“Rising Star Guitarist” LEMEK is a trippin N Rhythm recording artist and Contemporary Instrumental Smooth Jazz charting soloist with a combined 9 weeks at Billboard #1. Currently a Billboard Top 10 End of Year Chart holder, LEMEK has amassed over 1M Spotify streams and counting with songs from his debut CD titled "Emergence". Local to the New Orleans Metro area, LEMEK is a uniquely unapologetic artist who has a lot of unlimited artistic creativity to share in his fruitful journey in instrumental music!
“Having grown up with a dad who’s delighted thousands of contemporary urban jazz fans with his amazing saxophone vibes, LEMEK—the son of Louisiana native saxophonist Quintin Gerard W., is bringing something bigger and bolder to the table of contemporary smooth jazz:-- an ever-blossoming guitar artistry with an intense, fiery, sometimes even fusion vibe that incorporates everything from strings to trippy rhythmic textures for an extremely powerful, acoustic and electric guitar driven energy. "LEMEK is urban smoothness with high-octane and higher impact modes of expression."
Beyond simply using a different instrument to express his passion, what makes this generational hand off unique is the way LEMEK builds upon the soul and jazz foundation of his father yet takes his own music into unique rock and experimental territory. The New Orleans based musician draws on his custom designed Singleton Guitar— to take his vibes way beyond smooth jazz territory to incorporate elements of prog rock and even fusion.
LEMEK grew up listening to jazz greats like Pat Metheny and Stanley Jordan while exploring the music of Quintin’s classic R&B world via Charlie Wilson/The Gap Band, Michael Jackson and Ronnie Laws. Yet LEMEK also attributes an eclectic stylistic voice to axe men in other genres that inspired his sound with equal force— most notably, Peruvian hard/alt rock virtuoso Charlie Parra, Aaron Marshall of the instrumental rock band Intervals and Tosin Abasi of the instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders.
"I have a story to tell,” says Lemek, who won the highly competitive First Annual KRK Guitar Solo contest at NAMM 2020, held in conjunction with Gibson and Epiphone. “Being the son of a renowned saxophonist who has had a huge impact on my life, musically and otherwise, prompts me to carry on his legacy and reflect the knowledge he has imparted to me. My aim is to create a statement that lasts for generations to come.”
A visit to LEMEK"S website shows that he identifies and accepts his true history, language, land, and culture as a Hebrew Israelite by birthright. His name, pronounced Leh’- Mek, traces back to Genesis, where the Biblical Lamech is the eighth generation descendant of Adam through Seth. He is the father of Noah and, appropriate as it applies to LEMEK'S life, he was responsible for comforting humanity in their work and toils—bringing rest to the soul. “My name is important to me because it also means ‘patriarch,’ one who brings forth life after that which we call death,” the guitarist says. “I am true to always living and embodying the noble characteristics and attributes of my name throughout my life.”
FROM THE BEGINNING
A native of Florida, LEMEK'S musical destiny as the son of Quintin Gerard W. - The FnkySax Player! always seemed set in stone; albeit with another instrument and other more progressive rock influences shaping his flavor. He started on the drums when he was 3 and had a natural sense of rhythm, but when his family moved back to Louisiana at age 5, Quintin needed more room for his studio so the drum set was packed in the attic. After the drums disappeared, LEMEK needed another outlet for his musical development. A friend of his dad brought over an acoustic guitar and LEMEK says “I instantly found my voice with it and started noodling immediately.”
Quintin’s music and the jazz that LEMEK heard in the house had a definite impact, but by 12 LEMEK had stopped playing or formally practicing. Then while surfing for video game music on YouTube, he found Charlie Parra, whose blistering style and intricate technique gave LEMEK a fresh way to listen to the guitar and reawakened his desire to play and create his own music. He started practicing Parra’s songs and ultimately developed a style that fuses the most appealing elements of urban flavored jazz with the more intense energy of Parra and the other progressive instrumental bands he counts as key influences.
ON STAGE
LEMEK has spent most of his musical time these past few years working on material for his debut CD, but some lucky folks in New Orleans have had the opportunity, as early as 2017, to see him showcasing his quickly developing chops with friends who were students at the Neo Jazz School of Music. After participating in numerous school jam nights, where among other repertoire, he learned how to ace jazz standards; he was good enough to join their Jazz/R&B band. Performing under the name Yisrael, the ensemble played such popular local events as The Treme Seventh Ward Festival along with scheduled performances on the Twist Stage at the Camellia City Smooth Jazz Festival, whose lineup included genre greats Gerald Albright, Alex Bugnon, and Chieli Minucci. They also performed on the local ABC affiliate WGNO's “News With A Twist” TV Show. LEMEK also performed live and in studio as part of the backing band for contemporary gospel singer Isabel Davis.
REVIEW
Perhaps not everyone who embraces his urban smoothness will dig the high-octane and higher impact modes of expression, but blessedly for those who appreciate artistry in whatever form it empowers us, LEMEK is a uniquely unapologetic artist who has a lot of artistic diversity to share and sees no need to limit himself as he launches what will surely be a fruitful journey in instrumental music!”