| Jazzzn' evolved from my love for live Jazz (and Blues) performances. My sole purpose is to give pleasure through music to as many as possible, so others can feel as good as I feel when I'm part of the connection between a musician and his listeners. The wife of Ray Silkman, one of the artists I have worked with in the past, once told me that my enthusiasm for Ray and his music was my greatest talent. I believe that when I am excited about an artist and his/her music, it definitely influences others to see and hear for themselves that my excitement is real, because they too feel the magic of the artist's touch in their lives. Jazz saxophonist Tim Cunningham is partly responsible for the formation of Jazzzn'. His March 1994 club gig in Benton Harbor, Michigan inspired me to write a review of it, to try to express how good I feel when he plays. When I wrote the article it was from a fan's viewpoint, and I hoped to see it in print in the local paper. My byline of "GraceNote" was an inspiration which became the name of my first company, GraceNote Incorporated. That inspiration from an ordinary fan is what drives Jazzzn' today (as well as its parent company, GraceNote Enterprises). Jazzzn's purpose is to seek out new music that touches me mentally and emotionally, and then to convey its beauty, in words and in other ways, to the largest possible audience. I'd like other to enjoy and experience the performances of artists who are unafraid to share their emotions and their essence with listeners. My background is as a pianist/keyboardist of long standing who's very familiar with music in general, and jazz and blues in particular, the technical aspects as well as the human or emotional element. The feeling must be in the music or otherwise the artist is only playing mechanical scales and notes. If he's taking chances by showing his heart and mind in his playing, he's connecting with me and the rest of the audience. There is no greater feeling than that - For the past decade, I have been associated with some "household words" in jazz and blues, as well as some very special artists who may someday become just that. I don't know where this is all leading, but I do know that I want you to come along on this journey with me, to experience the ways we can all live and become more fully who we are; whether we are performers or the listening audience , both play an important part in music. |