O is For Once You Know

“Once you know what you want, getting it requires perseverance”

- Vanessa Van Edwards

I felt sharp with excitement to be able to sit down and have a conversation about the beautiful culture of jazz with award winning NY-based jazz saxophonist, Carl Bartlett Jr.

He took the time to describe what changed the script for him to submit himself to the art of jazz that became a way of life for him which lead to his becoming a finely crafted jazz musician. Just by listening, you can hear the amount of confidence that this brilliant architect of music has, as he graced my radio show Jazz on the JNote with his time, music and thoughts.

Once I knew I wanted to find out the answer to what is Jazz, I used it as a basis for writing my college thesis which through the process, my radio show Jazz on the JNote was born at Medgar Evers College and I used it along the way as I set out to write 30 pages on jazz, identity and racism. Through writing it, I came across many books where this question is posed and no two people respond the same. I have interviewed several different artists and have received some interesting responses. And so, as I continue on with this show and am blessed with more opportunities to feature guests on the show, I will continue to pose the question because it leads to interesting thoughts worth considering; especially for me who is also a vocalists who sings jazz as well. 

As I asked Bartlett Jr the question "what is jazz?,"  he made a concerted effort to answer. He also shared his story on how he broke through in the breakthrough initiative segment and shared his thoughts on why he feels it is important for musicians to practice repeatedly, on purpose.

Bartlett Jr is a NY-Based musician who is making a difference with his music.  Jazz seeps through is pores. Everyone who listens to his music, loves what they hear. 

He has achieved great heights because once he knew what he wanted to be, he became a creature of habit and worked to the point of exhaustion to breakthrough. 

I am thankful that he was willing to share about his lifetime of experience as a jazz musician. If you are interested in listening to our interview, please click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25EfqdswfM4&feature=youtu.be

This episode was originally aired on Sunday, August 19, 2018 on http://theenglishconnectionmedia.com at 7PM and is definitely an inspirational treat for young musicians looking for motivation. Hope you'll check it out 

Thank you for reading my blog post. <3

E is for Everybody

E is for “Everybody screws up, including me” (Ken Burns)

But 

Everybody is given 24 hours in a day and 525600 minutes in a year. 

Everybody has access to oxygen to keep them going. 

Everybody decides for themselves if they forgive themselves for their past, love themselves where they are and if they can hold on to the mustard seed of faith.

And so, everybody needs a word of encouragement sometimes.  

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” (Helen Keller).

Even though we fall and make mistakes, God is such a gentleman and still opens doors for us and loves us with a love that has no borders. We never have to labor too hard for God to gain the result of love because God is love and everything that comes from him is love.

If that is true, then we know that we can go to him and have dialogue with him and lay your burdens in his ear and know that there is nothing too hard for God to handle. And so while we are here within the confines of the melting pot of people of this earth, let us remember the cries from the sea in the face of their struggles. 

I am moved by the force of their fight. I get lit up when I see people in hopeless situations walking around with more faith in God’s grace. I am encouraged by my culture. I get moved by all the many vision of the sun sinking and the plethora of sunrises that God kept me. And I feel bittersweet happiness because I can paint a better picture of what I am talking about. So even though I may screw up, there is hope for tomorrow. 

A family member of mine always says, “I am better than the day before, and worse than the day tomorrow.” Makes sense to have faith in every step of the way. And I am definitely ready for my Breakthrough that is on the way! I hope this song lends some positive energy into your day. 

Check out the official video for the Breakthrough Remix by Stephanie Jeannot (featuring Jazz E Matt). Here: https://youtu.be/XMd1prZUHrU

Lyrics by Stephanie Jeannot

Produced by Prrrl

Co-produced by Stephanie Jeannot & Jazz E Matt

Charles Bartlett . . . Trumpet

Clyde Bermingham . . . Guitar

Jazz e Matt . . . Vocals

Stephanie Jeannot . . . Vocals

Richie Johnson . . . Drums

Herb Lewis . . Saxophone

Mark Payne . . . Bass

Who knew that trying to write on a daily basis would lead to video editing projects like this one. A Melodiaz Creation. Check out more of my Melodiaz Creations here: https://melodstephie.wixsite.com/melodiazcreations/home

Excellent book worth reading: TD Jake's "When Power Meets Potential"

"When Power Meets Potential: Unlocking God's Purpose in Life" by TD Jakes makes me feel that Lord Byron was right when he said that “a drop of ink may make a million think” (Lord Byron).

You should definitely get your hands on this book. Oh my goodness. 
Such an empowering read.

I did not know that TD Jakes was a NY Times best selling author. Actually, I probably would have never read one of his books until I heard a podcast with him being interviewed by Success Magazine; one of my favorite magazines to indulge in. I both read the periodical 
publication and subscribe/listen to their wonderful podcast. Check it out for yourself. Success Magazine is one of my favorite magazines to read. 

        

I can honestly say that it was God orchestrated thing for me to pick up the book "When Power Meets Potential: Unlocking God's Purpose in Life."  Excellent!

My favorite of TD Jake's quotes in the book reads, “It is everyday moments that prepare everyday people for extraordinary exploits” (TD Jakes).

This statements makes me feel that my plowing the field is preparing me for my breakthrough. The extra sweat in these everyday moments is so worth it. I have diligent hands. I drink deeply and delight in overflowing abundance. I have potential to transform the planet. I am inspired! 

Are you ready for your "Breakthrough?" 

Giving Something Up to Experience Little Breakthroughs

“There is no middle ground when you make a decision.”

– David Hooper

It is Lent. It is a time to give up those things that do not serve us. 

I will give up candy. I am a jolly rancher freak and I have a new piece every ten minutes. I will no longer surrender to the sweetness of the taste, even on three-hour long car rides or when a bicyclist cuts me off short of taking his life because he didn’t care about the traffic laws. I will fight off my urges to have those teeth killers. I also will dedicate more time to myself and give up stressing over the weight on my shoulders and instead find more reasons to live in a joyful way.

I have decided to live my life with great attention and care. I have decided to hold on to kernels of hope and take on the boiling froth of life’s many demands confidently. I have decided to maintain order in my mind even when challenges prevail.

I will take the steering wheel and drive my response to life in positive ways. I will no longer obsess over the things that are out of my reach. I will no longer validate negativity and let it dwell within. I will acknowledge the beauty that surrounds me as I take on demanding tasks.

I will stand tall and not let doubt fog over my intellectual curiosity. I will go the extra mile to emerge with happiness. I will be conscious of my efforts and celebrate my own self. I will no longer allow deep sadness to be the hat that I wear.

I will learn from my mistakes and no longer dwell in yesterday’s eclipses. I will walk on through the wind and through the rain. I will recognize my being as something special. I will let the streams of faith run through me. I will enjoy the basic, necessity of rest. I will no longer allow stress to overtake my joy and I will smile more. And I will be with joy not because someone else creates it but because I will fight for the joy I deserve. I will experience my breakthrough. https://soundcloud.com/stephanay-jnote/breakthrough

I will acknowledge that I was not built to break but to stand tall and to experience little victories. I am a warrior. I am fully aware of my strength and I will use it to the best of my ability.

So, what are you giving up for Lent? I once gave up adding sugar to my coffee and tea and until this day, I do not add anything to those beverages. I can’t even fathom the taste of a Macchiato because it is too sweet for me. Some things last, some don’t but for the most part, trying makes a big difference.  

New Year New Mantra for 2017

“My new year’s commitment is

to be the best that I can be

mentally, physically and spiritually.”

(Ava DuVernay)

What an  awesome 

quote to inspire

positive energy to 

saunter into your 

new year.  

Makes you think  in a very motivating way doesn’t it? 

YES

- I can inspire!

- I can have victory!

- I can be successful and make money
 
doing what I love to do!

- I can overcome the past!

- I can transform minds to believe in me 

and in the God in me!

- And I will make a tireless effort to grow 

and progress into a better version of me;

the 2017 edition.

Let’s give a round of applause for 2017 while it still has time to captivate those still with breath. 

Cheers to the first week of the new year. Make it a truly enjoyable and a thoroughly productive one. Here's some music to inspire your Breakthrough in this here year. 

Breakthrough is an inspirational original tune with lyrics by Stephanie Jeannot 

https://youtu.be/9BW1v51ypXw

So what is your new years resolution for 2017? Care to share? Maybe I can be inspired by yours. Whatever it is, I hope that it comes with ease for you to meet that commitment. 

Thank you for reading my blogpost! 

G is for Grace and Breakthroughs

Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word grace as 

"unmerited divine assistance given humans for their 

regeneration or sanctification" (Grace). 

 For something to be unmerited means that is undeserved. Like for instance, often times 

when someone else makes a mistake or hurts our feelings, we tend to feel that they are 

undeserving of being a part of our lives again and we break away from the ties we had. Or, 

sometimes when we fall and lose our way, we tend to find ourselves unworthy of forgiving 

and live imprisoned by the past because we have yet to break free from punishing our own 

selves. Or, all the mistakes in life that we make that shines ugly within us and often 

disguises the light of God from who we are yet, God loved us so much still, even though we 

are undeserving, that he gave up his only son to take up for our sins that we might live. 

That is something to definitely think about  and take as a serious example of how to move 

forward in our journeys. To be broken because someone 

said something about you, a situation did not go your way or to let the past hurts steal your 

joy and not allow you to freely live without being makes these very things prison bars.

It is important to remember that with God, there are 

breakthroughs and we can lean on him and have faith because God is stronger than all of 

the nonsensical thoughts that can settle in our mind and keep us from faithfully moving 

forward to freedom from them. And then we have breakthroughs to tell people our stories 

and testimonies through writing and art. 




From my experiences came an original 

song I have written about keeping faith through your storms and how the grace of God kept 

me which is entitled “Breakthrough” and is currently streaming on Spotify. 

You can check it out here :

https://open.spotify.com/track/7aLMzUqgpDd9i0xGbByrqR

   

If "Breakthrough" inspired you. Maybe other songs I've penned will as well. 

I also have other songs on Spotify 

like music from my single cd "All Night Long"/“I’ll Be There” : 

https://open.spotify.com/album/77hQHLALYnC0v0GNQYIwx3 

Thank you for gracing me with your attention
and reading by my blog everybody! 

Have a lovely weekend. 

A Breakthrough kind of Saturday Morning

Who gets up on a Saturday morning at 6am? 

Didn't think it would be me; ever. But, all I know is that I was requested to sing at a prayer breakfast and I agreed but still asked Jesus to guide me. I said,  "if you want me there, wake me up and I'll go." I still set my alarm anyway but guess what, grace woke me up about ten minutes before the alarm even awakened me. 

And so, there I was ready to sing at Antioch Baptist Church in Brooklyn for the American Clergy and Leadership Conference Breakfast at 7:45 AM. Thank God he did wake me up. 

Not only did I get to share my original song, "Breakthrough" with worship leaders from all over the globe but I got a chance to listen to former congressman Edolphus Towns preach who said, "keep on fighting the fight and never give up because holding on to God's faith is a sign of integrity," which was so fulfilling to my spirit; a word very much needed and all worth my early morning rising. What a great morning!!! 

The Many Hats We Wear to Breakthrough

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippans 4:7

I'm guilty of letting my doubts take over my body and killing my spirit and motivation, almost like a disease. But sometimes, it is the human way, when we forget to acknowledge all the goodness God has already done in our lives. 

We as a people wear so many hats. 

We are our gender, our children's parents, our parent's children, our sibling's sibling, our friend's friends, our spouse's spouse, our 9 to 5, our responsibilities, and our passions. With so many things, we often have little time to remember how strong we have been built and often tend to break under pressure. 

I'm inviting you today to understanding. Here are some things  to consider. 

- Broken crayons still color. 

- The fish could not handle Jonah's praying and spit him out

- Even a bud must face the sun to take root

- God is not through with me yet

- Faith is the most powerful weapon you can carry and utilize

- No matter what you are going through, God can fix it for you

With that in mind, I wrote this song entitled "Breakthrough" which is an inspirational tune about the wonderful grace of God. Here are a few links to the audio version and/or live footage. If you are interested, please feel free to check them out and enjoy. 

Soundcloud Studio Recording

https://soundcloud.com/stephanay-jnote/breakthrough

YouTube live footage with Ladeez in the House Band 

http://youtu.be/dmNCdoHp-Lc

Thank you for checking out my blogpost everyone. 

Stephanie Jeannot