THE JAZZ NETWORK ~ "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG"
-
Marissa Dodge
100
MN native - TX transplant
United States - Share
- Applications
- Blog Posts (16)
- Discussions (1)
- Events
- Groups (3)
- Photos
- Photo Albums
- Videos
“Women and rhythm-section first!” Jaco
Profile Information
- Marital Status
- Licensed to love
- Where are you located?
- Milky Way Galaxy, earth, the woods, where next?
- Tell us a little about you....
- I'm a musician, vocalist, songwriter, composer, lyricist, writer, poet, spontaneous inventor, one witty mofo, animal and nature lover - God seeker, gardener, cooker, baker, and bookmaker. I dig anything artfully, brilliantly, and cleverly done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW SOUNDS!
Check out Downbeat Critics Poll nominated jazz vocalist Ed Reed doing his interpretation of my song "Black Is" on his new CD "The Song Is You."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Resounding “Yes!”
A multifaceted talent, Marissa Dodge has created an eclectic and expansive career over the last three decades. The legendary Lena Horne has compared Marissa’s songwriting to Strayhorn, and upon hearing her play and sing Ms. Horne replied, “You are good, you should sing your songs.” When the inimitable Shirley Horn heard Marissa sing and play, her reaction was, “You should be heard. You‘ve got ‘it.’“ “Fantastic,“ is the word Karrin Allyson used to describe Marissa’s lyric writing, and to this Ms. Allyson added, “I’ve always loved what you do, Marissa.” Grammy winning composer/arranger Jeremy Lubbock has called Marissa’s songs, “Gorgeous.” Grammy winning composer/arranger Bob Freedman has dubbed Marissa, “One of America’s finest lyricists.” Jazz luminary Jack McDuff stated, “Marissa is a gem, great, just great!” An impressive list of vocalists and musicians have recorded Marissa’s songs and sung her praises.
Her compositions receive TV and radio airplay in more than 30 countries on TV productions, commercials, and in countless live performances. Day and night, somewhere around the world, Marissa’s music is heard. Some of her lyric work can be heard on the title cut from Grammy nominee, Phil Kelly’s CD, “My Museum,” which was among the Top 10 jazz CD’s of 2007 in Brazil, and also made the Jazz Times Top 50 CD’s of 2007 list. JAZZIZ magazine has featured two of Marissa's lyrics on their compilation CD's. Her song "Black Is," the opening track of Lena Horne's latest Blue Note release, Seasons of a Life, has brought Marissa even wider recognition. “‘Black Is,‘ is a softly powerful affirmation.” - Christopher Loudon (JazzTimes.com)
Marissa not only writes music, but writes about it as well; her erudite reviews and interviews can be found on www.jazz.com. Of her writing, Ted Gioia, author of The History of Jazz, said, “Marissa Dodge is a remarkable writer and lyricist, who captures the spirit of the music and transforms it into words."
Add to her list of accomplishments poet and author; Marissa’s trio of poetry collections; Multiple Poemodality Disorder, The Power of Negative Thinking, and Never Tell An Indian How To Start A Fire, as well as her anthology of short stories, Dust Off The Neurons, are nearing release.
Still, one might wonder who the real Marissa Dodge is; is she a songwriter, a lyricist, a composer, a musician, a vocalist, a piano player, an improviser, a recording artist, a reviewer, an interviewer, a writer, an author, a poet? Yes!
Marissa’s long awaited solo project, Valentino’s Daughter, will encompass all of her elements, enlightening those who are unacquainted with the full spectrum of her work, and will absolutely answer the questions that Shirley Horn once asked her; “Did you write the words and music? Is that you playing piano? Is that you singing?” The answer to every question is a resounding, “Yes.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- How did you hear about the Jazz Network?
- From a parallel universe.
- Website:
- http://www.marissadodge.com
Poem of the Moment...
Artist Unknown
Sad, painted lovers,
portrayed as right Romeo, left Juliet.
Eyes cast downward
in front of a marble alter,
in a fifteenth century church.
No cipher of a wedding,
yet an impression of
one final embrace.
Whose deliberate brush strokes
captured this eternal?
Unsigned, unnamed,
they left no trace.
This intrigues me.
Draws me closer,
close enough to see the surface cracks.
My eye follows the lavender stripes in Juliet's dress,
from her bodice to her hem,
one line whispers to be seen.
Unlike time's fissures in oil paint,
this long bending curve ends in a curl.
Was it raised or recessed?
Compelled, I run my finger along it,
discovering a single strand of human hair,
mystery key to unlock the painter's identity.
For a moment I wondered who to tell,
art historians would want questions answered,
DNA evidence linked to once peaceful graves.
Unknown made known.
If the artist never signed, and left only
a strand of hair behind,
eluding from an ending
that now would never be…
I walked away smiling,
“Your secret lives and dies with me.”
(c) 2000 Marissa Dodge
Marissa Dodge's Blog
Emergency Dime
Posted on May 27, 2008 at 1:30am — 2 Comments
Ruth Hann Dodge - A Story, A Song
Posted on May 2, 2008 at 2:30am —
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
Uncle Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum is my 80 year-old uncle who has FORGOTTEN more about jazz than I've even learned yet! He released his CD "Introducing Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum" after gigging in the St. Louis scene for over 55 years! Needless to say his voice, his saxophone, his piano... like a fine, aged Merlot. His energy?! I dare not try and keep up. I'm on stage falling asleep by the time he gets going good – cut from a different cloth. Arnette, Coleman, Hamp, Hank... fine cloth.
Why do I bring them up? Because they represent something really important that we now get to enjoy, like they did back then, but now through technology on sites like this, that we've been missing.
The good news, since family – in this case JAZZ FAMILY – and relationships are much more important, more fulfilling... is that I feel RICHER knowing and following you guys music on THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Sincerely,
Kirk WHALUM
www.kirkwhalum.com
"Congratulations on your creativity, energy and dedication to Jazz, knowing and have worked with your Dad ~ its all in the genes".
~Clem De Rosa
Professional Musician, Educator, Arranger, Composer and Band Leader
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
ADVERTISE YOUR ARTISTRY, BUSINESS OR EVENT HERE ON THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Give the gift of some of The Jazz Network Members music for the Holidays!!
Just click your favorite artist, its as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4!! :-)
Available on iTunes and www.fredricklevore.com
<"
The Jazz Network Holiday Promotion offers its members a spot on the front page to display your CD cover for immediate click-thru for purchase for holiday gifting! Feel free to contact Jaijai for details for now is a good time to start promoting Holiday sales!
If you have interest in having a featured spot, want to be spotlighted, promote a 'gig' or CD release party with a flyer or banner, stream your gigs live from a venue worldwide, give a shout-out for any reason ~ post a press release...have a business we should know about?... or even a "sneak peek" of your upcoming release? How about managers looking for artists, or indie labels looking for submissions...This is the place to do it!
Jaijai is also making herself available to help you promote your artistry with marketing tips that will take you to the next level.
If you are interested in becoming a client, please let her know.
If you want your page designed with your CD cover and special slideshows, or that 'extra special touch' Jaijai will also lend her design skills to those that want that 'extra splash' to their pages.
Contact her here on the site to discuss your creative thoughts!
Happy Networking!
:-)
Artwork courtesy of Jeff Laibson
SPOTLIGHTED ARTISTS
Finding THE JAZZ NETWORK has been an amazing experience for Musique Noire. The opportunity to not only gain exposure among the jazz community, but to also learn and network with others in the jazz world has been invaluable. It is a place where we are all treated equally, whether one is a major label act or an indie artist, whether one plays traditional jazz or any of the "branches" of the jazz Family "tree".
Musique Noire is honored to be spotlighted here and are deeply grateful to Jaijai for creating this wonderful world. We're here to stay!
~ Musique Noire
Jaijai, what a wonderful mission you've undertaken to create such a place for artistic minds to meet and share their hearts. A place to renew faded determinations, and revive lessened momentums. A place to display our wares and reconfirm to one another that we actually are on the right track.
I commend you, Jaijai, for caring so much that you created this castle of the heart for all of us. I want to share my praise for all of the new friends as well as old friends that I've met and will meet here in our castle. Here we can garnish the where-with-all, the strength, the conviction, and the selflessness through our symbiosis, to share our gift to the world with an unbiased agenda.
My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda says of art: "A beautiful flower delights and refreshes the hearts of all people equally, no matter what soil it grows in. That is the power of beauty. The same is true of great art. It is this spirit that the German poet Heinrich Heine sang of when he wrote that once the peapod bursts open, the sugar peas inside are for everyone to enjoy."
Let's be audacious, my friends!
Buster Williams
"It was a pleasure to be featured on the Jazz Network Main Page. This Network is a unique forward step for independence, contact and conversation between artist, promoters/agents and fans.
Thank you Jaijai for offering a professional meeting place. I've met new musicians and rediscovered old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. May we all continue to expand this network.
~ Will Calhoun
"I think that what Jaijai Jackson has done with the Jazz Network shows how the eternal love for this music is passed down from generation to generation. The fire her father lit in her has burned brightly and has inspired her to pass this torch on to future generations. I'm very proud to be featured and I'm very happy that Jazz has a voice and spirit like Jaijai looking after it."
~ Ron Kearns
I am so honored to be on The Jazz Network with so many wonderful and dedicated musicians. Jazz is the truly American art form and as I travel to other countries I find that their appreciation for jazz is really uplifting. There are so many excellent jazz musicians around the world now and The Jazz Network is helping us to find each other. Thank goodness for people like Jaijai who have dedicated so much time and effort to keep the jazz community together and for opening doors to us that we may never have found.
Regarding education in jazz, having done Master Classes in many places I find students need to take time and learn from the Masters and LISTEN. They should go back in history to appreciate ALL styles of jazz and its development. They need to learn melodies and lyrics (yes, even instrumentalists need to know lyrics) and that jazz is not just a series of modes and riffs. I think The Jazz Network can be an excellent tool for that also.
Thank you Jaijai...you are awesome!
~ Lenore Raphael
"Thank you Jaijai for creating a space for the likes of me! I truly enjoy being featured here and really hope it can give me new contacts and opportunities.
Keep up the good work!"
~ Patrick Rydman
Sweden
"The Jazz Network has come into being at just the right time. I believe that we are forever in need of spiritual and artistic enrichment and the way I see it, music, particularly jazz music, is all about the spirit. The Jazz Network allows us to reach out to our fellow artists across the world, in a way that has not been seen before, enlightening us as to who's out there making hip and happening music and helping to shape the culture. Whether artists approach this music from traditional perspectives or attempt to create new and radical sub-genres of jazz, the Jazz Network
is providing exposure, performance and recording opportunities that we might never have found on our own.
The Jazz Network is an amazing resource for the Jazz community. I'm
honored and happy to be a part of it.
Jaijai, thanks for your faith and what you're doing for the jazz community"
Best,
Nicolas
It’s a rare occasion when you meet someone who you feel a real connection to … Someone who possesses a kind spirit, unyielding generosity and a dedication to the jazz community beyond expectations.
Jaijai, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic website for the jazz community. You’ve helped artists connect with each other around the world.
I’m proud to have The Jazz Network be the first site to promote my latest recording. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to the music and the artists.
With much love and gratitude,
Denise Donatelli
Hi Jaijai,
Stopping by to show you some love and tell you just how much I appreciate all you've been doing here, not just for me but for this incredible community of jazz musicians. I see that The Jazz Network is growing in leaps and bounds daily and want you to know that I recognize the importance of what's going on here, musicians having a place to connect with each other, young musicians having a place to meet and be mentored by musicians who have been around the block. You've created a beautiful space here and it's obvious that folks are feeling very much at home. Thanks for sharing your time, your heart, your soul. This is a huge commitment and you've taken it on with such determination. I wish you and The Jazz Network continued success and support you in all you're doing.
~ Marcus
© 2008 Created by Jaijai Jackson aka. "Woman of Jazz"
googled77eeec400d24e5e.html
Comment Wall (358 comments)
You need to be a member of THE JAZZ NETWORK to add comments!
Join this network
I am happy for you to be well, Marissa!
I also am well; but living, as always, one day of each time; my dreams alone last 24 hours, equal to the Cindella… haha
This aspect of the language is a difficulty still for me; that it gives, some Japanese, invented one ship of implantation of Babel Fisch… I would buy one for me immediately and ordered to implant inside of my brain!!!!... still I pursue this such “golden fish”… haha. Cursed Tower of Babel (of the Bible)!
We will always keep contact ; I adore to receive your messages!
You voice is so BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Stay with God...
K&Peace
JULIA
Look Beyond the Surface and
Discovery the True Treasures.
JAHnessa
Yesterday exactly I remembered you; coincidences to the part, until reason I do not believe in them, I would immensely like to thank its good taste, in relation the Cycle of the Life, without false modesty, I really taste of it also; I adore galleries and museums also, penalty that of my city, I already know them all. I taste of you, Marissa, I think that we think and we feel similar; it is always close to me, ok?
Don’t disappear,ok?haha
Beijos,minha querida!
JULIA
How are you woman? I miss you? I hope your fall season is reving up with joy. I love the look of your new room here... :-)
Sending you love as always,
Jaijai
I haven't been online for centuries ! lol So, just taking time to send you some love from France. Hope you're doing wonderful.
Astrid
Regards, Fawzi
Thank you very,very much for its words; we, the Brazilians, are strong, resistant people, glad, therefore we are crossbred and the mestizos, are strong, biological speaking. Our people still has the innocence that the wars only steal of a people… here, almost never had war; my generation does not know what this. I consider the innocence of my people, almost an ATAVIC trace!
You know to write the Portuguese well; it is a difficult language, I I know.
I understood everything that wrote my dear!
Also I adore the Ivan, the Djavan; all they are wonderful! they are made in the measure for sensible Souls and special, as its.
it will be that understand you me, if I to write for you in Portuguese? I would go to adore, but if he will not be possible, does not have the lesser problem, therefore taste very of its language also.
Nice to have you in the loop , stay in touch
It’s a pleasure to me, become your friend!
Kisses and peace… it rhymed..hahalolol
Its Music is pretty, girl!
Congratulations!
Be blessed,dear!!!
JULIA…so Brasilian.
Thanks for the nice comments. I don't have anything out that way right now, but you never know. 2009 might be a bit more open for gigs. Take care and stay in touch.
-Chuck
View All Comments