Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Sailor.
Hi Luke, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started taking piano lessons at 5 years old. I knew my passion was music at around 10. I started taking jazz piano lessons at 16, which opened my mind in many ways, learning about chord progressions. In 2021, I graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor’s in Music in Jazz Piano Performance. Being in a college environment was instrumental to getting me where I am today because I started getting gigs as a student (thanks to teachers and peers). Those gigs helped me make and keep connections and establish my reputation.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My admission into college was based on my classical piano skills, even though I knew I wanted to study jazz. I also got a late start in jazz because I wasn’t accepted into a popular area-wide after-school jazz program for high school students. I’m glad I stuck with it, though. There are always struggles as a working musician. I’ve played plenty of gigs as a sideman where the band’s overall sound is not something I’m proud of, or the unit doesn’t click. I’ve witnessed all types of attitudes and methods of leading a band. Every experience, good and bad, helped shape me into the musician, bandleader, and person I am today.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
- I play piano, keyboard, and organ. I don’t like to confine myself to one genre. My favorite genres to play in are Soul/R&B, Funk, and Jazz. Other genres I feel skilled in include Pop, Blues, Latin, and Gospel.
- I co-lead the group SoulCity Organ Trio with guitarist Matt Lesch; we have soul/funk originals and cover classic soul/R&B tunes. Our first record, Meet Us Here, was recorded a few months ago, and we hope to release it in the first quarter of 2023.
- I played on two singles with Paige Alyssa and the Max that were released a few months ago: “Liquor” and “Partikular Girl” (the latter of which features a synth solo from me, credited as Lukie).
- I also play in other bands, including Justin Time (party band), Monkh and the People (Funk/Soul), Farshid Etniko (Latin Jazz), and Matt “the Rattlesnake” Lesch (Blues).
- I’m starting up a jazz piano trio and have some originals and arrangements picked out. Additionally, I plan to release some music next year as a soloist (tentatively under the name Lukie). That music will be more like what I listen to most, which is R&B/Hip-Hop.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/luke.sailor
Image Credits
First image (me with Roland keyboard): James Ross, Picture on park bench: G&A Productions
