Jeremy Clemons - Drummer/Composer/Producer/Bandleader

Jeremy Clemons 29, is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Jeremy gained his first experiences with music at a young age through participation in the Royalaires Drum and Bugle Corps. There he was able to gain experience with orchestral and marching percussion. This was an organization formed by his grandmother after many years of her participation with other Drum and Bugle Corps. Through this organization, Jeremy was able to develop a high rudimental level of playing percussion. Jeremy attended Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis where he continued the study of percussion and drum set under the direction of Thomas Moore and Robert Edwards. In addition, as a high school student, he was a member of the Missouri All District and All State Jazz Ensembles and was a member of the World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.

Jeremy attended North Carolina Central University where he gained a BM and BA majoring in jazz performance. During his stay at NCCU, he continued studying drums set, harmony, higher levels of jazz theory, arranging, and composition under the guidance of Ira Wiggins, Arnold George, and Thomas Taylor. Thus allowance would have a great deal to do with his current concept and approach to music. With NCCU Jazz Ensemble, he also performed at such venues as the Carolina, Grady Tate, Montreux and Vienne Jazz Festivals.

After graduation, Clemons returned to St. Louis where he worked the local music scene as both sideman and bandleader. He was also a music consultant at Normandy High School. In 2002, Jeremy taught at the International Summer Jazz Academy in Poland where he was the drum set instructor and a group concepts coach. Jeremy was a member of the 2004 Betty Cater jazz ahead program and Performed in the 2004 Steans Institute for young artists at the Ravinia Festival. He was a participant in the first annual International Music Day at UNESCO in Paris. Jeremy has performed with Anthony Monsey, Howard Johnson, Nicky Marrero, Paul Bollenback, Frank Foster, Slide Hampton, Jennifer Holiday, Marcus Belgrave, Dick Oats, Mark Elf, and Willie Akins. From 2004 -2006, Clemons was the drummer for Grammy nominated vocalist Andy Bey He has recorded with Erika Johnson (Revealed ), Dello Thedford, Phantom Regiment(Live at the1996 DCI Summer Music Games, Live at the 1997 DCI Summer Music Games) Gary Wittner ( Now We’re Here), and NCCU Jazz Ensemble ( Beyond The Horizon , Central Standard Time ). Myoshi( The EP) Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, Jeremy is performing with JD Allen, Myoshi (from BET), Carl Craig Live (Tres Demented), cPhyve, cPhour, Res, Chris McNulty.

Jeremy is currently co-leading two bands of his own with tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard. cPhyve is the genesis project, along with Soul Understated co-led with vocalist Mavis ’SWAN’ Poole. Somewhat of a dream band for Clemons, Understated features a diverse and eclectic mix of musical forces. Vocalist/lyricist Mavis “Swan” Poole has been working with Clemons since the beginning of 2007, and has clearly become his writing and production partner. Swan has already furnished numerous of Clemons’ unrivaled tracks in a very short amount of time. Hand picked from various previous projects, Clemons has chose saxophonist Stacy Dillard, bassist Ameen Saleem and Josh David, pianist Corey James, and guitarist Ben Tyree as comrades in arms. All being world class musicians gaining fast reputations in New York City music circles, this particular lineup has created a powerhouse unit that will undoubtedly do the music justice in live settings.

Keep an ear to the ground as Clemons and Poole are setting to release the debut the recording of Soul Understated by the winter of 2007. Creations like this only come once in a lifetime…

Jeremy Clemons / Beanskie Productions