A Conversation In Jazz - Yarbrough Charles Laws, Jr. (Y.C. Laws)

In this edition of A Conversation In Jazz we talk to wonderful jazz flutist, percussionist, composer and educator, Mr. Yarbrough Charles Laws, Jr. (Y.C. Laws).
Yarbrough Charles Laws, Jr. is a native Washingtonian and was born June 21, 1964 at Freemans Hospital located on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. This is the official date of the Summer Solstice, longest day of the year, and the cusp of the zodiac sign of Gemini/Cancer. In addition, that particular year it was Father’s Day! Y.C. Laws, Jr.’s musical career actually started at Brightwood Elementary School as a flute player under the tutelage of Ms. Hill who was the principal flutist for the National Symphony Orchestra during that time for only two years. From there he transitioned playing regularly at the Carter Barron Amphitheater annually for his mother’s church (2030) Georgia Ave. N.W. and switched to drums graduating as a honor’s student into Paul Junior High School and Calvin Coolidge High School. Unfortunately, Y.C. dropped out of High School February 2, 1982; as a result, of not having an instrumental music teacher both at Paul JHS & Coolidge HS became a beachcomber and a surfer!
Metro moving forward! Mr. Laws has have the pleasure/pleasance to perform, record and/or collaborated with such notables as Nona Hendricks, Abbey Lincoln, Gary Bartz, Erika Badu, Common, Marc Cary, Casey Benjamin, Ron Sutton, Jr., Fred Foss, Ron Blake, Terrell Stafford, Roy Hargrove, Stefon Harris, Lady Baron, Russell Gun, Butch Warren, Webster Young, Bobby Sanchez, Jimmy Garrison,Terreon Gulley, Camille Gainer, Taures Matteen, Donvote Mc Coy, Dupor Georges, and the list goes on. What a host on the litany of our beautiful people! Mr. Laws' formal education was received in DCPS including earning a Bachelor of Music Education at the University of the District of Columbia where his major was on flute and minor was in jazz studies. His certification is in Instrumental Music K-12. This is Mr. Laws' second year with PGCPS, and he brings a wealth of information and insight of being a music educator for more than 30+ years primarily in DCPS, with short tenures with New York City Public Schools, Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, & Montgomery County Public Schools. Not only is Mr. Laws a music educator but, also an international musician, composer, arranger, conductor, and bandleader.
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