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  By Carolyn Lee Jones

VARIETY Is The Spice Of Life! 

Last month was so much fun singing with PECOS RIVER BRASS big band and The Women Of Jazz.  It was a huge success and we’re planning to do it again in the fall !  

It’s April and National Jazz Appreciation Month!  In it’s 14th year world wide begun by the Smithsonian.  In Dallas it’s called DJAM or Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month.  I have had the privilege of performing with many great musicians in the Dallas and Fort Worth area these past 9 years and always like to promote this annual event within my own gigs too.

As I count to TEN, April of course being number FOUR, it shows me again why I’m in this business.   With my FRESH VINTAGE DUO & TRIO this month alone I have a wide variety of venues and people to make music with and to make music for!  From gorgeous independent living retirement communities, to a chocolatier, to a festival by the lake, it’s the variety that keeps me engaged and always thinking about music.  Each event requires thoughtfulness on what music to sing.  Each audience is different.  Each venue has its own particular vibe!  

I’m working on two possible CD releases for October and December to be recorded beginning in July!  Pretty exciting and yes, a lot of work and planning to be finished.

One of my goals this year, as I count to TEN, is to become very comfortable performing with just guitar and bass.  It’s such an open sound and requires all three participants to really be aware of each other. To give this a label I’m calling it my Fresh Vintage Trio. As a vocalist I have to be to be in solid control of my melody and its variations.  I’ve been able to play with some wonderful guitarists and I’m well on my way to achieving nirvana.   Did I say that ?  

I’d love seeing you at one of my public events!  It’s always reassuring to see my friends.   That lake event I mentioned is an all day affair with over 12 various bands and musicians performing.   You can check it all out here!              Or if you love a variety of chocolates and nice wines check this lovely little place out!  Here are the names of the musicians I’m performing with this month!  What VARIETY! Tommy DeSalvo (p) Todd Parsnow (g) Troy Chun (b) Jeffry Eckels (b)Hans York (g) Peter Rioux (p) Corentin Le Hir (b) Brad Williams (p) Roland Elbert (p) Sergio Pamies (p) Lynn Seaton (b) no drummers this month hmm.. got to change that!  See you soon & remember …VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE!  

 

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   By Carolyn Lee Jones                   

CREATIVITY CAN NOT BE FORCED!  Did any of you set lofty goals for 2018? It’s March already, I’m feeling a self induced pressure to achieve.  Well…guess what? It doesn’t work for the creative process! Being able to take a step step back and let things flow is sometimes difficult, especially for us A types. Just Breathe! LOL ! OK, here’s whats been going on so far … as I take that step back for a moment I realize that I’ve really achieved quite a few of my “creative” goals for 2018.

Big Band Singing has been on my wish list for a while. I intend to do a lot more of it!  HINT if you know of anyone wanting a big band or a big band singer for any event call me. I’ve got the players and the charts. The great Sarah Vaughn was happiest with 20 pieces or more behind her (including strings). In January I took the financial plunge and have a great beginning for my own “big band book” of arrangements. Including a few Julie London charts from her early recordings which I’ll be singing this month!   I’m thrilled to say that on March 14th I, along with 4 other Women of Jazz, will be performing in a SOLD OUT show with the Pecos River Brass Big Band led by arranger John C Smith. With me or better yet I with them are; Sandra Kaye (back from 6 years singing in China), the remarkable Heather Patterson (a Sammons Jazz Performer of The Year), Pam Musgrove (Pop,Blues, Musical Theater Diva) and Diana Sharp (Pecos’ very own talented sultry lead vocalist).

Next …release new singles… last month in Counting to TEN …TWO you’ll see that I released SISTER SADIE. (check it out and download from my music page) and I’m working on two other singles to be recorded and released this spring.  Really excited!

Record a new CD …in celebration of my 10th year in music. Get it? Counting to TEN… aka …this blog! The month of May seems to be wide open with only a couple of gigs so I think the universe is telling me that SPACE has been opened up to be creative preparing for a CD recording.  I’ve visited new studios and met the recording engineers.

I’m grateful and happy to be doing what I love!  Of course it takes some focus and a certain amount of organization to keep things moving but CREATIVITY is a beautiful thing and should be allowed to happen when it’s ready!   Till next month…“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein

 

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 By Carolyn Lee Jones

It’s February and Valentines Day is over but love continues! I recently had a show all about love… good,bad and indifferent. It was a wonderful evening and the audience had a good time with a bit of call and response to Alright,Okay You Win and Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t Ma Baby.  Then to really mix things up, I sang a few pop jazzed tunes from my current CD such as Midnight At The Oasis with an R+B groove and Moondance in a very fast latin style.  I let our Latin Mexican American drummer Lupe’ set the groove and tempo WOWEE.  It was burning!

As I look forward, I also look back. I thought in celebration of counting to ten …TWO …and it being Valentines month, you might enjoy a new single release.  THIS IS A PREVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT!  It’s a jazz tune from Horace Silver with solos sung by me and my pal Ev with the group I mentioned last month, The New Collection.   We never released any of the album in 2015 as singles or downloads.  When I was developing my ideas for the year, I decided this would be the perfect song for February.  SISTER SADIE was a mean chick and she thought that she was real slick. Then she met Alfonso Brown & naturally, I hope you will visit this song on my web site, CD Baby, iTunes and Amazon or you can stream it from Spotify!  It should be up and running on iTunes and Spotify in a few days till then check it out on CD Baby.          MUCH LOVE & BIG HUG as we continue to celebrate LOVE,  Carolyn

P.S.  Do you like me as a blonde? It’s a wig!

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By Carolyn Lee Jones

I’m counting to TEN and as January comes to a close it’s ( # 1 ) of course. Why am I counting to TEN you ask? Because, 2018 is a celebratory year. To be more specific, October 28, 2018 ( Month #10 )  is when I begin my 10th year as a full time jazz-pop vocalist. Yes, I’m living my other dream of singing full time. This is after a very rewarding career as a buyer traveling the world for Neiman Marcus and other fine retailers. When I traveled to NYC as a buyer, I sang in some wonderful cabaret rooms and entertained my business associates in the evenings. I loved and still love the creative process. Whether it was then creating exclusive merchandise or  now planning my music events, CD covers or brainstorming on how to sing a particular song being creative is what makes me happy.

I hope that you’ll share in this creative process with me each month. I’ll put you on my email list for performances, events , announcements and special recording projects.
( Just go here to sign up ) No spam I promise!

In the mean time, as I begin to count to ten
here is a  2012 CD release from the a cappella group I was privileged to be in for 5 years.       THE NEW COLLECTION  I have only a few physical copies left $12.00 each.
(GO here to listen and hopefully purchase). You’ll be helping me fund my new CD this year!   Looking forward to seeing you at some of my shows as I count to TEN.  Big hug! Carolyn