Biography

Jay Hoggard was raised in a religious family. He was born in Washington, D.C. but grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. His mother taught him how to play piano at a young age. At the age of 15, Jay started to play the vibraphone.

Hoggard first played piano and saxophone before picking up vibraphone. He played with Anthony Davis and Leo Smith in the early 1970s in New England, and after moving to New York City in 1988, he worked again with Davis and with Chico Freeman, Sam Rivers, Cecil Taylor, James Newton, and Kenny Burrell. Since then Jay has performed with famous vibraphonists Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Tito Puente and Bobby Hutcherson. He has collaborated with Kenny Burrell, Billy Taylor, James Newton, Hilton Ruiz and Oliver Lake.

Hoggard has played in venues in Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. In the United States he has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Lincoln Center in New York City, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture also in New York City. Jay has performed at numerous jazz festivals including St. Lucia, Montreux, Mount Fuji, Pori and Hartford, CT. He has appeared on television on CBS Sunday Morning and BET Jazz.

Hoggard has recorded many dates as a leader, including several that have been commercially successful in the U.S. He graduated from and is currently Adjunct Professor at Wesleyan University.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• Solo Vibraphone (India Navigation, 1978)
• Days Like These (GRP Records, 1979) U.S. Jazz #32
• Rain Forest (Contemporary/OJC, 1980) U.S. Jazz #18
• Under the Double Moon (MPS, 1981) - with Anthony Davis
• Mystic Winds, Tropical Breezes (India Navigation, 1982)
• Love Survives (Gramavision, 1983) U.S. Jazz #23
• Riverside Dance (India Navigation, 1985)
• Overview (Muse Records, 1989) U.S. Jazz #15
• The Little Tiger (Muse, 1990)
• The Fountain (Muse, 1991)
• In The Spirit (Muse, 1992)
• Love Is The Answer (Muse, 1994)
• A Night In Greenwich Village (Muse, recorded 1987/released 1996)
• Pleasant Memories (Muse, recorded 1995) -note: never released commercially, Muse label folded, masters sold to Joel Dorn's 32 Jazz label.
• Something 'Bout Believing: Duke Ellington's Sacred Music (Twin Records, 1999)
• The Right Place (JHVM, 2003)
• Songs Of Spiritual Love (JHVM, 2005) - with James Weidman
• Swing 'Em Gates: A Tribute To Lionel Hampton (JHVM, 2007)
• Soular Power (JHVM, 2008)
• Solo From Two Sides (JHVM, 2009)
• Christmas Vibes All Thru The Year (JHVM, 2012)
• Harlem Hieroglyphs (JHVM, 2016) 2CD set

As sideman

With Anthony Davis

• Song for the Old World (India Navigation, 1978)

With Chico Freeman

• Kings of Mali (India Navigation, 1979)
• No Time Left (Black Saint, 1979)
• Peaceful Heart, Gentle Spirit (Contemporary, 1980)

With Oliver Lake

• Talkin' Stick (Passin' Thru, 2000)

With James Weidman

• All About Time (Contour, 2004)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]