A Celebration of Phenomenal Women Icons of Jazz Worth Checking Out

If you love a good jazz cover then you might enjoy this upcoming concert. 

Stephanie JNote will be in concert at Roosevelt Public Library and you should go. It is going to be an unbelievable afternoon of fun and laughter with a beautiful cast of people, all coming together on one stage to celebrate some phenomenal women icons of jazz. Specifically Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan.

Join the JNote Sextet

Charles Bartlett (Trumpet)
Daniel Dalelio (Piano)
JNOTE (Vocals)
Herb Lewis (Saxophone)
Napoleon Revels-Bey (Drums)
Rachiim Sahu (Bass)

And special guests JaZz E Matt Dalthannette Munlin Stacey Haughton and Wayne Holmes.

This show will be held this Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 2PM to 3:30PM at

Roosevelt Public Library
27 West Fulton Avenue
in the Roosevelt section of Long Island, NY

Exit 21 off the Southern State
Free Admission. Free Parking Available.

Hope that you can make it for what Stephanie calls, "And Then There Were the Ladies of Jazz; Women's History Month Celebration. It's gonna be so much fun. 

Check out a sample of what you might see live if you attend the concert. It's a cover of Duke Ellington's "Caravan" performed live with JNote Quintet at Club Bonafied in New York, NY.


Mike Benjamin (Bass)

Danne Dalelio (Piano)

Stephanie Jeannot (Vocals)

Herb Lewis (Saxophone)

Napoleon Revels-Bey (Drums)


https://youtu.be/D06ciJSsFQw

Teach Me Tonight covered by the Medgar Evers Jazz Ensemble featuring Jovann Alexis Augustin

Have you heard this cool rendition of the Gene De Paul's and Sammy Cahn's 1953 jazz standard by the Medgar Evers College Jazz Ensemble featuring vocalist Jovann Alexis Augustin?

This song was performed by this lively and very  engaging group live at Megar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY.

Check it out here: https://youtu.be/lrSVRX2PrOU

A Tribute to Billie Holliday

A tribute to Billie Holiday (A poem)

( (c) by Stephanie Jeannot)

Eleanora Fagan

Started sangin

While a lil thang

She had that swing

And all that jazz and blues

And the fanciest poppin shoes

And a white gardenia

A Billy Holiday signature

Creative and vivacious 

Added her own touch

To standards and poems

U2 described her as the Angel of Harlem

And dem Gershwin tunes

Or that song "Blue Moon"

And "God Bless the Child"

On April 7, 2014 would've been 99 

Thankful she shared 

this that and those

And her singing of the poem 

"Strange Fruit" by Abel Meeropol

Added a sophisticated touch to songs

That even now have us be-bopping along

With that raspy sound

The diva won over crowds 

Billie Dove

Happy birthday to you in heaven up above

(She did inspire something in my life which has also become part of me as it was in her. Flowers in my hair! If it's not a flower, it's a hat with a flower on it. All I know is I dig her style. So much that it's a part of mine: 

Thanks for reading my poem. Have a great day.)

Btw. . . 

If you never heard The song Strange Fruit, first read the poem written by Abel Meeropol in the 1930s and then follow the link to a YouTube clip of Billie's performance of it:

Strange Fruit 

By Abel Meeropol

"Southern trees bear a strange fruit,

Blood on the leaves 

And blood on the root,

Black body swinging 

In the southern breeze,

Strange fruit hanging

From the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,

The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,

Scent of magnolia

Sweet and fresh,

And the sudden smell of burning flesh!

Here is a fruit fir the crows to pluck,

For the rain to gather, 

For the wind to suck

For the sun to rot, 

For a tree to drop

Here is a strange and bitter crop 

And here is the link: http://youtu.be/h4ZyuULy9zs

Happy Birthday Sarah Vaughan!!!

That singer and musician with the incredible range who inspired the world with her amazing voice and 4-octave range, was also known as the incredible Sarah Vaughan.

90 years ago today, March 27th, the divine one was born and throughout her life, used her beautiful talent to croon songs that we all have grown to love and that still play on many of the world's jazz radio stations today. I think the songs I appreciate the most or at least the jazz vocal works I heed the most are pieces from Sarah Vaughan's huge collection of music.   That is actually how I came to know that it was the birthday of one my favorite singers in the world.

Every Wednesday night is jazz night at the Proper Cafe located at 217-01 Linden Blvd in Cambria Heights, NY and like most nights, I am blessed with opportunity to vocalize a few jazz tunes that have touched my heart; often a tune that Sarah Vaughan did a rendition of. Last night was no different. I heard The Divine one's version of "Black Coffee" and instantly fell in love with it and wanted to cover it. And I did!

Jazz night usually ends around midnight and that's when I have to drive back to Brookkyn, NY. While driving, music keeps me energized to find my way back home safely. Who would have thought I would have heard her best rendition of "I Cried For You" spinning on WBGO and also find out that today would've been Sarah Vaughan's 90th birthday?  Blessed to know and thankful to be able to celebrate her life and her legacy, even in this minimal way.

Her gift was amazing and I am so very inspired by her ability. How many singers you know that can hit the types of notes that she was hitting back in the forties?  So classy and great stage personality! Her voice was definitely an instrument and she used it well. And her scatting; incredible.  Thankful to know of such an awesome singer and to be able to listen to her recordings and to even attempt to do some of the things she was doing vocally.  

For instance; I went down to Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, NY for a jazz vocal workshop with Marion Cowings and was so inspired by her rendition of "Just One of a Those Things," that I tried to sing it. Check out the live footage of it here: http://youtu.be/zt1t0Z51_uc

Blessed by her legacy. I think I will be going on a Sarah Vaughan musical escapade, listening to her instrument, the whole day long. 

Happy 90th birthday way up there in heaven! RIP Sarah Vaughan and thank you!!!

Rehearsal Modes of JNote: Live Till I Die

I was asked by a friend to give to him a video of myself in rehearsal mode.

LOL! Who knew it would turn out to be something that got me not only singing covers but also sharing some of my graphic designs.  the following video is what a typical rehearsal would be like for me. I come home from my 9 to 5 and get right into it when the opportunity arises.

This video includes two covers. A piece of Kim Burrell's "Since Jesus Came In" and Al Hoffman's "Live Till I Die."  Also included is original sounds of music by JNote and Beatlife LI.  All art and video by Melodiaz Creations. 

God knew exactly what he was doing when he ushered friends into my life. For if it had not been for the inspiration of a good friend, I would have never got the idea of creating the following video blog post.  Please watch!!!

 

Thank you for checking out my blog everybody. I love you with the love of God. Peace and blessings!