Tickle Me Blizzard

I have been grappling with something that doesn’t seem to part ways with my heart. 

Perhaps you can say that I have been under construction trying to figure it all out. But, this dire feeling has lived with me from the beginning of this year until this day. I’m howling with laughter at the idea of getting up to two feet of snow from a March blizzard in New York. 

Flowers are already blooming. Green grass has already started to let its vapors out into the atmosphere. I have already enjoyed the tenderness of seventy degrees weather and was growing comfortable with not wearing a heavy jacket and gloves and here we are; mid-March after the time has lept forward and a few days away from the new season of spring, getting ready to dive deep into another bad winter storm that has already caused the city to close schools for the day.

Now with everyone about to be home for a day due to this oncoming wintry mess that is

about to embrace us, and hopefully off the roads driving like race car drivers on the slippery pavements, here are a few things we can do inside to keep us stoked for the rest of the journey.

1. Use a big pot or slow cooker to make some hot soup that can be enjoyed by everyone all day. It is  cold outside. After shoveling, the soup is perfect for bringing the temperature

in our bodies back up.

2. Pray for the homeless, that they might find a warm place to stay and be safe from the freezing temperatures.

3. Check on the elderly. Call them and make sure that they are alright and safe.

4. Keep your mind engaged by checking and responding to overdue emails, reading a good book, watching a nice family movie, check out some great documentaries on Youtube, crochet or do a nice puzzle that will intrigue your mind and keep you busy.

5. Don’t spend your entire day on your computer or with your face in your phone. Since everybody is home, what a great time to have some meaningful, heartfelt conversations and to enjoy spending time together as a team.

6. Start that spring cleaning by decluttering and putting away things that are no longer useful to you and donate them to a swap meet or to someone else who might you’re your junk useful.

7. Exercise at home. 

Put some dance music on and just let the good feeling take over your body and work it out. 

Here is a song that might work. It is called All Night Long by Stephanie Jeannot and Derrick Smith and was performed live by the JNote Band at Silvanas in Harlem, NY.  https://youtu.be/hkM6ZIcnETo

March Madness might pertain to sports but I think it applies with this winter. 

Whatever it is that you do, please be safe! God bless you and your loved ones! 

All Night Long Live at El Toro 28 with JNote Band

What better day to talk about one of my last performances where I performed my original song, "All Night Long" than Songwriter Wednesday.

It was really cool. It was outdoors at a really cozy, atmospheric spot called El Toro 28. The lyrics were written by me, Stephanie Jeannot and the music was written by Derrick Smith. 

I love the song, "All Night Long" because it is a fun, party tune which talks about the love of music and just getting away from the stresses of the world and enjoying life. 

The band featured in the performance last week consisted of:

EJ Haughton . . . Drums

Stephanie Jeannot . . . Vocals
Herb Lewis . . . Sax

Mark Payne . . . Bass

Phillip Smith . . . Guitar

Prrrl . . . Keys

We had a great time partying the night away from 7PM to 11PM and in the course of that, we got to do a few originals, like my song "All Night Long" which I mentioned earlier. You can watch the video on Youtube here:

https://youtu.be/S6oHWYnuSqo

By the way,  we will be doing the live music thing again this Friday evening, July 1, 2016 and maybe you can join us at El Toro 28 located at 228 Woodcleft Avenue which is located along the Nautical Mile strip of Freeport, NY.

The JNote Band will do music like that which you see in the video and many others, so come out. Better yet; it's the start of the 4th of July weekend. 

Start it with us, this Friday. I think you will really enjoy it. It's kid friendly, and an inviting atmosphere and is a free event that is open to the general public. Did I mention the food and drinks are great? 

We have a great time by the water sharing and having some outdoor summer fun and I hope that you will come out and have fun with us. 

Add Stephanie Jeannot's & Derrick Smith's "All Night Long" to Your Summer Playlist

I feel like jumping for joy. It is summer and I am excited to experience the warmer weather and to think that for the next few months, hopefully I will not be facing crushing starvation for my big coat and three layers of clothing just to keep warm.

 So what do you plan to do for the summer? Are you someone who will stay in your Bohio and simply take in the fever of the streets? Will you sit on the beach in the heat of the day, taking in the sun? Are you one of those geniuses who will spend summer at a desk in school, learning something new? Will you reconnect with family that you have not seen in a while at a BBQ, or family reunion? Or will you take time to enjoy the sites of a place you have not yet been and travel?

Whatever it is that you decide to do, I pray that it is safe and keeps you in good spirits.  But however you choose to spend your summer, you will definitely need a playlist to keep the solid groove of the summer days going. Here is a song you might consider adding to that summer playlist:

 The name of the song is “All Night Long” which is an original tune; lyrics by Stephanie Jeannot and music by Derrick smith. While driving, listen! While at your summer BBQ; dance. While on the beach taking in the sun; let the music keep you grooving in the sun. This song is available on ITunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/album/id870573154

Download it today! 
Thank you for supporting independent artists! 
Check out more music at my website http://www.jnotemusic.com 

Celebrate Band at JAMS Festival

What an exciting afternoon it was on Saturday, August 2, 2014!

I had the opportunity to perform live with the Celebrate Band at the Jamaica Arts & Music Summer Festival and it was awesome. The JAMS festival spanned along Jamaica Avenue and ran from 160th to 170th Street in Jamaica, NY. The stretch, The stage, the sound, the people, the music; awesome, Jamaica, Queens was alive and popping. 

The Celebrate Band consists of Hakim Hanton on drums, Rodney B on keys, Alphonso McGruder on keys, Tony Thompson on bass, Alan Thomas on guitar, JazzEMatt on vocals and Stephanie Jeannot on vocals. 

So glad to have been able to not only perform covers of some of my favorite classic tunes but I had the opportunity to share one of my original songs on that stage and to the people of the community who received it really well. "All Night Long" is a tune originally written by Stephanie Jeannot and produced by Derrick Smith. From a studio recording to a live setting, the energy was definitely there and I really enjoyed it. 

You can check out the live performance by visiting the following Youtube link: 

​http://youtu.be/-rwy52etBsg 

Thank you for reading my blogpost. Have an incredible week.