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! 

One Skein At A Time

The art and love of crocheting took root in my heart and grew into love about a decade ago when I was sick and in bed with the mumps. I didn’t want to accept the truth that my perfect attendance record was going to be tarnished suddenly because I was caught up in the fire of an ailment. But it was becoming evident all around me that the contagious thing that took over me, was going to leave me bed-ridden and home until it withered away.  

What was an over-active lady supposed to do when so many tasks were clamoring for my attention while I was forced to be in hearty accord with my bed? The answer; rest.

I tried. I slept. I lied in bed with the television on. But I couldn’t alleviate this attachment to the opinion that I needed to be doing something other than. And so, I found something to do to keep me active. 

One Skein At A Time

I took out a crochet needle and started making hats. I saw an old coworker of mine getting crafty with a needle one day and the idea of gauging and skeining gained enormous influence over me. And so, she showed me the basics and thank God she did because as time kept stealing past me as I lied feeling defeated by my sickness, I crocheted and crocheted some more. The art of it enabled me to be at peace with where I was at that moment in time.

Changing the Needle 

Finally I got back on my feet and wanted to test what I made amongst my friends and co-workers. Who knew that I would sell so many of my hats that day that it would leave me convinced that I was supposed to be making hats. I started to enjoy the fruits of my labors even more when I started vending my crafts at street fairs.

At one particular street fair, a man approached me and told me that he wanted some hats for his store located in Greenwich village. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. He told me he wanted fifty hats. I said that I could have them for him in a week or so. He told me he wanted them by Friday. 

For the next five days until the time of our meeting, I sat up day and night, through my lunch breaks, on the buses and trains and during every free moment I could find, and I crocheted. Friday came and about an hour before our meeting time, I accomplished the fifty, only for him to ask me for fifty more for the following Friday, which provided me with additional time to adjust my sails and do what I was tasked to do and add signature tags to the new set of fifty that would hang in the Greenwich store's window display on West 8th Street.

I don’t crochet as much as I used to anymore, though when the rain and snows take over the New York landscape, I find myself on my couch skeining away. 

I’ve made hats. I've made bags. I've made baby booties. I've made bibs. I once made a queen-sized granny square blanket as a gift for my loved ones. I’ve made ornaments in bulk for baby showers and bridal showers. I have crocheted scarves and dresses and even teddy bears. 

But now with my same heavy hand that I write, it seems as if carpel tunnel is somewhat taking over it with the pain my wrist is anchoring to. But crocheting was a love of mine and still is which is why, I always did it with this joy in my heart that turned into love.

Crocheting Love Songs

Artwork by Ricardo Ricky Jean

When I write songs, I often use my experiences to tumble into the meat of the work. Crocheting was a passion and so it became the subject of a love song I wrote.

The title of the song is “Crocheted” and I moved through every stanza unrestrictedly over the music of Derrick Smith,  with all the aspects of the art of crocheting in mind and turned it into a love song; one skein at a time. 

Please check out my song and video here:  https://youtu.be/kjkGWjqJDvM

P.S.

Check out the website that features  some other things that I have crocheted here: http://melodiaz.0catch.com/hand-made.html

Happy to have vibed with you all. Thank you for reading my blog post. 

Going Around Under an Umbrella

“Going around under an umbrella interferes with one's looking up at the sky.”

– Jerzy Kosinski

Speaking of going around under an umbrella, check out a cover of Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke's 1936 popular song "Pennies From Heaven" by Eric Frazier and Friends featuring me, Stephanie Jeannot on vocals, the cool tap dancing of Eric Frazier and also soem outstanding musicians including Danny Mixon on keys, Sax-E on saxophone,  Dwayne "Cook" Broadnazx on drums, Paul Beaudry on bass and Eric Frazier on congas.

Together, we performed this jazz tune live at the Roosevelt Public Library in Roosevelt, NY.

Thank you for checking out my blog post. 

Today is World Water Day, which  is a great time to reflect on how fortunate those of us that have clean, safe, drinking water really are. Much of the world is not so lucky so it is critically important that we think about how we care for our precious, "Pennies from Heaven."

Have an amazing day! 

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. 

"Harmony"

Good evening. Hope you are having a wonderful week so far. Seems like it is going pretty fast and I am so excited about that.

Have you checked out my video for "Harmony" yet? "Harmony" is a song with lyrics and vocals by Stephanie Jeannot and music by Paul Garrod.

Together we collaborated on an idea and created this song that I am hoping you will take the chance to both listen to a watch the video we put together.

The following is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et2DjrOKJAo

 

Thank you for checking out my blog post. Have a safe and prosperous remainder of your week.

Stephanie Jeannot