Nicole Zuraitis (Grammy-winning singer, pianist, composer, educator)

You know, there's a number of new jazz musicians that, and maybe I shouldn't, I'll just say artists, because that way I'm not putting them in the box that you spoke about.

And what they're saying today, I mean, we've got so many that you write about variations of jazz.

Is this smooth jazz music? What iteration of jazz is this that you're playing or singing today? And what I'm finding with this newer generation is they don't care.

They don't want their music label.

They say, if you enjoy it, then great there's no label associated with it because that's how we want you to receive it uh are you finding that because i was been playing 20 tracks of the 20 tracks the devil i knew or know what i i can't stop playing these tracks i mean the intimacy that you project in those songs.

And I'm saying, damn, where was this lady when she wrote this? Forget about who's playing with her.

But I know I'm rambling, but I got to get this out.

So you've got your own box.

And there's plenty of this.

Christian McBride's in his own box.

There's a lot of guys that's in their box.

And that's OK, because we're enjoying what you guys are producing.

Does that

make

sense?

I think that if more people thought like you, then people wouldn't feel so isolated when they're coming up in this industry.

It's already hard enough to be an artist.

It's hard enough to be a jazz artist.

It's hard enough.

In general, just to put yourself out there and to create.

And so if more people thought of it like you just described, which is if it touches somebody's soul, then let it be.

You don't have to say if it is or it isn't.

And you can just let the artist decide how they, what their intent is.

then everyone would be so much happier.

That's why I started Modern Songbook Society.