As a recording artist, Jae Sinnett has 16 recordings out as a leader, the first of which was released in 1986 - called "Obsession." Featured on this project were: The former director of the Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster playing saxophone, John Hicks, piano, Wallace Roney, trumpet, Steve Wilson, saxophone and Clarence Seay, bass. His other releases include Blue Jae, House and Sinnett, Listen (number one Gavin national jazz chart 1996), The Better Half, Off the Myopic Avenue, Confluence, The Sinnett Hearings (number one on the national jazz charts February 2005), Still Standing, It's Telling-A Drummer's Perspective, Theatre, Subject to Change, House & Sinnett Old School Loyalty (Soul ensemble 2011)...the Americana Groove Project, Zero to 60 which also went to number one April of 2016 and the most recent Zero to 60 Quartet release, Just When You Thought. Jae's Zero to 60 Quartet features saxophonist Ralph Bowen, pianist Allen Farnham and bassist Terry Burrell.
Jae's first performance/instructional video called "Musical Drumming Concepts" was released in 2001. "Modern Drummer" magazine rated it an "8" out of "10." It showcases his compositions, philosophical ideas on music and drumming education and drumming in various styles. A very lyrical, intelligent and prolific composer, he's written over 200 compositions. He's also scored music for five documentaries, one of which (John Biggers: Stories of Illumination) was aired on PBS. His other professional life puts him in his 31st amazing year as jazz producer/host for WHRV-FM, 89.5, public radio for Eastern Virginia. Jae hosts the popular jazz radio show "Sinnett In Session" Monday through Thursday evenings from 9pm-1am and Sunday afternoons from 1pm-5pm. His second show he produces is called "The R&B Chronicles" heard Friday evenings at 7pm. Streaming at whrv.org.
In 1998 Jae was nominated for Gavin Jazz programmer of the year by his peers in the industry and has been nominated four more times since. In 2020 Jae was awarded the prestigious Duke Dubois Jazz Humanitarian Award by Jazzweek. As a jazz educator, Jae taught jazz history, theory and percussion and directed the jazz big band and jazz combos at the Governors School for the Arts (Gifted high school students) in Norfolk for eight years. Jae was adjunct drumset and jazz ensemble instructor at Christopher Newport University for four years. He attended Norfolk State and Old Dominion Universities as a music education major and Kee Business for accounting.
Here is a listing of other extraordinary musicians Jae has performed with over the years. They include Branford and Ellis Marsalis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Mangione, Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Carol Sloane, Jon Hendricks, Randy Brecker, Scott Hamilton, Sean Jones, Jimmy Greene, James Moody, Kenny Drew Jr., Fred Hersch, Mulgrew Millew, James Williams, Jack Walwrath, Makoto Ozone, JoAnne Brackeen, Andrew White, Frank Morgan and many others.