In my journeys around the world in search of a melody, particularly, jazz and blues, I have found music in lots of clubs, bars, restaurants, concert halls, etc. But it is when I find the music in the home of a dedicated musician that I enjoy the experience the most, especially, when it involves WOMEN IN JAZZ!

Saturday night, Koko Kotoko, a young lady I met, also at CJW Club in Shanghai, took me to the home of Japanese Jazz Singer, Aoi Katoh, where we enjoyed a delightful meal and sang wonderful music, including some of my originals played by Miyuki Saito on Aoi's new Yamaha grand piano in her beautiful studio. Miyuki is a talented pianist who studied for one year at Berkely School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She promises to bring a lot of joy to jazz audiences in the future!

I have been listening to Aoi's CD, ALL BLUES, while creating this journal and I am so impressed with her very large jazz voice! Besides the title tune, there is "Blue Monk", "I Concentrate on You" and two of my favorite ballads, "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Estate", which Aoi sings in Italian! This CD features notable pianist Larry Willis, Santi Debriano on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, Joe Wilder on trumpet and special guest vocalist Jackie Paris on "Just One Of Those Things", where they scat together! Visit Aoi's website at: http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cde22260/

After two hours of dining, I concluded that Miyuki would be a great accompaniest for my WOMEN IN JAZZ LECTURE/CONCERT, should I be find some Japanese schools where I can do my presentation. While we chatted, I asked Aoi if she would join us. She agreed and, with the three of us presenting songs like "In A Mellow Tone", "I Wish You Love" and "I Got Rhythm", among others, students would truly appreciate the power of WOMEN IN JAZZ!

On Monday, I met with Patrick, Founder and Vision Navigator of the ten-year-old Tokyo International School (TIS) for two reasons:

1) To help him finish composing the school song started, last year, by him and (WHAT???) my mentor, jazz singer JOE LEE WILSON, who was at TIS, in 2005! and whom I've known for over 30 years and visited with at his home in Brighton, England, this past March!

Patrick and I consider ourselves to be "wordists" and we had great fun working out inspirational lyrics for the school song, which I was very excited about and hope that he is satisfied with. Of course, we incorporated some of the lyrics started by he and Joe Lee Wilson, which are brilliant!

Just as we finished, three beautiful youngsters came into the office to interview Patrick. I was amazed that these 6-year-olds were so astute at asking questions and writing down the answers in full sentences.

2) To discuss bringing my WOMEN IN JAZZ Lecture/Concert to his school. I told him about the three new friends I'd made, Charito, Aoi and Miyuki, and that I wanted them to join me in this venture.

On the wall of Patrick's office hangs a lovely batik by his daughter, Kana (13), of monkeys she created, when she was only nine years old. I love it and took photos of it to use as my image for my song, "Funky Monkey". TIS website: www.tokyois.com

Next, I joined Charito, near the Shibuya JR Station, for a wonderful Japanese lunch. After eating, we perused my book, IN PURSUIT OF A MELODY, and I showed her the WOMEN IN JAZZ LECTURE. I said that I may be presenting the lecture at Patrick's school and asked if she would like to join us. She said yes and now, there are FOUR of us WOMEN IN JAZZ!

We went to her studio where she takes vocal students on Monday and Tuesday, every week. She has been there for 14 years and says she enjoys teaching as much as singing. (Read about Charito in my previous journal - BODY & SOUL JAZZ CLUB, TOKYO) Visit: www.charito.com

This may be the start of something really big! The lecture has been my passion for over 10 years. I've taught over 5,000 kids, through grants from Broward School Board, in South Florida. I presented it in Tianjin, China (see previous journal) and I would be happy to do the same in Japan. With the help of vocalists Charito and Aoi, and young pianist Miyuki, I'm sure it will be great for the kids and for us!

Continue to watch this journal for updates.

For updates of my performances, see: myspace.com/joancartwrightandjazzhotline

Love and music,
DIVA JC
www.divajc.com