Skip to content
Born in Manhattan to musical parents, Iajhi has had music around him all of his life. Following in the footsteps of his father (Ivan Hampden) who has toured with Luther Vandross since 1987. He began playing drums at the age of ten in a North Carolina church behind his mother who served as the musical director for the church, while taking gigs in the area at 16, as soon as he was able to drive. Iajhi enrolled at North Carolina Central University two years later in 1997, and under the direction of Dr. Ira Wiggins began the journey into jazz studies. While at N.C.C.U. as a part of the jazz studies program he was privileged to perform at the Montreaux and Vienne jazz festivals in Europe, the White House on two occasions, and also shared stages with Stanley Turntine, Slide Hampton, Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, Terrell Stafford, Nicholas Payton, and many others.
In 2005, Iajhi completed a Graduate Assistantship to Ronald Carter (sax) At Northern Illinois University as a Liberace scholar. Professor Carter has taught many of the current young œlions in the music scene today including drummers Montez Coleman (Rufus Reid), and Terrion Gully (Christian McBride), and has a working relationship with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center program as creative administrator. While at N.I.U., Iajhi was privileged to tour with the NIU Jazz Ensemble working alongside guest artists such as Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, Eddie Henderson, Dennis Mackrel and Red Holloway.
