Happy New Year to everyone that chose to read this email blast...its now 2013. Wow, five years ago on January 8th at 3am in the wee hours of the morning The Jazz Network was birthed. It came out of a well-spring of creative worry. Yes, worry. I had moved to Las Vegas to work on a movie and when I got here, climbing over boxes, I got word the movie got canceled. Can you say shock? I had no idea what I was going to do in a city that I knew no one with my mother and daughter in tow. All of a sudden I had to be creative, out of a worried heart. I couldn't sleep out of concern as to how I was to support my family. I was humbled. Cleaning out my spam file almost ready to hit delete I spotted an invite from a social network in TV and Film (which I was in for 8 years prior). Someone kept my email and invited me...I clicked on it, navigated it, thought the concept was 'cooll' yet it seemed boring to me. I saw a link that said 'create your own network' and I hit it, I had nothing to lose. Here I was, staring at the screen plopping in info, added some colors and when I realized what I was doing, it came to my surprise it had no name. I remember looking up to the sky and saying "if you want me to do this, give me a name....and I immediately heard "call it The Jazz Network". Bingo! I took a shot, I invited all my friends in my address book and closed down my computer and went to bed with an inquisitive heart. The next morning I woke up to over 200 of my friends that supported this creative worry and I thought to myself "Oh Lord, what did I just start, I guess I need to figure this out, create "a great place to hang" for all of us that love real jazz, understand its history, care to uplift those minds of those that need encouragement in keeping the groove alive'...lol. So I did it. I found a way, I trusted my worried heart and took the steps it called for. It was like hearing a song for the first time that you wanted to le arn how to play.
The network took a lot of twists and turns, I put in a lot of sweat equity. I put whatever money I had into it because I believed that we really had something here. I contacted every musician I knew that I respected and asked for their support in leading this journey right into home....they all helped me. Believed in me. I felt supported. I realized that I started something I needed to finish. It's taken a lot time, effort and growth to make this a community that has integrity for the music and all the subsets that keep it thriving. I hope that you all have enjoyed the artistry that has come through, that felt the importance of being put in front of such an elite group of masterful jazz enthusiasts. Till this day, I don't think that everyone has realized how many incredible sources are here, that if you would sincerely study the amazing professionals gathered here you would all be amazed as well as revenue build your artistic endeavors. If you use the search b ar, it will become a database for you to find just what you are looking for, try it you'll like it!! Last year, I decided to ask all of you to offer a monthly fee of $2, or an annual fee of $19.95 (resulting in $1.66 a month) to help me grow us further, so I could enlist help to make all the off-shoots created a further reality for you and your opportunities in jazz. Some of you immediately jumped on this support and others balked. I felt you. Even still my heart told me to do it so I could sustain this community with integrity and to help us grow. I ask to you please renew your subscriptions and get involved in a new way in 2013. I need your help. Breathe life into your pages here and take a chance and contact those you normally wouldn't be able to get on the phone. I have to admit, there are many musicians that approach me daily to be the featured artist here, for they see value in being put in front of such an amazing community to be heard and discovered. Radio broadcasters enjoy the new artists as well as the seasoned professionals that offered their new p rojects to an audience that would be ecstatic to hear new music. Managers, agents, jazz festivals, clubs, educators, please scan the great artistry and give these hard working musicians and students the chance to be heard and encouraged in the marketplace by your expertise. I am here to bring you mine, to help you shine, get that "google face' you might not have and to recognize your uniqueness before our community. Reach for me. I would like to thank Concord Music Group for being one of our major labels bringing their great artistry to us with their new releases and reissues. It is such a joy to work with them and promote such musical excellence. To all the artists that have taken the chance to be brought to the forefront, I commend you and thank you for trusting our community to give you the kudos you deserve. I will continue to push forward, executing the wonderful off-shoots that will benefit all of you on every level. My mind is always in creative mode. My tireless efforts come from my heritage, love for jazz and its artistry and the constant reminder that the heartbeat of this 'great place to hang' is my fathers. Keep believing in me, I promise to give you my best, find new artists, new opportunities to ignite the best in you before a wonderful family of jazz. Please use the invite button to ask your friends to come to the fold and help me keep jazz alive with the heartbeat I've been given. Happy 5th Anniversary to us all. Love, Jaijai Visit THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG" at: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network -------------------- To control which emails you receive on THE JAZZ NETWORK WORLDWIDE "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG", or to opt-out, go to: http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/profiles/profile/emailSettings?xg_source=msg_mes_network
