Ulysses Owens Jr. (born December 6, 1982 in

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

) is an American drummer and percussionist. He was the drummer on vocalist

Kurt Elling Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Rockford, Elling became interested in music through his father, who was Kapellmeister at a Lutheran church. He sang in cho ...

's Grammy-winning album '' Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman'', and on bassist

Christian McBride Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972) is an American jazz bassist, composer and arranger. He has appeared on more than 300 recordings as a sideman, and is an eight-time Grammy Award winner. McBride has performed and recorded with a number of j ...

's Grammy-winning ''

The Good Feeling ''The Good Feeling'' is a studio album by the Christian McBride Big Band. It won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012. The record was released on via the Mack Avenue label. Background Th ...

''.

Biography

Owens began playing the drums at the age of 3. He played many types of music in his younger years, centering on his experience in the church. By the time he was in his early teens, he realized that he would become a jazz musician, and received a full scholarship to study at the Juilliard School, in its inaugural jazz program. Owens was the drummer on vocalist

's '' Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman'', and on bassist

's ''

'', both of which won Grammy Awards. He has also played with pianist

Joey Alexander Josiah Alexander Sila (born 25 June 2003), known professionally as Joey Alexander, is an Indonesian jazz pianist. He became the first Indonesian musician to chart on ''Billboard'' 200 when his album ''My Favorite Things'' debuted at number 174 ...

. His composition "The Simplicity of Life" was commissioned by the string quartet

ETHEL Ethel (also '' æthel'') is an Old English word meaning "noble", today often used as a feminine given name. Etymology and historic usage The word means ''æthel'' "noble". It is frequently attested as the first element in Anglo-Saxon names, b ...

for their multimedia show ''ETHEL's Documerica''.

Charity work

Owens is also the co-founder and artistic director of the charity, Don’t Miss A Beat. DMAB’s mission is “…to blend music, art, academic achievement, and civic engagement to inspire and enlighten children and teens in the Riverside and Brooklyn communities.” After graduating from

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

in 2006, Owens traveled the world as a jazz drummer. "I saw so many arts programs for kids, especially in other cultures, and I thought we really need something like this back home." After hearing about Jacksonville's high dropout rate and other problems with struggling youths, Owens and his family designed a program to help suspended youths stay in school. Programming also includes developing workable skills for parents so that, as noted previously, youth have self-sufficient, caring adult role models who are able to provide a safe, healthy environment for their children.

Discography

With Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band ''Soul Conversations'' (Outside in Music , 2021) With

*''Countdown'' (Motema, 2016) With

*'' Unanimous'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2012) *''

People Music ''People Music'' is a studio album by American jazz bassist Christian McBride together with his band Inside Straight. The record was released on via the Mack Avenue label. Background ''People Music'' is the second album for McBride's band Ins ...

'' (Mack Avenue, 2013) *'' Out Here'' (Mack Avenue, 2013) *'' Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Mack Avenue, 2015) With

Gregory Porter Gregory Porter (born November 4, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He has twice won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album: first in 2014 for ''Liquid Spirit'' and then again in 2017 for '' Take Me to the Alley''. Early l ...

*''

Nat "King" Cole & Me ''Nat King Cole & Me'' is the fifth studio album by American jazz musician and singer Gregory Porter. He sings songs that were either recorded by or inspired by Nat King Cole, whom Porter has cited as an important part of his childhood and an inf ...

'' (Blue Note) With

Matthew Whitaker Matthew George Whitaker (born October 29, 1969) is an American lawyer, lobbyist and politician who served as the acting United States Attorney General from November 7, 2018, to February 14, 2019. He was appointed to that position by President D ...

*''Now Hear This'' (Resilience)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Owens, Ulysses 1982 births Living people American jazz drummers Musicians from Jacksonville, Florida 21st-century American drummers Christian McBride Big Band members