He is Toronto-born and can play the world if he wants to. His playing makes the perfect weave of African-inspired cultures expressed by music: Latin, Calypso and Soca, and the infectious beat of the music of Cuba. These are not mere inflections, Ledbetter breathes fresh life into all of the already deliciously inspired sounds. Like the spirited cuisines of these cultures, his music is a spiced cook-up with many ingredients. Inspiration comes easy and from direct contact having lived and worked in Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela, with stellar artists from both countries, and also Brazil.
These are his words about the music he plays: “We are the sum of our experiences…every style I play helps the other styles I play. Playing Cuban music helps me to have a better rhythmic sense when I’m playing jazz. Playing calypso helps me internalize the Cuban rhythms.”
These days he is deservedly basking in the wild appreciation of his work with his trio including Larnell Lewis and Rich Brown. Jeremy can play the world if he wants to, and he is breathing new life into the music expressions of the Afro-inspired cultures of the Americas.