RJ's is a Las Vegas resident & his education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Piano from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and a Masters in Music in Jazz Piano Performance, also from UNLV. Since graduating, he has have recorded three albums: Deceiving Eyes, Stroke of Midnight, and Colorblind (to be released in 2016) RJ performs regularly with his group, RJ & The Assignment, as well as other groups performing in Las Vegas. Venues he frequently performs in include: the Wynn Resort and casino, Cosmopolitan, and Mandalay Bay. He is also touring with Boys II Men as their keyboardist for their residency at the Mirage Casino and Resort in Las Vegas contracted thru 2018.
RJ plays Jazz and R & B. His own compositions and style is a modern mix of the two genres, creating a unique "new" Jazz style that is trending quite positively right now. RJ is a Chicago native who has been quite privileged to professional work as a musician for over 15 years. He began his musical career at a very young age, performing in his church. This encouraged him to pursue classical music training, which led to opportunities where he was able to study with some of the best in the industry. RJ's rapid progression as a dedicated music student led him to numerous opportunities to play keyboard in live shows and studio recordings for various headlining artists, including: Jennifer Hudson, Otis Clay, Christopher Williams, Beverly Crawford, Angie Stone, Boys II Men, and Jon B and Buddy Guy.
Various reviews have described RJ as a skillful, creative, and consistent musical tour-de-force across multiple genres of music, including jazz, R & B, neo-soul, and gospel. As his critical acclaim and loyal fan base grew, he endeavored to ensure that the message he continues to spread is that jazz is alive, hip and cool. No one has to be afraid to listen to it. RJ's unique style has produced three albums that offer a unique compilation of jazz, hip hop, funk, and modern jazz. This unusual machination of style grabbed the attention of George W. Harris’ Jazz Weekly review where he said that RJ is "impressive on a myriad of fronts… This guy has a spry touch on the keys, an inquisitive delivery, and the heart of a young lion in delivery." He is just one of many reviews that have appeared over the last few years.
