Biography
Jaared, a saxophonist based in Washington, D.C., draws primary inspiration from David Sanborn on alto and soprano. His core focus throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium has centered on smooth jazz and crossover jazz, though additional players such as Grover Washington, Jr., Nelson Rangell, Ronnie Laws, and George Howard have also shaped his approach to varying degrees. While he can navigate fusion, soul-jazz, post-bop, and R&B settings without difficulty, the slick, polished, and relaxed style of smooth jazz remains his signature, particularly within jazz audiences.
Born Jaared Arosemena on January 20, 1967, in Washington, D.C., he spent his formative years in Bedford, VA. There, at age seven, he began saxophone lessons on the advice of his physician, who sought to help manage the asthma that afflicted him as a child. The recommendation proved effective, strengthening his lungs through consistent wind-instrument practice. As a pre-adolescent, he encountered the widely popular Sanborn, whose alto work became his strongest influence. During those years he also absorbed other saxophonists, including Grover Washington, Jr., Boots Randolph, Ace Cannon, and Stan Getz, yet none matched the lasting effect of Sanborn. That impact persisted after Jaared reached adulthood in the mid-1980s and established himself on the Washington, D.C., music circuit, where his collaborations have encompassed go-go funk figures such as E.U.’s Ju Ju House as well as the soul/rock vocalist Mary Ann Redmond, whose style echoes Tina Turner and Etta James.
Despite maintaining various R&B engagements, the East Coast musician opted to emphasize smooth jazz once he launched his own recording career in the early 2000s. During that period he also toured extensively across the United States as a sideman and featured soloist alongside smooth jazz guitarist Peter White. His debut album, Foreward, appeared on Marimelj/Lightyear in 2001. Subsequent releases—Hangtime (2002), Addiction (2008), and Manhattan Nights (2010)—each achieved solid commercial results.
Born Jaared Arosemena on January 20, 1967, in Washington, D.C., he spent his formative years in Bedford, VA. There, at age seven, he began saxophone lessons on the advice of his physician, who sought to help manage the asthma that afflicted him as a child. The recommendation proved effective, strengthening his lungs through consistent wind-instrument practice. As a pre-adolescent, he encountered the widely popular Sanborn, whose alto work became his strongest influence. During those years he also absorbed other saxophonists, including Grover Washington, Jr., Boots Randolph, Ace Cannon, and Stan Getz, yet none matched the lasting effect of Sanborn. That impact persisted after Jaared reached adulthood in the mid-1980s and established himself on the Washington, D.C., music circuit, where his collaborations have encompassed go-go funk figures such as E.U.’s Ju Ju House as well as the soul/rock vocalist Mary Ann Redmond, whose style echoes Tina Turner and Etta James.
Despite maintaining various R&B engagements, the East Coast musician opted to emphasize smooth jazz once he launched his own recording career in the early 2000s. During that period he also toured extensively across the United States as a sideman and featured soloist alongside smooth jazz guitarist Peter White. His debut album, Foreward, appeared on Marimelj/Lightyear in 2001. Subsequent releases—Hangtime (2002), Addiction (2008), and Manhattan Nights (2010)—each achieved solid commercial results.
Albums
