JNoteMusic

It is the unofficial last weekend of summer. Are you ready for what is ahead? Here are some things to think about as you walk through the gates of the first day of school. The morning stretches open before you like it has not in the endless array of summer moments. But don’t get overwhelmed by the idea. Choke back the tears and step out of the shadows. It is the first day of school; time to man up. Either it will be the alarm sounding off or the school bus beeping its horn outside that will give you the stark realization that the summer is over; back to the hustle and bustle of learning. Make sure to walk past the sun dappled gardens on your way to school with your head held up high and be sure to have your gear draped over your body neatly so that you can emit self-confidence and proudly embrace the circumference of the other students and the teacher that will be yours for the next nine months. Don’t skirt around the fact that this is the first day of school. It might be just ...

  When I was in my junior year in high school, my girlfriends and I went on a drinking escapade. I never really drank before that day; all except for maybe sips of champagne on New Year’s Eve, with the family, in front of the television watching the New Year’s Eve extravaganza. On that day, we rocked our cups of Cisco. It was potent and it was fun. I became an alcohol lover ever since. Little did I know that I’d become somewhat of an alcoholic.  40 Oz and a Trophy I never knew that I could down an entire 40 oz of Old English beer until I tried it for the first time. I never knew I would like beer until I guzzled down a 40. But I did it; all in one gulp. I liked it. I thought it was cool. I would guzzle down 40s like I had to, and it didn’t grow tired; even after moments of blackout, I still went for a bottle of OE. I eventually phased out of it and started going for harder alcohol. The top of my dresser looked like a trophy case of empty alcohol bottles. They were al...

Brooklyn  I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and I can’t say that there was not a moment that I did not love it. I have seen so many good sides of it, not to mention the bad sides of it but overall, I love it. I've been to many places along my travels and have come to find that no matter where I go, I can find someone who either once lived in Brooklyn or has a cousin or friend who lives somewhere in Flatbush. Oh The Things You Will See Manhattan may be one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York City, but Brooklyn has a variety of different things worth seeing too like the Botanical Gardens, Coney Island, Dumbo Park, Brighton Beach, Canarsie Piers, the Medgar Evers Jazzy Jazz Festival, the West Indian Day Parade, Basquiat’s Bottle, Essence Bar & Grill, Brooklyn Tabernacle Church, Kings Theatre, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Christopher Wallace Basket Ball Courts, Prospect Park, the annual tribute to the ancestors of the Middle Passage, the wall of jus...

  What is a Breakthrough? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines a breakthrough as "an act or instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle." I think that we all go through obstacles that we need victory over.   And sometimes, we do not know how to find success over our problems and try to deal with it on our own without trying for a good solution. I remember going to a church service one Sunday morning and listening to a preacher talking about the many things that we go through and face, and then heard him talking about getting ready for victory over them and inviting God into our storms to receive our breakthrough. I had yet to hear words that spoke so personally to me until that very moment.  The idea for the song “Breakthrough” came directly from that message.  How many other people might be going through something that they need an encouraging word such as the one that I heard that might help them to get through it with success? How many times have we sha...

  "Wherever You Are" was written in the midst of a love situation. It was based on a relationship that was but should not have been.  The words came immediately the two lovebirds spent half the morning together. Time came to close and the two had to disperse, going on to their own business and lives.  The Triton LE was my best friend at that time because it had so many great sounds in it. I used it to write songs before learning how to use it as accompaniment in a live music situation. Back then, I only  used it to make my beats and to write them onto Cakewalk Sonar. The music came, and then the lyrics and then the vocals and the melodies.  All music and vocals used in the song "Wherever You Are" by Stephanie Jeannot.  It has become one of my favorite songs to sing and perform both here and abroad because of how people start to call and response it, no matter where I am, and nothing brings me more joy than to see someone else enjoying a song that I took my ...