Led by Diego Morales, the frontman for R&B’s The Soul Syndicate, the jazz trio serves as a side project and labor of love for a singer who grew up with The Rat Pack and other vintage vocalists.
Simply Loving the Tunes: Diego Morales of The JMM Trio embraces the jazz standards that shaped his youth. (Photo/Anna Sink)
THE BAND: The JMM Trio
THE MUSIC: Vocally driven jazz standards
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BAND: 8 p.m. Wednesday at SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids (for the Local Spins Wednesdays series); 7 p.m. Thursday at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (opening for Davina & The Vagabonds); 7:30 p.m. June 22 at Black Sheep Baa & Grill in Holland
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Diego Morales first exhibited his lifelong love of jazz standards on stage about 15 years ago when he joined a keyboard player to perform about two dozen classics for a private party at the request of a friend.
That sparked The Goodfellas duo, which performed for more than two years around West Michigan before Morales got involved with other band projects, including Soulz of Rhythm and The Machines.
Raised on Jazz Standards: Diego Morales fronts The JMM Trio. (Photo/Anna Sink)
But the lead singer for the popular, vintage R&B ensemble The Soul Syndicate never shelved his affection for the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Mel Torme and so many other singers he grew up with and embraced.
Recently, that sparked formation of The James Michael Marks Trio, officially shortened to The JMM Trio, which now performs regularly in West Michigan with a twice-monthly gig at The Black Sheep in Holland and other clubs.
On Wednesday, that trio – Morales on lead vocals, Chris Corey on keyboards and Mark Weymouth on drums – will make its SpeakEZ Lounge debut in Grand Rapids as part of the Local Spins Wednesdays series, followed on Thursday at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill when the band will open for Davina & The Vagabonds.
Official Sponsor of the Local Spins Artist Spotlight
“The mission is to bring these songs and this music to the forefront,” said Morales. “Delivering the tunes and doing them justice is always the focus.”
‘THE ONLY GENRE WHERE I GET TO TRULY SING’
There’s also no more satisfying genre for Morales as a vocalist.
“I did grow up listening to these tunes. My pop was a huge Sinatra, Dino and Nat King Cole fan. Those were his main guys along with Elvis Presley and a few other rockers as in ’50s rockers,” Morales recalled. “Through that, I discovered Bobby Darin, Mel Torme, Vic Damone. I simply love the tunes. I love singing them and I feel it’s truly the only genre where I get to truly sing.”
Special Guests: Other musicians frequently sit in with The JMM Trio as they did at a recent Tip Top Deluxe show. (Photo/Anna Sink)
The band actually features a rotating lineup of musicians, with Corey and Wally Michaels on keyboards, and Weymouth and Tom Taylor on drums.
“There are a few other guys who have stepped up to fill in as well when needed, so it’s any combination on any given night. On occasion, we’re joined by Mark Hicks on bass,” said Morales.
The band also adds horn players from The Soul Syndicate for some shows. “I often encourage and invite all of my jazz-oriented friends to sit in and join us,” the singer said. “I like to keep the arrangements loose and allow guys to do their thing. I’m interpreting a song, a vibe, a scene, so the more colors on the palette, the prettier the picture we paint.”
Because The Soul Syndicate and its performances remain a priority, The JMM Trio serves as a side project for Morales – a fun time for “cocktails, classics and more” – performing mostly on weeknights.
“There are lots of venues where the space and budget might be tight, and if they’re looking for a classy alternative form of live music,” Morales insisted, “there’s no better genre.”
Official Sponsor of the Local Spins Artist Spotlight
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
