Jeremy Clemons

Soul Understated

Jeremy Clemons

Jeremy Clemons, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, 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 the Assistant Band Director 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.

“While there are arguments and hype about New York no longer being the creative center of the jazz world, when drummer Clemons cut loose behind Rex, he unquestionably demonstrated that there is still a huge difference in skills levels between an emerging New York talent (originally from St. Louis) and most Australian and European jazz drummers”. – Martin Jackson, Jazz Australia

“If there’s a star here, besides the leader, it’s drummer Jeremy ‘Bean’ Clemons. His grooves are merciless and his fills make the earth move.” – Glen Hall, Exclaim.ca

Jeremy is currently co-leading the band SOUL UNDERSTATED with award winning vocalist/composer Mavis "SWAN" Poole. Somewhat of a dream band for Clemons and Poole, Understated features a diverse and eclectic mix of musical forces. Through soul Understated, Jeremy is able to displays his talents not only as a drummer but also as a bandleader, composer, and producer.

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