With their unique blend of smooth jazz, traditional jazz, and hip-hop, the CMJ Jazz Band, based in New Jersey, has established themselves as a force in today’s music scene. Led by the talented bassist Coo Moe Jhee, the band showcases their stellar musicianship, creativity and energetic sound to form lasting bonds with their audiences. Their diverse repertoire features modern interpretations of timeless classics by renowned artists such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Bob James, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Theolonius Monk, and George Benson.
Coo Moe Jhee (Bass, Vocals)
Coo Moe Jhee is a highly accomplished musician, singer, MC, producer, songwriter, recording engineer, and event planner/promoter. He has established himself as a versatile artist, working across multiple genres of music, including blues, jazz, classic rock, R&B, and Hip Hop. His music has enabled him to perform at numerous festivals and prominent stages across the US, such as the Count Basie Theatre, SOPAC, Anglesea NJ Blues Festival, Brooksville FL Camping Blues Fest, Freehold Jazz & Blues Fest, and Delaware Blues Festival.
Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of collaborating with numerous A-List musicians, including Nat Adderely Jr (Luther Vandross), Bobby Brown (New Addition), Steve Jordan (Rolling Stones), Filmore Slim (The West Coast Godfather of the Game), Greg Buford (Dee Dee Bridgewater), TC Tolliver (Plasmatics, Wendy O), Garth Webber (Miles Davi s), Danny Walsh (Mike Stern), Robert “Harmonica Man” Cowan (Nat King Cole, Neville Brothers), Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker, Buddy Miles), Howrad Andherson (Strawberry Alarm Clock), Johann Frank (Engelbert Humperdinck), and Kaz Takeda (One of the best-known guitarists in the Asian music scene). Other local musicians he has collaborated with from the NY, NJ, PA, LA and San Francisco areas include: Chuck Lambert, Peter V, Sandy Mack, Poppa John, Paul Brocco, Wayne Livingston, Dean Shot, Bill McClellan, Howard Hall, Vincent Henry, John Addams, Jon Sanderson, Kevin Belle, Regina Bonelli, John Fernandez, Lew Gatewood, Jen Barnes, Bob DelRosso, Ralph Stowe, Eddie Brown, Gino “The Blues Don” Baronelli, AJ Crawdaddy, Yoko Takeda, Styxxx Marshall, Cadillac Zack, Mikel Bee, Neil Adler, Terry Hiatt, and Baxter Robertson to name a few.
He initiated his music career in NYC over 50 years ago. At an early age, he began studying jazz with the esteemed saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor, who had worked with prominent artists such as Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, and Big Joe Turner, and who was also his next door neighbor in the Bronx. In later years, he pursued further jazz education under the mentorship of his late friend and mentor, guitarist Jerry Topinka, who had collaborated with Les Paul, Buddy Rich, and Al Green. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued his jazz studies with bassist Kenny Davis at Rutgers University.
Through his impressive writing and producing skills, Coo Moe Jhee has established a significant following in the US and internationally. His original music receives daily airplay on major digital platforms, including Spotify and iTunes.
The CMJ Jazz Band comprises the following members: Coo Moe Jhee (bass/vocals), GShaw The Garden State Great (MC), Joe Lisa (guitar/violin), Chris Almeida (drums), and Peter Rushing (keyboards).
GShaw The Garden State Great (MC)
Garden State Great, the MC of CMJ Jazz Band, is a highly acclaimed artist renowned for his thought-provoking and uplifting lyrically-driven content. As a seasoned artist, he has had the honor of performing alongside hip hop legends such as KRS-One, Rakim, and Joe Budden, and has graced the stages of various prominent venues, including The Stone Pony, The Stanhope House, and BB Kings NYC.
Through his performances, he is breaking down barriers and introducing hip hop to a new and diverse audience, thereby paving the way for future generations. His early exposure to jazz, courtesy of his mother and father (Coo Moe Jhee) has influenced his exceptional ability to engage with his audience and incorporate them into his freestyle rap. By seamlessly merging flows from different genres, he appeals to a broad audience, encompassing both hip hop enthusiasts and jazz aficionados.
Joe Lisa (Guitar/Violin)
Joe started taking guitar lessons at age 6 and continued his musical education through college, earning his bachelors in classical performance on both guitar and violin. His many years of professional experience includes stints in house bands at Pocono and Atlantic City resorts as well as performing and recording with jazz, rock and funk bands throughout New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia.
Joe has performed with jazz luminaries such as Nat Adderley Jr and Joe Morello and has performed at Bethlehem Musikfest, The Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival, The Vogel in Red Bank and The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Joe cites Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Robben Ford, Al Di Meola and Edward Van Halen as major influences on his style.
Chris Almeida (Drums)
Chris remains a driving force in the music industry as a drummer, producer, writer, and educator, with a career spanning many years. Hailing from New York City, he pays tribute to his mother, Suzanne Almeida, and family for instilling in him a passion for drumming at the age of seven. By combining his musical education, diligence, and natural ability, Chris initiated his career as a teenager, performing at local gigs and paving the way for his subsequent success.
Chris’s remarkable career is highlighted by collaborations with distinguished artists and tours, including the Sam and Dave review, Wilson Picket, Jermaine Jackson, Jack McDuff, Keith Sweat, Al B. Shure, Cindy Larper, Oldies Tours, and Broadway and Off-Broadway productions such as Cats, Chicago, Smokey Joe’s Café, and Les Miserables. Additionally, Chris has recorded with notable artists, including Riza (Wu-Tang Clan), Hush Productions, Force MD’s, and others.
Peter Rushing (Keyboards)
Peter Rushing is a New Jersey based jazz pianist. At the age of 11, Peter got his start studying jazz music at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, where he developed a love for the music of Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans. While studying jazz piano with Professors Bill O’Connell and Orrin Evans at Rutgers New Brunswick, he had the opportunity to play with and learn from drummer Eric MacPherson and bassist John Hébert. This experience fostered in him an interest in free jazz and the music of Andrew Hill and Thelonious Monk. Together with fellow Rutgers students Justin Vedovelli and Carter Vames, he started the group Flesh World, exploring the avant-garde, jazz fusion, and pop music alike.
Outside of school, Peter has performed at venues throughout the tri-state area. In New York City he has performed with Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band at Birdland Jazz Club and with trumpeter Liam Sutcliffe at the Django. In Philadelphia he has performed with his own trio at the avant-garde venue Solar Myth, with the Michael Kaplan Superband at Black Squirrel Club and Not So Latin and with Flesh World and various other groups at Chris’ Jazz Café. Closer to home in New Jersey, Peter has performed with Coo Moe Jhee at the Long Branch Jazz and Blues Festival.
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