Well, summer's coming to a close. A lot of kids are back in school. There's a change in the air, the sun moving from very intense hot to a lazy hot, and shadows are different. Can fall be far behind? I hope not! My favorite season is on its way!

My friend Tony and I drove up to Spindale, North Carolina, last night, where Johnny Ferrara on piano, Steve Sarant on bass & flute, and Russ Wilson on drums and vocals hosted a jam session at Barley's Tap Room on Main Street in Spindale. There were a couple of trumpet players, and four of us female singers. It was great and inspiring to meet and sit in with such talented musicians. I believe they will continue doing it on the first and third Sunday evenings, 6 until 9. Bring your instrument, your voice, or your ability to enjoy great jazz!

The last woman who sang was from New York, but she and her husband have been in Hendersonville for four years. They ran a jazz club in the Village. She asked me what had taken me to New York for 14 years, 1977 to 1991. I told her about attending Pratt Institute School of Art & Design. She took me over to their table to introduce me to her husband, Charles Pratt, whose great-grandfather founded Pratt Institute!!!!! I scarce could believe it! You never know who you're going to run into, so behave all the time!

It's been quite a summer:

I bought a lawn mower and cut grass for the first time in my life.

I have turned my black thumb green by keeping about 14 large plants alive and well ALL SUMMER LONG!

I've continued working on my non-fiction book by researching, reading, and writing.

I attended a grant writing workshop, and plan to apply for some artist grants.

I've had several private gigs that I couldn't invite you to.

I bought a new grill and have been cooking with gas! Some of the best steaks you've EVER had!

I've met and played with some new musicians and hopefully made some new friends.

So it wasn't such a lazy summer after all!

I'll keep you posted on fall gigs.

Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of your summer.

Love to all! Jean

How hot is it?

Too damn hot to write!

So I'm reading instead. I just finished A NEW EARTH! It was great. Had many concepts that I've believed over the years, and introduced me to some new ones. One woman who saw me reading it said she had heard it was anti-Christian. Nothing could be farther from the truth! I can't figure where anybody could have gotten that idea, since it is the very essence of Christianity!!!!! Go figure. Some conservative minister probably has told his congregation that, and without even reading to find out for themselves, the sheep follow. How sad to miss out on such a book because some minister has poo-poo'ed it. Read and think for yourselves for a change.

Now I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love, a fascinating memoir, a genre which I've enjoyed lately. I haven't gotten very far into it, but it grabbed me from sentence one.

Looks like a theme is emerging, huh? Some sort of spiritual journey is taking place within me.

I'll get back to you soon with news and photos.

Meanwhile, keep cool!

Love, Jean

What a treat it was to play for the national directors for the Ronald McDonald Houses and kick off their golf weekend this past Thursday evening. It was held outdoors at the new pavillion at The Embassy Suites. Perfect weather, lovely setting. And the food was scrumptuous! Colossal shrimp with cocktail sauce. Filet mignon wrapped in bacon. Miniature chicken cordon bleu. Lots of fruit, cheese, crackers. Very impressive.

The guys were all hot! Oh, so invigorating to have a trio behind me: Johnny Ferrara on electric piano, Joe DiPrima on bass, and Sonny Thornton on drums. They were hot and swinging!

We'll all be back at The Embassy Suites again on May 20th to kick off our local Ronald McDonald House's capital fundraiser. We're delighted to be included in Ronald McDonald House programs as we know they provide much needed relief to many families.

It’s Sunday again. A more relaxed day, no scheduled work, so time to read and write.

I want to tell you about a great podcast idea that local musician and historian William Bates has put together. Bates owns T21 Music and Film in downtown Greenville, and has a master’s degree in history from the University of South Carolina. He came up with the idea to do profiles of regional musicians and writers because he was seeing so many talented people who deserved it, and because it fell within his interest to preserve the rich culture in the area, and record it for posterity. On his "The Reedy Beat" website, there is a small intro and photo to each podcast (radio show, essentially, for those not familiar). I had the honor of being interviewed by Bates for The Reedy Beat, and you can listen to it here:
http://www.thereedybeat.blogspot.com/

If you are an artist, or if you know of an artist who should be considered, contact William Bates on that website, or write him at t21music@charter.net.

Also, think of Bates if you need to record a CD or video!

Thanks, William, for including me in your roster of area artists! You did a great job, and I am honored!

William has inspired me to go forward with my podcast idea, and I’m grateful for his help and encouragement. I’ll let you know when my podcasts begin.

Have a peaceful Sunday.

Ciao for now!
Jean

Drizzly and gray today. It’s a great day for staying in bed and reading. And to think I almost took off my electric blanket a couple of days ago, thinking that the season had turned the corner and that temperatures in the 70’s were here to stay. Glad I left it hooked up for now!

We had a great time at the Greenville Museum of Art this past Thursday evening. Johnny Ferrara and I entertained 50+ patrons who came to hear some jazz and blues. The acoustics were wonderful in there.

It was meaningful for me to be there. I was a student there some years ago -- we won’t say how many -- and it was the portfolio I developed there that got me into Pratt Institute of Art & Design in New York City. Then in New York City, I was able to see living legends up close, and even met some of them. I began honing my jazz vocal skills there, began developing in a whole other artistic arena. It just goes to show, one arts habit leads to another!

Don’t know if you’re familiar with the Greenville Daily Photo, but if you’re not, let me introduce you to it. Living downtown has given Denton Harryman, the photographer, plenty of good material. He came to the Museum on Thursday night and took photos. His sense of composition is wonderful. He posted a picture of us at the Museum for his Saturday Greenville Daily Photo. If it weren’t for the pesky speaker being in the way, it looks like I’m part of the painting, gold frame outlining me while I’m singing. Start checking out Denton’s lovely photos of Greenville every day at www.greenvilledailyphoto.com.

We also had the pleasure of meeting some new folks, including Alexandra and Victoria, our youngest audience members, who made the perfect request for our closing number, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, which Johnny does a great job on!

We were treated well and had a blast! Hopefully we’ll be back there soon.

Don’t forget to read something good today!

Ciao for now!
Jean

Wow! What great feedback I’ve had since YOUR CAROLINA aired our segment on March 13th! Do you know that to a person, everyone has said it should have been longer, that I should have gotten to do one more song? Well, ladies and gentlemen, that’s music to my ears. However, it might be more effective if you visited www.yourcarolina.tv, go to the CONTACT button, and shoot them an email that I need to be brought back by popular demand! No, seriously! That’s how they know what their audience wants to hear.

I believe Johnny Ferrara, the piano player on it with me, has made a DVD of it, and I’ll have to find a way to have you link to it ... I’ll work on that!

Thank you for watching YOUR CAROLINA and for letting me know you wanted to see more of me!

I’m still waiting to hear from the EMRYS Foundation about my grant ... If I get it, I’m going to New York City!

Ciao for now!
Jean

On Thursday, March 13th, YOUR CAROLINA, a weekday 10 am show, aired the segment featuring yours truly. I thought they did a great job with the editing. We performed an original song we wrote about their program called, appropriately, YOUR CAROLINA.

So far, I’ve had really great feedback. Everyone has said they wish it had been a longer segment, wished they had had us play one more tune, but alas, that’s not my call. I do thank everyone who watched.

I’ll soon have a copy of the segment that I’ll place on here for viewing.

Ciao for now!
Jean