Norissa Ennis B2B People Network
Creating & Growing The RED CONCEPT

Boston's Berklee School of Music offered Jamie a scholarship, but not as much as Jamie needed. The University of Miami had also noticed Jamie and asked him to send an audition tape. "I didn't have the money for a fancy studio demo like most kids sent in," said Jamie. "So I plunked my jambox on top of our old TV, popped in a cassette, put on a record, and played with it. That little cassette got me a full ride scholarship."

At the University of Miami, Jamie made first chair saxophone. Ronald Miller, a veteran jazz professor there, said that besides Jamie's vast jazz knowledge, Jamie was one of the most emotional players he had ever seen. While still in school, Jamie played concerts with Miami Sound Machine, Jon Secada, and in a personal highlight for Jamie, David Sanborn's own guitarist Hiram Bullock.

Jamie approached his 1993 Senior Recital with his typical artistic flair. "This is Miami. This is Jazz. This isn't meant for empty seats in a dull auditorium. Let's take it outside," Jamie said. That had never been done, but the university agreed. As soon as Jamie started playing on the plaza, people came like ants to sugar. By evening's end, a full crowd of students were clapping and dancing as Jamie filled the night sky with soul and groove.