Jay Sawyer
2005
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Mr. Jay Sawyer, an outstanding 2005 graduate of East Kentwood
High School, is a highly sought-after drummer making waves in the heart of New York City’s music scene. Following his East Kentwood years, Mr. Sawyer pursued his passion for jazz, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since his move to NYC in 2012, Mr. Sawyer has left an unforgettable mark on the music world. He performed the Off-Broadway musical “Lady Day” alongside Dee Dee Bridgewater. He has recorded on over 25 albums and performed in over 20 countries across five continents. Mr. Sawyer has shared stages with musical luminaries like Freddy Cole, Stefon Harris, and Donny McCaslin, making notable appearances at festivals like Montreal, Detroit, and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Eclats d’Email in Limoges, France, and the Leopolis Jazz Festival in Lviv, Ukraine. Beyond his prowess as a musician, Mr. Sawyer is a dedicated educator. He extends his love for jazz by conducting lessons for inmates at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, NY. He also spends time educating school children across NYC boroughs and serving as a gifted clinician and private instructor. Mr. Sawyer Resides in New York City with his wife, Ashley Sawyer, also an EK alum, |
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