Jermaine Mondaine

Growing up in church, Jermaine Mondaine often heard the inspiring adage that “When praises go up, blessings come down.” Over time, as he made the saxophone the center of his ever-evolving musical life and ministry, he realized that praise had the power to take that one step further: “When praises go up, the Blesser comes down.” Effortlessly developing a hybrid gospel-jazz sound, the multi-talented performer – in the spirit of greats like Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler and others who inhabit both worlds successfully – brings God into the house even when he plays for secular audiences. 

Over the past few years, in addition to sharing his dynamic gospel/jazz with thousands of the faithful in his hometown of Muskogee, OK, Jermaine has made an increasingly strong impact on the national contemporary urban jazz scene. His 2015 breakthrough single “Going Higher” featuring Tim Waters and legendary R&B/jazz guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., reached the Top 25 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs and National Airplay Charts. That song and another key track from his critically acclaimed debut album Don’t Let The Moment Pass You By, “Over and Over Again (You Just Keep On Blessing Me),” scored significant airplay on SiriusXM’s Watercolors. 

In 2003, Jermaine established Mondaine Musical Ministries with the mission of providing quality, life changing ministry and entertainment through music, public speaking and inspirational literature. That same year, he was honored by Muskogee Mayor Hershel McBride with “Jermaine Mondaine Day” to recognize his accomplishments in the music field. Since then, the saxophonist has enjoyed a unique career fusing his pastoral and musical roles both within and outside various congregations. 

On any given Sunday these past years, he plays at The Bridge at Christ Church in Muskogee; at Bridge, he is both a regular presence in the worship band and associate pastor delivering sermons. His deep involvement in church has led to opportunities to play on behalf of several prominent ministries (led by Pastor Sharon Daugherty and Bishop Noel Jones) and with musical heroes in the gospel and jazz worlds, including the late Wayman Tisdale, legendary bassist/producer Marcus Miller, Grammy Award winning trumpeter Phil Driscoll, singer/songwriter Dennis Jernigan and country music duo The Swons, who have appeared on NBC’s “The Voice.” 

Having the opportunity to play with Marcus Miller at a show honoring Wayman Tisdale and celebrating a documentary about the NBA star/jazz bassist’s life was more than a dream come true for Jermaine; it brought everything in his musical life full circle. When he was first learning the sax in middle school, he was practicing a major scale in his bedroom one day and when he played it for his father, he thought it sounded like the melody of “Maputo,” the tune Miller wrote for the iconic Grammy winning Double Vision album by David Sanborn and Bob James. Jermaine’s dad promised him ten dollars if he could learn “Maputo” by ear. Mastering the challenge, the saxophonist calls this the moment he learned to play by ear.

Besides Sanborn, Jermaine’s dad had introduced his son to great saxophonists from an earlier album, including Ray Charles’ horn men Hank Crawford and David “Fathead” Newman. Within his second year of picking up the sax, Jermaine was playing along with and improvising over his dad’s Sanborn albums while also debuting with his vocalist mother during worship at their local church. Combining his God-infused love for these two seemingly opposite worlds of jazz and gospel helped him develop his unique style of playing. 

Jermaine’s subsequent growth as a musician came through the Muskogee Public School system under the direction of band directors Jim McPherson, Richard McCall, and Joe Metzer.  He received many awards and accolades including the Boston Russell Jazz Award and membership in the O.M.E.A. All State Jazz Band.  Never abandoning his gospel roots, Jermaine often represented his church at district conferences and musicals. 

During his college years at Lincoln University, Missouri, Jermaine quickly made a name for himself as a versatile and dynamic player. While engaged in his studies, he became a well-known studio musician, and his playing was featured on local and national radio commercials. He was later selected to represent the university at the National Association for Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) conference in Washington D.C.  The performance landed him on the cover of Black Excellence Magazine.  Committed to making sure the power of music and the Lord is felt in every endeavor he engages in, Jermaine has also served as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board President and Executive Director.  

“Many people in the church community are under the impression that jazz and gospel are two separate worlds, and that jazz doesn’t belong in the worship experience,” Jermaine says. “Because my dad was such a huge jazz fan, God revealed to me the power of music, period. Whether someone claimed to be a Christian sax player or a jazz performer, the impact on people’s hearts and souls was the same. When my dad came home from work and put Sanborn on, it had the same effect as church music. It made me want to use my saxophone as a means to lift and inspire people and I wanted it to have the same effect on them that Sanborn’s playing had on me during my formative years. When I’m playing, whether it’s at church or a secular venue, I tell my audience that it’s not about my playing, but His Presence. It’s not about my talent or abilities but God showing up with the power and an invitation to change lives.”