Justin Lees Jazz Trio

JUSTIN LEES- GUITAR

JUSTIN LEES JAZZ GUITAR BIO
Justin Lees started playing professionally in the late 70’s and studied with several guitarists including Rick Whitehead, Paul Bollenbach, Danny Gatton, Herb Ellis and Emily Remler.

Justin’s main focus is on a straight ahead approach to jazz steeped in the fifties tradition of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and rooted in the styles of Charlie Christian and T Bone Walker. The feeling of Swing and the Blues is a constant. He has worked with Ron Holloway, Dick Morgan, Keeter Betts, and others. He worked 8 months on Monday nights in 1996 with his own trio at the One Step Down, Washington D.C.’s premier Jazz club, until it’s closing. He performed at Blues Alley, 219 Club, and Constitution Hall plus.



Past performances include opening for Nina Simone as a member of the Ron Holloway Group at Constitution Hall

AARON CLAY-BASS

Aaron Clay commands great respect as a performer in both the classical and jazz worlds of bass playing.
In 1989, he was selected to join the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC. Upon completing one enlistment with the Navy, Mr. Clay auditioned for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band where he has been a member since 1993.
Mr. Clay serves as Principal Bassist of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.

DOMINIC SMITH-DRUMS

Maryland-raised drummer Dominic Smith has been a fixture on the local jazz scene for more than 20 years. His hard swinging style, use of dynamics and innovative rhythmic subtleties have been utilized by such jazz notables as Harold Mabern, James Williams, Charlie Byrd, Phil Woods, Gary Thomas,to name a few.
Dominic rounds out his playing schedule with the cream of the crop of local musicians several nights a week, as well as backing up many different national artists, performing more than 320 gigs a year, while still finding time to fit in students at his home teaching studio.

He has also studied with Kenny Washington, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Ralph Peterson, and others. His local drum guru was the late, great, genius drummer Mike Smith.