Talks of Jazz, The Music and The Culture with Lon Ivey

On Sunday evenings when New York is being illuminated by the light of the moon, some folks log on to their computers or phones to listen attentively to the positive vibrations of my radio show, Jazz on the JNote.

Because April was Jazz Appreciation Month, I thought it would be fitting to capture the energy and excitement of the melodious artform by featuring some of the world’s many men and women of jazz who could talk to a meaningful extent about their momentous journeys as craftspeople of music. The idea danced through my head for a while. I am thankful for the most part that I was able to shape the vision into reality and remained remarkably consistent throughout the entire month of April, even in these benighted times.

Our special guest on April 5, 2020 was NYC drummer, Lon Ivey who had an endless supply of ideas that he was willing to share about how his career started, about his definition of jazz and about how young aspiring artists can prosper in their efforts to yield their fruit. 

He definitely had some knowledge to pass on that you might get in a typical classroom situation from a teacher delivering a lesson and leaving students well-equipped to move forward. I admire his courage and was honored to have him present on the show. For the most part, it was an intelligent discussion of unique viewpoints, shared stories and prodigious knowledge.

The question, what is jazz alone, can set someone off on a spate of wondering. And so, it is interesting to tap into the brain of different people to see what their philosophies are. The engaging melodies, the conversation and the cultural landscape of jazz is what the show is centered on.

Some of the viable community of listeners tune in while plopped on their couches in the comfort of their living rooms. Some of the members of the diverse audience, listen to the montage of jazz while driving in cruise control down the thoroughfares of their hometowns. Others enjoy the creative freedom of jazz that is built into this show while sitting on the sand at the ocean and taking in the atmosphere.

I thought the content of this show was worth sharing for folks who didn’t get a chance tocapture the energy of the show when it was aired. On any given Sunday, Jazz on the JNote can be heard all around the globe at 7PM EST at http://theenglishconnectionmedia.com.

If I aroused interest in you and you are willing to patronize of the arts and to take in the absorbable, joyous sounds, you can get your fix on the episode of Jazz on the JNote Radio Show which was hosted and produced by Stephanie Jeannot and featured NYC drummer Lon Ivey; as previously aired on April 5, 2020. Here is the link:  https://youtu.be/8-O_Syg_8PQ via @YouTube. 

Listening might do a few things. It might lift your spirits and fill your heart with content. It might calm the mind that is usually full of busy thoughts. It might birth new feelings of creativity in you. It might get you moving them undulating hips to the twists and turns of the music. It might even compel you to want to listen to a live show on a Sunday evening at 7PM EST at http://theenglishconnectionmedia.com.  You might have negative feedback to sting me like a bee because it was a dismal experience for you. Or, you might be in the absence of care just because it is not your thing.

Regardless, I feel mightily blessed that you took the time to read my blogpost. Your simple act of kindness means everything in the world. I am content that there are still ways to have a connected presence with people all over the globe such as in the human connection that is present in reading, writing and music. I am eternally grateful to you.

Sometimes a Song Lyric, Filters Through Me Like "Wherever You Are"

Sometimes a song lyric, filters through me and it comes striking my thoughts, so full of color that I can’t ignore the vibration; I am forced to write. And so, I write.

“Wherever You Are” is one of those songs. My emotions were just right there and somehow I transferred what I was feeling at that very moment, musically. My Korg Triton was turned on and not that far after was I laying down piano chords onto my Cakewalk Sonar recording software.  

Getting into an environment where positivity is just flowing through the air makes me feel more than desirous to share what I conceived and gave birth to. Such was the case at Rustik Tavern.

There was live music and the night was being hosted by my friend Eric Frazier and the fact that the location of it was right there not too far from me in The Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, NY, made me get over my weariness real quick so I could be right there amongst the music lovers, musicians and locals enjoying the atmosphere.

The musicians were inspiring each other and blaring out a potpourri of wonderful sounds, appeasing to the heart. It was an open mic jam forum and so, I was excited to be able to join in the experience. My original song, 

“Wherever You Are” was in my heart 

and so, I pulled out my fake sheet for 

the tune, handed it to the musicians to accompany me and sang my lyrics.

Please check out a clip of the live performance here: https://youtu.be/uqJrXs9tVmk

The song lingered on and it just became a call-and-response thing and felt good to just let out my sigh for the day and to have a conversation with the warm hearts that let me in with their connecting.

Salute to all the songwriters unafraid to let you own words tumble out over your tongue and into the atmosphere. We conceive songs like babies being created fearfully and wonderfully. We put melodies together and then our children are born; our songs created with the spirit God crafted within us. Thank you for every watch and every like and every comment and every furtherance of action and any support that you have lent to me in my mission to be who I be more. To be able to share my gift with you means everything. Hope it inspires you in some way. And, if it does, please check me out on Spotify and follow, listen or like the song. Keyword: Stephanie Jeannot. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0UZOWgejheSU2clMnqQR6c

Thank you for listening/watching.

Jazz Keeps Unfolding in the Walls of My Heart

My hearts unfolds like a flower when I get the opportunity to experience the culture of jazz.

 I was squealing with delight at the idea of celebrating nature’s abundance of simple joys.  What was being celebrated?

Black history.

Jazz history.

The history of jazz dance.

The event was hosted by the Harlem Swing Dance Society and was held at the Pelham Fritz Recreational Center in Harlem, NY and featured me and my band, Stephanie Jeannot’s Savoy Four Band.

Please check out the mini clip of the event that was held here:

https://youtu.be/NmgnLuWKMBI

The ambiance was great there in that Harlem venue located at Mount Morris Park. The art on the walls gave an appeal that just melted my heart. 

I walked in and saw dancers dancing with an instructor teaching them a bit of jazz dance from its history at the Savoy Ballroom where the lindy hop was first introduced. I always enjoy these events because of the air of knowledge and jazz that I am able to breathe in while history is being shared until the band is ready to play the music to set the dancers up on a rhythmic fleet.

An eclectic array of standards was hoisted into the air met by the swinging dancers on the floor who met our sounds with energetic body movements. We played finger snapping rhythms, evocative classics, and modernized versions of antiquated songs. The instrumentalists did not shy away from improvising solos or showcasing their unique flavor which made it easy for me to be drawn in by their sounds to sing before the host of people rhythmically propelled to dance to the music. They danced to throbbing beats played by Napoleon Revels-Bey who approached the counter rhythms with brushes of purposeful soulfulness. They bopped to the thumping of the technical virtuosity of Hill Greene. They hammered their heels to the floor to the variety of tinkling sound played by pianist Danny Dalelio and I sang to the twists and turns of their music as the music gave a cultural salute to the sounds they played.

I was suddenly flooded with memories of earlier times when purveyors of the music would gather dressed to the nines to share their artistic expression. I thought of artists like Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Max Roach. Music was definitely their vehicle for improvisation whether it was playing, singing or dancing to it because music is all about self-expression and sharing.  They were always draped in the finest of threads and communicating to the audience with their hearts full of music. It was a fertile harmonic ground for joy to be sprung. It was the world’s most glamorous atmosphere and jazz history at its best. How could one not absorb the cultural influences and be inspired by those troubadours of yesteryear who made great triumphs with their music?

With each deep-throated growl, the onlookers danced and danced and danced. 

That day still remains imprisoned in the walls of my heart. I have a growing admiration for the culture of jazz which makes my heart skip a beat more and more each time I dabble into it. Music infuses me enthusiasm and makes me feel alive. And so, I have grown this insatiable hunger to listen and to learn and to sing and to dance and to just take in music as much as I can; because it is my first love and because I have a growing appetite for it. 

The more I sing, the more it calms my rage. Thankful for every musical opportunity and for the beautiful gift of song that God planted in me when he fearfully and wonderfully created me.

Songs For the Valentine Hearts

Valentine’s Day is a great day to celebrate the triumphant powers of love.

It is a good day to give in to a refreshing change of pace from the stanzas of life that sometimes spill forth into the mix of your peaceful times and instead focus on being united in affection and concentrate on your loved one. And so, why not embrace the night with open arms and let your hearts be lifted by the strength of the messages of love?

Some go out to the movies or to a nice restaurant to enjoy a night out on the time. Some stay in and do romantic things together in the comfort of the home. My focus from this point on will be for the latter.

If you decide to stay home and enjoy an evening together with the love of your life, I have got a music playlist apropos for that special night of romance. Here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/user/22hsqdduuzk6igxvrtw5l6iiq/playlist/3MvhWFSkCtZUVL8sqhX3iO?si=NaDDzHA_QByjptBXgBy_8g

The playlist features a panoply of songs that have the power to add a little extra warmth for the soul.

So, while you are home together absorbing all the joys and fascinations that love holds, here is a warm blanket of songs to zen out together to. These sounds that will fill your home from this playlist will simply roar to the special rhythm of the two of you.

Whether you are a brand new couple enjoying Valentine’s day for the first time, or you have been in a relationship for a number of years or you have spent your whole life together through to your senescence and are chasing a sense of youthfulness to add something fresh to what you have, you can while away to the music featured and there is a song for you that will strike a responsive chord.

Whatever you decide to do for Valentine’s Day, I hope that the happiness and strength of the day will leave you both with a lasting jovial spirit.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

P is for Perhaps My Favorite Thing of All in 2018 Was . . .

I tell you, 2018 has been an interesting year. Thank God I can actually say that I was blessed to see it.



It took a plethora of ups and downs to get to this moment and time but, to be able to say that I am

here presently in the moment, once again to almost experience the end of another year, it is nice to

be able to acknowledge my favorite thing of all in 2018.

I walked into my 40th year fabulously with music and friends and family and loved ones and smiles,

laughter, and joy all around me. Not everyone has the opportunity but God kept me and that is

something that I do not take lightly.


So for all the beautiful people who have touched my life and has been a part of what I claim as true

inspiration, I honor you and thank you and wish you love and happiness in all that you do.


I have seen a lot in my 40 years and I can say, not all of them were the best decisions but to be able

to say, I have survived the turbulence and the sad moments because there was a balance of

so many happy moments that I can say, I have been blessed and I know it.


And with that in mind, I dedicate to you a rendition of one of my favorite songs and the tune that

made me want to sing when I saw my favorite movie, The Sound of Music as a kid and I saw Julie

Andrews singing the Rogers & Hammerstein tune "My Favorite Things."  If it had not been for that

moment, I probably would have never started singing or most likely would have never been so into

music and a vocalist who loves to sing more than eat today; and I'm a foodie so that means a lot.


This song was performed at the Creative Jazz Organization's Jazz Night where they presented a night

of music with the Lon Ivey Band which I had the opportunity of being the featured vocalist. The song

was performed at the American Legion Post 483 in Rosedale, NY.


I am filled with joy anytime I get to sing but this one especially because it is one of my favorite

songs. Hopefully it will created a smile in your heart as well.  You can check it out

here: https://youtu.be/pTLejHRZKZ0

Much Love and Many Blessings! 

N is for Nature of My Culture

The nature of my culture exercises influence in me.

The nature of my culture gives me the security of knowing my own beauty.

The nature of my culture makes me know that I am a fine work of art.

The nature of my culture gives me enough confidence and strength to be myself.

I feel at ease in my own skin.

I am glowing in melanin.

The Haitian in me is woven in the script.

I have all this culture, music and creativity built within.

The nature of my culture makes me want to be bold in the face of a blank sheet.

The nature of my culture makes me want to share my identity brusque authority.

The nature of my culture takes you on a journey over land and sea.

The nature of my culture makes me want to share a piece of my beauty.

I want to make you see why I have romantic gestures about the land.

I want to ease out the stigmas of this culture if I can.

And psyched that Chokarella gave me the opportunity

To share a piece of my cultural identity.

Thank you Prrrl for helping me out with this interview/performance.

Thank you Tadia for the call

and for having me on this Chokarella New York Takeover.

Such a dope event.

Thank you for checking out my blogpost!

F is for Fresh Perspective

“The more you are able to understand and

appreciate someone else's perspective,

the more dimension, depth, and texture you ultimately add to your own”

- Rania Al Abdullah

 When the thought of trying to finally complete my college education started to dominate my life, I started to shape my view around the idea of being a radio show host and producer of a jazz program at Medgar Evers College. It unlocked the door to a new world to me as I delved into the histories of jazz to make the show include many aspects about the culture of this American cultural contribution to the world.

I can’t believe it has been three years since I walked into the studio and sat in front of the switchboard with a vision board on Sarah Vaughan’s life and music for my first hour long radio broadcast. Nothing like a fresh perspective that pushes you to embark on a new, wild adventure. Being vocal more than just in a song was the wild part about it because it definitely stretched me beyond my capacity in every way.

I decided to try something new within this non-stop jazz radio show where I will feature an individual whose story has struck a chord with me as they share their breakthrough story and their why.

I tried it out for the first time this past Sunday on my show and interviewed NY-based drummer, King Beat who helped me celebrate Louis Armstrong and shared different aspects of his musical journey. 

Please check out a snippet of our hour-long conversation where he also blessed our ears with his original sounds flowing through the airwaves. You can see the clip from our interview here: https://youtu.be/Xm9hRmQn9p8

I feel built up and am glowing with satisfaction not only at this show but also the fact that A to Z challenges such as these have helped me to triumph over daily writing and has also helped me to delve more into writing scripts and vision boards again. The inspiration to write is so much more than a whisper now and it has given me a fresh perspective.  Thankful! 

Love and Appreciation For the XYZ of Jazz

It is always a pleasure for me when I can indulge in the sweetness of jazz. It captivates me like no other genre and I joyfully indulge in it when presented with the opportunity to embrace the pomp and pageantry of it.

I remember the day when my good friend presented the thought to me of being the featured vocalist at his weekly jazz event. Imagine how filled with curiosity the Roman Catholic church raised choir girl that I was who was more accustomed to singing R&B than any other genre was. How could I not look at him with a quizzical gaze? The idea made me take a hard look at myself, but I decided to try my best to handle the weight of the idea and I did it.

If for nothing, my good friend affected my life like none other because from that point on, I

have been on this non-stop journey of discovery, research and mind-blowing experiences to remember. If it were not for him, I would have never decided to approach jazz with more intentionality or accumulate knowledge of its history to base my 30-paged college thesis on jazz and racism. Or, I may not have ever decided to become more indulged in studying music theory and practicing my craft. And if it were not for him, I would have never started my radio show on jazz. And so, whenever I am afforded with the opportunity to sing in this beautiful genre of music, I simply rejoice because I love how jazz has truly made a personal connection with me.  

Jazz Appreciation Month

Every April is Jazz Appreciation Month. The Smithsonian Institute started this cultural celebration in 2001 and since, it has been a way to honor those influential innovators who have come before us in history and jazzed up the world with their beautiful music.  

And so, it was with great zeal to have joined in the plethora of performers in Eric Frazier’s 2018 Fort Greene Park Spring Jazz Festival which happened in the midst of Jazz Appreciation Month in Brooklyn, NY. Jazz is not a fossilized genre of music; it is very much alive. So, with that in mind, I must say that the afternoon was filled with a full swath of emotions.

What makes jazz so appealing to me is that no matter who is playing their instrument or vocalizing, each comes with their own individual expression and create very genuine reactions. Each comes with their own spunk of character with their difference in method based on culture and environment, and the joy of the company and the spirit of the music is what is felt in the air.

And so, it was a pretty nice event from the music, to the musicians, to the beautiful spring day that it was, to the people and everything that made the afternoon a splendid occasion.

To my delight, I felt enchanted to sing one of my favorite jazz standards. It is by Harry Warren and Al Dublin and what makes me like it so much is for one simple reason. I am a big English nerd and there is a play-on-words in the song. Its title, September in the Rain, would suggest it is a song for the fall season but in the song, the lyrics say, "though spring is here." I think it is the way the writers wrote these tunes that give me butterflies the most. They truly had a way with words and I just love that. In that particular Brooklyn environment and in the warmth of that spring day, it felt right to sing this song.

I invite you to check out the performance from the festival here: https://youtu.be/BK8faET7Nn4 

Today’s blog post was prompted by love and I threw myself into writing mode with that in mind and come to this point with a roar of satisfaction. I hope that I sparked in you, even a small bit of interest n my story. 

The warm feeling in my heart can’t even truly define my gratitude. You richly bless me by taking the time out the routine of your day to read my thoughts and I thank you for your continued support.

I Tried Something Different And It Worked. I Labeled It Change!

“Neglecting to broaden their view 
has kept some men doing one thing all their lives” 
(Napoleon Hill)

Everything gets labeled on how you want to describe something. You look at a flower peeking it’s face out of the soil and you can easily say, it’s a hyacinth or it’s a rosebud. You listen to a sound of music and you can identify it as R&B, Jazz or Pop music. And so, thinking about this made me think about myself and how I label myself when giving a short description about who I am beyond just the face and name.

When asked to describe myself, usually the first thing I would say is that I am a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, NY which is true. But, I write more than songs.  

Poetry Writing

I have been writing poetry since the fifth grade and recently, I authored two poetry books: The first was titled “Pulchritudinous” and the second “And Then There Was the Music; Poetry & An Essay.” Check out my author page on Amazon Author Central here: https://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Jeannot/e/B076N7XYC6

Songwriting & Writing Compositions

I write compositions. The first one I ever wrote was quite recently when I found myself with this melody in my brain that I just had to write down on paper but what I wrote was more than just the words, but the chords of the song on paper before even recording the tune into what it came to be. Thankful that I had good friends who helped me to complete the tune entitled “God is Love” which you can check out on Spotify here:  

Blog Writing 

I write blog posts which surprisingly enough has been getting so much love lately and I am so thankful that people actually are interested in what I have to write. Thank you all who take the time to check out my blogsite. If it had not been for my college professor in his teaching of Professional writing, I never would have started writing blogposts at all. But he made us all start a blog site and this was my first one, if you are interested in checkign it out: https://stephanayjnotes.blogspot.com/.

Playwriting

And so, writing has always been my thing. But what I never did was found such an interest in writing something that I researched “how to” do it. It taught me how to place my words on the page, the font face to use, how to space things out and everything. And that is how I wrote my first play and the production of it was performed live this weekend for the first time.

It was nerve wrecking. It tested my faith. It brought tears to my eyes and made me work harder than I ever had at anything before, but I got through it.

For the first time ever, I wrote a little play, “And Then There Were The Ladies of Jazz;” a production that I could have never have been able to see come to life if I had let go of God’s unchanging hand. 

And Then There Were The Ladies of Jazz;

A Women's History Month Celebration

by Stephanie Jeannot

the cast of "And Then There Were the Ladies of Jazz
From left to right: Rachiim Sahu, Stephanie Jeannot. Napoleon Revels-Bey, JAzz E Matt,
Dalthannette Munlin, Danny Dalelio, Stacey Haughton, & Charles Bartlett.

The setting

The first television series by a person of color: The Nat King Cole Show on NBC

The Cast

Host: Nat King Cole  (Jazz E Matt)

Co-host in celebration of Women's History Month: Ella Fitzgerald (Stephanie Jeannot)

All-Star Band

Trumpet: Louis Armstrong (Charles Bartlett) 

Louis Armstrong

Saxophone: John Coltrane (Herb Lewis)

Piano: Bill Evans (Danny Dalelio)

Bass: Charles Mingus (Rachiim Sahu)

Drums: Max Roach (Napoleon Revels-Bey)

Max Roach

Special Guest Appearances

Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae

Billie Holiday (Stacey Haughton)

Carmen McRae (Dalthannette Munlin)

Sarah Vaughan (Stephanie Jeannot)
Ray Charles (Wayne Holmes)

Sarah Vaughan

I wanted to tell a story and I wanted everybody to hear some historical things dealing with racial and gender identities that these women in jazz had to endure to become the iconic individuals that they are. But I wanted to make it fun and give people something to watch that was interesting and fun. 

I can’t believe we did it. Thank you to everybody who came out to support and for laughing and clapping when I was hoping that these things would happen. You all are so blessed and to have this weight of wanting to see it happen as badly as I did, off my shoulder, is so inspiring to me; Especially after the worthless worrying, the setting up of the room, the three wardrobe changes I did which included trying to come out my shell by putting on my tap shoes, and the singing a plethora of songs that left me feeling weary, but good. All that is left to say is... thank you and God is awesome. 

And to all the people who gave me advice or had their hands in it. So very thankful. And for every circumstance that helped me with getting the costumes together or to printout some stationaries for my guest audience to take home and the putting together of props that seemed weirdly placed into my zine, just for me, at the most awkward time and in such unique ways. And for all the musicians and singers who had to see me get into my crazy... thank you for bearing with me. 

It was fun. It was a delight. It was a pleasure. It was a vision I had as a way of celebrating women’s history month and I am glad to have seen it come to light. And now I am happy to say, I am a singer and writer from Brooklyn, NY.

Thank you so much for checking out my blogpost. God bless! 

Poettues: And Then There Was the Music

It’s poetry Tuesday and today my cognitive load seems to be on poetic works.

As we celebrate the black history of America and the world, today I want to honor such poets as Melvin B Tolson who said, “When the exceptional historian comes along, we have a poet.” Some other notable poets who were iconic and left behind a wealth of works for the world to enjoy are Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, Sojourner Truth, Maya Angelou and Paul Laurence Dunbar, just to name a few.

Alice Walker was not only a poet but a civil rights activist who participated in the march on Washington in 1963 and volunteered to enroll persons of color to vote in Georgia and in Mississippi. She felt that “activism was her rent for being on this earth.”

SPEAKING OF POETRY . . .

What better day than today to announce that for the first time, my second book, And Then There Was the Music; Musical Poetry and an Essay is available on Amazon. 

And Then There Was the Music

I didn’t think I had 100 pages of writing in me until I saw the hundred pages unfold before my eyes. I didn’t think I had as much focus as I did to complete a work like this until I decided to sit and just let the words flow. But thank God for the joys of writing and sharing some historical data about music and how it has been used as a political voice since the beginning of time, as well as other fun, music related poems that I included.

Here are a few poems that you might see in the book. Hopefully you will take the time to read them and if you like them, please consider purchasing a copy of my book for yourself.

  

Lessons in the Blues

Don’t let hate, interrupt the rhythm of the 24 hours you’ve been given in your day.

Don’t let the rocks that slingers throw blind your vision and get in your way.

Don’t let lack of love from your brothers cause you to feel shame.

Don’t let the prejudicial system make you lose you’re A-game.

Don’t let the denial of true education stop you in your mental growth.

Don’t let bad news keep you from opening the newspapers to get in the know.

Don’t let the sound of the 9:30 bell discourage you from earning your own dough.

Don’t think that little you, can’t make a difference because you can glow.

We all got bills and baggage and things to do before the day is done.

We all got bills due that we must pay off to someone.

We all got lives worth living and no the blues need not apply.

We all got means to see the truth for ourselves with our own eyes.

We all got to sit down to defecate regardless of color.

And we all take off one pant leg at a time, whether a sister or brother.

And we all have a song and dance and a rhythm of life we keep.

It’s learning that we are all not that different that mostly makes me weep.

Why are we blind to this truth of the world in which we live?

And why is the blues the only means that some people live?

And why is it that some don’t even have a real reason to give,

to explain why they hate based on color, sex or religion?

Charles Pulliam

Listen to the rhythm of the tumbadora.

Hands beating its wood;

Sounding the heartbeat

between scat chorus you hear the throb

taking you to another place like the turn of a door knob.

A quartet of songs

with an application of beautiful hand drumming along

met by a huge cheering crowd

and Charles Pulliam, all decked out, smiling out loud.

IPod

When these headphones are plugged into my ear, I tune out the world

and hear nothing else.

Even if I come and ring somebody’s bell and they say, “Who is it” I can’t tell

because my song be on and that’s all that matters when my IPod is on play.

Just make sure you hear sirens ringing if they are speeding your way

or the conductor saying the train is skipping stops and yours is one of them;

even if the song currently being absorbed is a hit from an iconic gem

Indie Artists

Independent artists of the planet.

Charles Mingus, Max Roach and 21-Century artists.

Music makers, dreamers coloring the day with their art.

Bohemian rhapsodies they play in the day and in the dark.

We bring social influence to light.

We push our music because our message is our why.

We sink like the Titanic into the work that needs to be done.

Our music is the magic we use to try to affect everyone.

We flood our thoughts, share them and leave a little sparkle.

Our life is our canvas to wake up and be-you-tiful.

Hope that you enjoyed the read and if you did, please check out some of the other poems featured in this book. It is available in both Kindle and print version. You can check out my author page on Amazon here: Stephanie Jeannot's Author Page