibilities of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and played with many touring bands. Back in New Orleans, he went back to a more acoustic sound and started to play upright bass again. Not only did he return to play Jazz, but also Classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. During his time as an undergraduate in Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
he studied with Betsy Heston. He studied with Bill Huntington and Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
Ellis Marsalis is an American musician. He can usually be seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.- Life and career :...
at University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
, where he obtained a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Jazz Studies.
Currently he is a professor at Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
, both in the Jazz and Music Industry departments. He performs regularly with Charmaine Neville
Charmaine Neville
Charmaine Neville is a member of a famous New Orleans music family which includes the Neville Brothers. The daughter of Charles Neville, she is currently the leader and lead singer of the Charmaine Neville Band, a jazz/funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana.Ms...
, Ingrid Lucia, Leah Chase, Bob French, Michael Pellera, Al Belletto, Ellis Marsalis, Topsy Chapman, and Larry Sieberth to name just a few. He also spent several years performing as a member of Jeremy Davenport’s band.
Discography
Jesse Boyd has also kept busy as an in-demand studio bassist. Recent recordings include two complete albums with Ingrid Lucia. The first was only Ingrid and John Fohl (Dr. JohnDr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
’s guitarist) and Jesse on bass. The latter was a live recording with Ingrid’s full band (Don't Stop, CD). Another forthcoming CD is with pianist Michael Pellera and drummer Joe Dyson. "True Stories" is the name of Boyd's Debut CD, produced by Andrea Gomez in 2008. It features only original compositions for jazz trio. Michael Pellera (piano) and Troy Davis (drums) were the sidemen for True Stories.