"There is something of the corn-fed, open, friendly and slower-paced Midwestern outlook about the band, which, however, has been melded with a New York City eclecticism and intensity. [UBUNTU!] sank its tentacles deep into my mind and would not let go for days on end. the seemingly simple music has an inexorable logic; its beauty develops it own intensity when combined with seriousness of purpose; and many layers of intelligence can be uncovered with each listen."

Budd Kopmann - Allaboutjazz.com

"Foote's peaceful Chamber Music reaches out in the universal language to a world in need of solace and comfort... He ambles casually, delivering a confident foundation."

Jim Santella - Cadence

JAY FOOTE was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Foote began playing music from an early age with the family band, The Foote Family Band. Band members included his father Alan, and two talented younger brothers, Ben and Alex. They performed all over Iowa and were even featured on Sunday mornings on the "Big Foote Gospel Get-together" on the local radio station, 1490 KXLQ. The band performed every September at the Hickory Hills Howdown in southern Warren County for over 10 years.

Foote attended the University of Northern Iowa where he performed with Dr. Robert Washut's award-winning Jazz Band One and is featured on two recordings, Leap of Faith and West Coastin'. Through the program at UNI, he performed with notable jazz musicians Maria Schneider, Rich Perry, Kenny Werner and Orquesta Alto Maiz. Jay attended the University of Iowa for one year in 2002 and studied with contrabass virtuoso Volkan Orhon, jazz bass master Mark Urness and the great Robert Paredes. He completed his Master's thesis about the politics of Charlie Haden in relation to his music and the Liberation Music Orchestra at William Paterson University in May 2005.

Since moving to Brooklyn, he has performed and recorded with Sufjan Stevens, Kenny Wolleson's Orchestra Slang featuring the great Butch Morris, Anglica Sanchez, Ron Horton and The New York Soundpainting Orchestra. He also performs with Trixie Whitley, Fulton Lights and Matt Bauer. For two years Foote worked for Mythology Records, David Binney's record company. He is also a founding member of the Brooklyn/Montreal-based composers collective Addtract Consortium. In July 2006, he was invited by the US Embassy in Saana, Yemen to perform concerts as a part of a diplomatic effort in the War on Terror. Foote performed on Jim Saltzman's Hidden Intentions, which was selected by the Boston Globe as one of the "Best Jazz Albums of 2007".

In his own project, he performs original creative music featuring Rick Stone, Alex Foote, Evan Mazunik and Jason Nazary. The ensemble's debut album "UBUNTU!", released in mid-2006, was named by Budd Kopman of ALLABOUTJAZZ.COM one of the "BEST OF 2006".