Career Bio
Papa J aka Joey Sommerville’s musical essence lies in the Baptist church.
“When I was a teenager, I would judge the caliber of my playing by the number of people in the congregation who ‘got happy.’ If you aren’t touching the listener’s soul, then you aren’t playing real music. Soul communication is the key.”
Fast forward to today, when as the band leader of Papa J Sez, he crafts a unique mélange of roots and contemporary blues music comprised of blues, gospel, jazz and funk influences with infectious pop sensibilities. It’s this intoxicating brew coupled with his humor, warmth and showmanship that drives crowds crazy, creating a flourishing, almost cult-like following.
Sommerville’s credits include:
• Performing and recording with jam band superstars Phish
• Featured soloist on the Cirque du Soleil’s Grammy-nominated and Juno award-winning “Alegria” album
• Featured soloist on Hidden Beach’s acclaimed “Unwrapped Volume 4”
• Produced bassist/vocalist Rhonda Smith’s “RS2,” which features Prince, Sheila E. and Gospel great Fred Hammond, voted one of the 10 best albums of the year (Japan)
• Created the highly-successful Sambuca Jazz Series in Atlanta where he performed with a veritable Who’s Who of contemporary jazz artists, including Ronnie Laws, Peabo Bryson, Jeff Golub, Wayman Tisdale, Eric Marienthal, Nelson Rangell, Ronny Jordan, Chuck Loeb, Ann Nesby and many more
• Performed at major venues and festivals nationally and internationally, including the Capital Jazz Festival, Nashville's Music City Jazz and Blues Festival, Seabreeze Jazz Festival, BB Jazz Fest, Jazz Fest West, Discover Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Preserve Jazz Festival, Jazz Summer Festival, Uptown Market Festival and the Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg
• Appeared as cornetist in the 2015 Emmy award-winning biopic “Bessie” starring Queen Latifah
Sommerville’s 2015 solo album, the ironically titled "Overnight Sensation," received excellent reviews including a ringing endorsement from USA Today. It features Joey along with contemporary jazz guitar icon Earl Klugh and noteworthy guests Jeff Lorber, Jeff Bradshaw and Elan Trotman. He led his solo band on tour for dates at The Blue Note, Berks Jazz Festival, Keystone Jazz Festival and numerous other venues throughout the U.S. and abroad. At sea, he hosted Joey Sommerville's The Get Down Club on the Capital Jazz SuperCruise for four years.
Sommerville has received numerous awards and accolades, including the American Society of Young Musicians All That Jazz Award (2009). He is an active community servant and serves on the Board of Directors of the How Big Is Your Dream Foundation, an Atlanta-based charity that provides music education programs to students in under-served communities. He is also an active member of The Recording Academy (NARAS) having served two terms on the board of governors of the Atlanta chapter.
His latest Project releases 2019!