Jamil Sharif Influence on Jazz

JAMIL'S BIO
Jamil Sharif began playing music at the age of 14. Much of his influence
came from his Father, the Late World Renowned Trumpeter Emery Humphrey
Thompson (Umar Sharif).


His musical training began in New Orleans, Louisiana under the
instruction of George Jansen, one of New Orleans finest music educators
who was a former trumpeter with the New Orleans Symphony. Jansen is
known for coaching such musical giants as Wynton Marsalis and Terence
Blanchard.


Jamil’s enriched training and passion led him to being accepted into one
of the South’s top facilities for in-depth learning of Music theory,
history and technique, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
(NOCCA), which is known for creating some of the worlds top musicians,
such as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Terence Blanchard, and
actor Wendell Pierce. At NOCCA, Jamil studied with such notables as
Ellis Marsalis. After completing NOCCA, he attended Southern University
of New Orleans where he continued to study with Alvin Batiste, Roger
Dickerson and Edward "Kidd" Jordan.


His extensive training afforded him to be a featured soloist with the
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, appeared on Aaron Neville's Christmas
Special, "Reading Rainbow" with LeVar Burton. He served as the musical
director for the play "Salty Dog" which premiered in Edinburgh,
Scotland at the Queens Hall. He was also the musical director for the
musical review, Bourbon Street Revue, which debuted in Laughlin Nevada,
at the Colorado Belle Hotel and Casino.


Jamil’s musical accomplishments has afforded him the opportunity to
embark upon several movie breaks where he and his music played a
significant role: He appeared in the 1993 Action Adventure, "Hard
Target", starring Jean-Claude Van Damme; the 1993 Comedy, "Undercover
Blues", starring Kathleen Turner and Dennis Quaid. During the early
90s, his composition of Crescent City Strut from his 1993 Album
"Portraits of New Orleans," was used for the USA Series, "The Big
Easy;" He appeared in the 2002 Romance "The Home Front," featuring
Tatum O’Neal; the 2002 Drama, "Sonny," directed by Nicholas Cage.
Interesting enough, Jamil was approached by Cage to employ one of his
original compositions on his 2000 Release Album "Jamillenium," entitled
Vee Vee. Jamil’s latest performance was where he served as the musical
coordinator and was characterized several times in the 2004 release of
"Ray", a movie depicting the life of Twelve-time Grammy winner, Ray
Charles – Directed by Taylor Hackford, featuring Jamie Foxx.


Jamil is the President of Umdah Music, which has produced 3 critically
acclaimed albums, Portraits of New Orleans, which features Grammy Award
Winner Dr. John, Jamillennium, and Shine, featuring Japanese vocalist,
Midori Takamura.

This thought provoking, vivacious and mesmerizing musician carries with
him a long line of musical heritage from as early as the mid 1800s. His
father was a veteran trumpeter, having performed as Lead Trumpeter with
such Broadway musicals as the "The Wiz" (1975), "Black and Blue"
(1989), and New York’s very own, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Jamil’s
great-grandfather was the legendary music teacher, who taught many
musicians in New Orleans, as well as many of the south's musical
legends. Born and raised in New Orleans, Jamil has performed, and
recorded with some of the music industry's leading giants.

Jamil has played and recorded a variety of styles such as, Jazz, New
Orleans Traditional Jazz, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Swing, Reggae, Gospel,
Funk, Pop, Latin, Big Band, Country & Western, Folk, and Classical.

He’s traveled extensively to various countries such as Japan,
Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, England, Scotland, Finland, and France,
entertaining a variety of audiences. He’s performed at the Newport
Rhythm and Blues Festival, Essence Music Festival, Chicago Jazz
Festival, Stockholm Jazz and Blues Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and
Heritage Festival, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, under the
direction of Wynton Marsalis.