Raised in Houston, Texas, Wesley found a major interest in music at a young age due to his interest in his father’s bass playing and performances. Although his father wasn’t a world-class musician, the experience of seeing what a lifestyle of a bandsman was intruiging to Wesley. Wesley was given a small amount of lessons on the piano at an early age until he entered middle school playing the Tuba. In his 2nd year of middle school he decided to pick up the electric bass and was fascinated with the jazz genre. In high school he had the opportunity in his school’s cover band and big band at the Texas Music Educator Association Convention and performed again at the Jazz Education Network. In Wesley’s 3rd year in high school he created Central City Jazz, was given the opportunity to join the Civic Jazz Orchestra, and joined the Julie Wilson trio. These opportunities have given Wesley experience playing in a trio with a Berklee graduate and other local professionals. Wesley studies jazz bass with Houston’s finest, David Craig.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, "JAE" was given a trumpet mouthpiece as soon as his father, a former army trumpeter, and later high school band director, saw him. With his early start on trumpet, "JAE" not only earned countless awards, he began to receive opportunities that musicians can only wish for. Throughout this high-school career, he often went to the All-State level as a soloist/ensemble member. He made the Houston Jazz Youth Orchestra, under direction of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's Vincent Gardener, throughout his High school career. He currently receives personal lessons from the legendary trumpeter Jon Faddis.
Troy Liman is a junior at the Kinder High School for the Performing Arts, focused in jazz drumming. His musical abilities are clear through his proficiency in drums, piano, and vibraphone playing. He is a manger, outside of Central City Jazz, of the "Vintage Sounds Experience" collective, providing live music and curated experiences around Houston, Texas. Troy has been apart of the Jazz Houston Youth Orchestra for two years in a row and consistently shares his love for music around Houston, playing at a variety of venues. His partnership with Central City Jazz has begun in the summer of 2023, when meeting Wesley at the Gypsy Poet's Sunday night jazz jam.
