Jasmine -

Jasmine was an American jazz-funk/soul band from New Orleans that released the 1981 album Tropical Breeze on Inner City Records, followed by the 1986/87 titles Foreign Affairs and Softly Strong on Broken Records.

Members: Patrice Fisher (harp), Kent Jordan (flute), James Black (drums), Cassandra Wilson (vocals), Sun Kim (violin), Jim Markway (bass), Mark Sanders (percussion)

Background

Jasmine emerged in 1980 around Patrice Fisher, a New Orleans harpist who studied at Wolf Trap Academy and earned a music degree in 1975 from Tulane University. She served as music coordinator at the Contemporary Arts Center from 1979–81 and co-founded the Louisiana Jazz Federation.

Flutist Kent Jordan grew up in the musical household of saxophonist and educator Kidd Jordan. He studied at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts with Ellis Marsalis, then continued at the Eastman School of Music.

Drummer James Black studied music at Southern University, then joined pianist Ellis Marsalis at the New Orleans Playboy Club. Black recorded with Nat and Cannonball Adderley on In the Bag and worked as a Scram Records house drummer on Eddie Bo sessions.

Singer Cassandra Wilson came from Jackson, Mississippi, where she earned a mass-communications degree at Jackson State University and studied jazz with drummer Alvin Fielder.

Jasmine entered Sea-Saint Studio in New Orleans as a septet with Fisher, Jordan, Black, Wilson, bassist Jim Markway, percussionist Mark Sanders, and violinist Sun Kim.

Discography: