Jazz Jottings June 2017

Justin Kauflin As a child, Justin Kauflin learned classical music on the violin and piano. By the age of 6, he was performing in concerts, nursing homes and weddings, eventually becoming concertmaster for several orchestras. He graduated in the top 1% of his high school class and was Valedictorian of his class at the Governor’s School for the Arts. He received a Presidential scholarship to attend William Paterson University in New Jersey where he was mentored by the legendary trumpeter Clark Terry and was graduated summa cum laude. He began performing professionally at the age of 15 with the Jae Sinnett Trio and at 23, composed, performed and produced his first CD. Pretty impressive resume for a 31-year-old who now travels the world as a Quincy Jones artist, performing solo, with his own trio/quartet, or as a sideman for various artists. It’s even more impressive when you learn that Justin Kauflin battled deteriorating eyesight since he was seven months old, and by his 11th birthday had gone through 13 surgeries to treat complications from his condition. It was then that he lost total vision, and his world faded to black from exudative retinopathy, but his music proved to be his savior. Overcoming Adversity  Justin led an active life growing up in Virginia Beach, Virginia in spite of his diminished eyesight. He insisted on going to a public school, and he loved to pla