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Jazz runs deep in the arteries and veins of Philadelphia. Many legends who called Philly home have helped invent, perfect and reinvent the greatest of American inventions. John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Bessie Smith, Philly Joe Jones, Pearl Bailey, Jimmy Smith, Sun Ra! the list goes on and on. Today you can add one more name to that list: Justin Faulkner.

Raised down in Southwest Philly, drummer Justin Faulkner is of a rare breed. Musical prodigy is a term that’s often watered down by its misappropriation, but it Justin’s case it is an understatement. Like most brilliant musicians, Faulkner began showing signs of his talent at a very young age. At the age of just nine months he was already making beats on the floor. But, as his mother Carol likes to tell everyone when he performs, he quickly moved on to bigger and better things: his grandmother’s pots and pans. The Settlement Music School took young Justin under it’s wing when he was seven and he hasn’t looked back since.

These days you can find Justin playing at topnotch gigs all over the city like the Saturday afternoon session at the Train Stop or Orin Evans’ jam night at Reuben’s Marc. But catch him while you can, because Justin is movin’ on up: after seeing him play at the Mann Center this summer legend Branford Marsalis has invited Justin to join him on stage for a few gigs.

More after the jump!

Now for the jaw dropping part of it all: Justin is just 16 years old!!! That’s right, this kid has the chops of a seasoned vet and he can’t even vote. A truly promising future lies ahead for Justin and Philadelphia stand to reap the benefits. Hoping to get a scholarship to attend Julliard, in a recent interview with Channel 6 Action News he revealed that his dream is to one day play for the Philadelphia orchestra. I’ll be the first to say it: Justin, don’t do it! Those cats can’t swing like you, they’ll only hold you back! stick with jazz!

All joking aside, let this serve as official warning: Questlove, keep an eye on your rear view mirror. Soon enough Justin may eclipse you as the funkiest drummer in town.

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