An Inspired Chat with Jaylen Ward of Kansas City

Jaylen Ward shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Jaylen, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m not really on any particular path, but not wandering either. I like to have multiple irons in the fire and sow multiple seeds of opportunity. I don’t really like the feeling of wandering and going with any opportunity that comes, just from the fact that I could be under prepared for an uninformed opportunity, but if I intentionally put multiple investments and seeds out there, when an opportunity comes, I have already set up some structure surrounding that path so i can be prepared for when the time comes. Whenever I put myself on a path, it can be a good tool for staying focused, but sometimes it puts horse blinders on me to the point where I could miss unexpected opportunities.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jaylen Ward, I’m a Drummer, composer, producer, audio engineer, videographer, self-taught graphic designer, and artist. I grew up in South KC, where many gospel musicians are from. Growing up in a musical household. Music has been a very active part of my life, whether I’m playing or experiencing music. Throughout my career, I’ve been granted opportunities to perform with Bobby Watson, Logan Richardson, Tia Fuller, Harold “Spike” Bonhart of the Four Tops, Lonnie McFadden, Tivon Pennicott, Sean Jones, Isaiah Colier and the Chosen Few, Ben Vangelder, Adam Larson, Peter Schlamb, Eddie Moore, Dominique Sanders, Lynn Seaton, and many more. In 2020, I started to focus on what makes me, me, and started leaning into those aspects in my life. One of the projects that has been a product of that is a group between me and alto saxophone artist Dougan Smith, called the DJ quartet, with Dougan Smith on sax, Isaiah Petire on Vibraphone, and Jordan Faught on Bass. Over the years, this project has evolved, and has four records under the DJ quartet. I am currently in the works on another snapshot in time under the Jaylen Ward Project. I am performing at the Jazz Valley Festival at Penn Valley on September 27. We will be playing some music from my first project, along with some unreleased music.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad, James Ward, is a bass player, composer, and jazz educator. And my mom, Angela Ward, is a classically trained pianist, keyboardist, and producer. My uncle Andrew Ward, who is a drummer, audio engineer, and producer, played a huge role in my musical career. They all had a project together since the 80s called the JWB. These were some of the earliest memories of being exposed to Music. and Jazz specifically. I remember being in the studio at the age of four years old when they were tracking their first record, In Perspective. I remember seeing the process from beginning to end, and then seeing them chart in the top 10 on the smooth jazz charts. Excellence was at a really high bar, yet there was a very benevolent relationship to Music, and I think that’s one of the reasons why this band has lasted over the many eras. When I joined the band, there was a lot of hard work and a lot of discipline that had to be put in. I had guidance from some of the greatest musicians of Kansas City: drummer and producer for Oleta Adams, John Cushon, my uncle Andrew Ward, my parents, Ryan Lee, who was the drummer and co-composer for my parents’ second project, Groove Axis, and, along with the vast, loving music community of Kansas City. In almost every stage of my life, there has always been a mentor or a friend.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to play music that was unique and had a sense of identity. I grew up listening to traditional jazz and smooth jazz, but simultaneously I was deep into electronic dance music and Rock. Artists like Animals as Leaders, Jordan Rakai, and Flying Lotus attracted my attention in elementary school because of their unique way of using jazz elements and elements of other styles of music. I had no idea that that level of jazz fusion was possible. When I met Eddie Moore back in 2013, he saw that I was striving for that level of sense of identity in my music. Of course, at that age I was inexperienced in my music career, but he has been gracious to guide me to discover myself in music. I’m super grateful for his openness to my voice ,and I am very grateful to be an active collaborator and to call him a friend.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Like I mentioned earlier, I like to create many different seeds of opportunity; it’s better to have quantity over quality, and quantity over speed when it comes to creating. I’d say it takes me about a year to finish a song, but when I have so many songs in the works, I end up creating a lot of finished music. Plus, the small side projects that you put out there are sometimes the things that catch on the most. I can’t always work on one project at a time; I have the capacity to work on other people‘s projects and such, but when it comes to my own workflow, I’m working on a different song every day. sometimes even multiple songs.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
For sure, this kind of ties into the previous question, where I am going to be creating lots of music that may not make it to the public, but finding joy in making art and music in isolation is important for longevity.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
JCCC Jazz Winterlude 2024 – Jordan Faught
2025 X Festival Internacional de Jazz de Valparaíso
REGEN 2025 live at In the Lowest Ferns – Jordan Faught
Show and Shed 2024 – Jordan Faught

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