Jayla Hernández, an Afro-Latina drummer, student, and jazz enthusiast, embodies the rich sound of West Oakland soul. Rooted in her Cuban heritage, Jayla has studied a wide range of jazz eras and styles, channeling the strength of her ancestors to open audiences’ ears and hearts to the essence of Black music. Versed in Hip Hop, R&B, Swing, Blues, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, she graduated from the Oakland School for the Arts in 2020 and is now pursuing a bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies at the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music on a full scholarship.

Jayla has collaborated with musical luminaries such as members of the SFJAZZ Collective, Tiffany Austin, Carmen Bradford, Warren Wolf, Marcus Shelby, Tammy Hall, Ruben Rogers, and Joshua Redman. Her teaching experience includes roles at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, East Bay Performing Arts Center, Oaktown Jazz, and Girls Rock Camp, in addition to running her own private lesson studio. She has performed at prominent venues like the Fox and Paramount Theaters, Yoshis, SFJAZZ, and the Art and Soul Festival. Recently, Jayla was honored with acceptance into the Chicago Ravinia Steans Institute. She plans to continue her journey by educating audiences and delving deeper into the world of Black American Music.