Episode 41: Celebrate Jazz Appreciation and National Poetry Month with poet Love Reigns and jazz bassist, Jonathan Baptiste - a podcast by Taste Test Live

This week, we had the privilege of interviewing award-winning poet, Founder, Artis(Tree) Live and The Artis(Tree) Youth Project and Co-founder of The Cypher Open Mic Poetry & Soul, Taryn C Wharwood, also known as @IAmLoveReigns who dropped by to discuss the upcoming Jax Poetry Fest: Party in the Park with Al Letson which will be held in Hemming Park later this month.
Then we witnessed jazz bassist Jonathan Baptiste perform a special rendition of the gospel-classic "Amazing Grace" and discuss his concert Jazz In The Gardens which will be held TONIGHT at Freedom Church Jacksonville, a jazz interpretation of Jesus’ last days in the Garden of Gethsemane and features vocals by Tori Peoples Tori L. Peoples @thetoripeoples ), poetry by Tilly and Jus Amanda Batts, and a live painting by Erin Kendrick of Erin is Creative
TARYN WHARWOOD - BIOBorn and raised in Miami, FL, Taryn “LoveReigns” Wharwood is a proud product of The Ebony Village School in Dania, FL. Curated by the Dr. Merita Green and late Dr. Josephine Ivey, The Ebony Village School would prove to be the purposeful foundation of LoveReigns career as a performing artist, a host, entrepreneur, community advocate, curator, mentor, and activist. Along with the direction of her mother, retired Teacher, Sharon Wharwood, Drs. Green and Ivey saw a spark in Taryn that would lead her to develop a deep love for poetry. LoveReigns’ passion for people and words has afforded her opportunities to perform and advocate on the hills of Washington, DC, Canada and educational institutions from elementary to university levels. LoveReigns is truly in a lane of her own and isn’t afraid to create another one if she has to.
JONATHAN BAPTISTE - BIOJonathan Baptiste is a bassist/composer, and native of Orlando, Florida. Raised in the church, his roots are predominantly in Gospel. He attended Polk State College's music program, where he received the Marie Ann Golden and the Polk County Cultural Arts Scholarships. Jonathan was the recipient of the American Music Scholarship and Weinstein Memorial Scholarship in Leadership at UNF. He received the Most Outstanding Musician of the Year award at the UNF School of Music. Jonathan is the 2018 Northeast Florida Jazz Association Jazz Scholarship Recipient. Jonathan is also a teacher at Jacksonville Arts and Music School. He is also a freelance musician, having played with the likes of 2x Grammy Award-winning Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, Sofija Knezevic, Terry "Doc" Handy, Daniel D, Marcus Printup, Riza Printup, Nat Adderley, Jr., Jon Irabagon, Charenee Wade, Patrick Bartley, Jamison Ross, Fred Wesley, Alyson Williams, John Lumpkin and International Gospel Recording Artist, Lisa McClendon and others. Recently, Jonathan received the great honor of being chosen by the legendary jazz trombonist Teddy Adams, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, as a “Future of Jazz” recipient and have been recognized for their work in Jazz. He and the other recipients were honored at the Savannah Heritage Festival (2017,2019). Jonathan has also played with his band, The Urban Intellectuals at the 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
The Urban Intellectuals is built with the some of the finest musicians Florida has to offer. The phrase “Urban Intellectuals” derived from the phrase “Urban Renewal”, often criticized by the great James Baldwin, which was a tactic used in the 60s that relocated a majority of African Americans into what we now know as the projects. Those “urban” individuals that refused to just go with the flow and to enlighten their communities is what sparked the name: The Urban Intellectuals. Jonathan Baptiste and The Urban Intellectuals look to educate and inspire people through their music. The band endeavors to set a consistent example and be role models to inner city kids — showing them that they make music and be creative— no matter their skin color.
Music: https://soundcloud.com/jonathanbaptistemusichttps://www.jonathanbaptiste.com/media

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