When College alumnus Tony Peebles walked into "Jazz Improvisation" his freshman year, he didn't think much about the professor at the front of the room.
Today, however, Music Professor Guthrie Ramsey and Peebles play side by side in Dr. Guy's MusiQologY, a 6-month-old jazz band that includes other Philadelphia musicians.
In that first fateful class, Ramsey heard Peebles play for the first time and saw in the saxophonist a future musical star.
"I was highly impressed, because he sounded so fresh and energetic," Ramsey notes, recalling the first time he listened to Peebles jam on his sax.
That first meeting gave birth to a musical relationship between the two musicians -- one that would endure throughout Peebles' college experience.
Peebles still astonishes Ramsey with his musical talent.
"Tony displays incredible musicianship," Ramsey says. "He is one of the most gifted students I've ever seen, and an intellectual powerhouse as well."
Of special note is Peebles' youth. At 21, the saxophonist's young age has drawn much attention.
"I refer to him as 'the kid,'" jokes Kevin Clark, manager of MusiQologY.
The band's members, however, view Peebles' age as a benefit rather than a detriment.
"We tease him a lot about him being so much younger," laughs MusiQologY drummer Lucky Thompson.
"Still, he's really funny, and we have a good time," he added.
Ramsey adds, "We can educate him on a lot of different things, but we also get a different perspective from a younger generation."
MusiQologY, of which Peebles is a founder, has given the saxophonist the chance to harness his love for jazz.
"The band plays jazz music that is heavily influenced by R&B;, funk and even hip hop. So it makes for some very interesting playing," Peebles explains. "It has both highly arranged parts but also allows a lot of room for improvisation."
Peebles emphasizes the success MusiQologY has experienced, despite its young age.
"The gel was unbelievable, right off the bat,"Peebles says. "There was great chemistry between all the players."
After just half a year of playing, Peebles has made a strong impression on his fellow band members.
"He's a very good player and a mature young man," Thompson says. "I expect for him to go pretty far in this music world."
Ramsey, who has been coaching Peebles for the past four years, believes he has a promising future.
"I think T.P. is positioned to become one of the most well-known musicians to graduate Penn," Ramsey says. "He has big ears and is extremely focused on his art."
Even before Peebles' acceptance to Penn, the foundation for his musical career had been laid.
Peebles has been toting a saxophone since he was 8 years old and living in the province of Ontario, Canada.
"As soon as I was able to choose, that's what I chose," Peebles says of his instrument.
Throughout his childhood and teenage years, Peebles played in a number of bands and musical organizations. Of note was the Canadian Hamilton All-Star Jazz Band, which Peebles joined at the age of 15.
With the HASJ, Peebles toured across Europe, making stops in France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
He recounts his experience as a 15-year-old, playing alongside a fellow saxophonist who was more than 11 years his senior.
"It was unbelievable, and just very different in terms of our experiences," Peebles says. "But it was a great learning experience, and it allowed me to play lead my next couple years in there."
After entering Penn with the intention of pursuing a pre-law course of study, Peebles eventually switched majors, turning his focus to obtaining a degree in music.
He began playing at Natalie's, a West Philadelphia lounge at which his father was a regular guitarist.
A popular jazz spot, Natalie's introduced Peebles to a number of Philadelphia musicians, including MusiQologY drummer Thompson.
Along with Ramsey, Thompson has represented Peebles' main source of guidance during his years at Penn.
Thompson says he has been pleased with Peebles' steady musical development.
The band has "known him for three or four years," says Thompson, "and we've watched him grow and blossom into an outstanding musician."
Equally tenacious in his academics as in his music, Peebles completed his degree at the end of the fall semester, effectively graduating a semester early.
He is currently considering his options for the future, which will most certainly include some form of music.
"I want to work with lots of musicians, especially on projects," notes the saxophonist.
Peebles is applying to the University of the Arts, a downtown Philadelphia graduate program that Ramsey believes is a good choice for him.
"He will continue making a tremendous contribution to the art scene in Philly," Ramsey says.
Regardless of his future course, Peebles says he will always appreciate Ramsey's guidance over the past four years.
"Professor Ramsey has been an unbelievable motivator for me. He was a major professor of mine, and I took a lot of classes with him," Peebles says.
"He's a jazz historian, which is exactly what I was interested in academically. So it was a good marriage of academic and career development. Definitely, he was kind of like my unofficial adviser at this school."
