We had the good fortune of connecting with Rodney Allen Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rodney, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to create brands that represent my purpose as a musician at scale, so I decided to become incorporated as a business and create a non-profit organization. My mission is to empower people through music and promote the significance of Black American culture which jazz music derives from. Next Level Music LLC is a company dedicated to sustaining a vibrant music scene in the community through live performances and music education. JAM ATL Inc. (Jazz Advocacy Movement) is a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting communities with limited access to music education and empowering black artists. Our mission is to promote Black American music as a respected art form and credit the innovations of black history where jazz derives from. JAM ATL provides tuition-free music education and music opportunities for young artists.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from other musicians is my emphasis on promoting improvisation over sight-reading. Sight-reading is an important skill but I focus more on teaching students how to develop a good ear before introducing sight-reading. This allows them to discover their own voice, improvise, and play what they hear more effectively. I was 17 years old in high school when I decided to pursue music as a career. Back then, I would observe professional musicians and be blown away by their ability to create music on the spot and play songs just by listening to them. It seemed like they had the freedom to express themselves artistically and there were no limits to their performance. That is the factor that drew me to jazz music because it is highly improvised which allows limitless expression.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has a great music scene with many world class musicians playing live almost every day of the week. Unfortunately covid-19 has had an impact on this but venues are adapting and gradually opening back up. If I were to show a friend around the city for a week, we would hang out at different jam sessions. What makes Atlanta’s music scene cool is its variety of styles. Each venue has a different vibe which makes it hard to get bored and it provides interesting styles for everyone. If we were looking to play all improv music, we would go to Gallery 992 in the West End on a Sunday night or Elliot St. Pub downtown on a Tuesday night. Good vibes at both of these spots and they are unique in their own sense. Musicians can network, chill, and learn a lot from other experienced musicians. There are also jam sessions where musicians play jazz standards. Some that I would take my friend are TEN ATL on a Monday, Venkman’s on Tuesday, Red Light Cafe and Apres Diem on Wednesday, and Chairs Bar on Sundays. These jam sessions as well as Gallery 992 and Elliot St. Pub are hosted by world-class musicians who have established reputations as major artists here in Atlanta.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to my grandmother for being a major supporter throughout my life and career. When I was 17 years old, she paid for my first piano lessons and motivated me to practice consistently. She is truly inspirational as she promotes the significance of music education. She was proactive in making sure my dad, uncle, and aunt were exposed to music growing up. She has shown me pictures and shared stories of my dad’s internationally touring 70s funk band, Maggabrain, where he played drums and keyboards. She also shares pictures and stories of my dad in Morris Brown College’s drumline, my uncle as the trumpet section leader at Morris Brown College, and my aunt who played clarinet in Washington High School’s band in Atlanta, GA. I cherish her as an elder because she is the oldest of my direct family members at 90 years old. It is cool to be able to talk to her directly about the past because she has first-hand experience on music, historic events, and legendary people that I study today

Instagram: @rj_music9 @_jamatl @nextlevelmusic_llc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodney.allen.714/

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