At age 25, tenor saxophonist Ochion Jewell had already established himself as a serious musician. His debut album, Still Life, was released in October 2003 at the Kentucky Center in Louisville during its 20th-anniversary celebration. The album, produced in part with a grant from Toyota through the Governor’s School for the Arts Alumni Fund, is a mix of traditional and modern jazz sounds, funneling Latin, funk, and classical influences through the sound of the standard jazz quartet. Ochion’s work shows fluency and versatility in both jazz improvisation and composition.

A resident of Louisville, Ochion performs with his own Ochion Jewell Quartet, the funk group V-GROOVE, and many miscellaneous local jazz and pop groups. His regional appearances have included headlining for the Louisville Jazz Society, Jazz in Central Park, WFPK’s Live Lunch, National Public Radio’s Grass Roots series, the Owensboro Jazz Festival, and live performances on Fox-41 and WLKY. He has done studio work for many local musicians and commercial recordings for Ear-X-Tacy and Brown-Forman.

Ochion also teaches private lessons and an adult music class. At the time of his Mixed Media visit, he was working on his second album, a collaboration with Brazilian-born composer Walter Abbomante.

Program 614

Sculptor Zoé Strecker, Lexington wood sculptor Philip Hultgren, and the music of Louisville’s Ochion Jewell Quartet. (#614)

Program 804

Nature photographer Tom Myers, a visit to Madison County’s Bybee Pottery, and music by West African percussionist Yaya Diallo and Louisville jazz saxophonist Ochion Jewell. (#804)