Sep 283 min read

Uniting Voices

JazzVoice and the Vocal Jazz Summit Team Up to Celebrate a decade of Jocelyn Medina’s Sunday Vocal Jazz Jam

It’s impossible to overstate the impact that Jocelyn’s Sunday Jazz Jam has had on both the New York City vocal jazz scene, on our lives during Covid, and now on the vocal jazz community at large worldwide through the ongoing virtual jam.

When Jocelyn started the jam in April of 2015 in the East Village, NYC, I went to check it out. It was such a cool way to get to hear my friends sing and get to know people and of course, to be known. She always featured a who's who of the most incredible singers. Over the years, she also had me as a featured guest a few times. I particularly remember a time when I was the feature, when the jam had moved to a midtown spot called Spoonfed. I ate something delicious, Mac and cheese? That always helps me to cement things in my memory. And I had a band of students I had been playing with from SUNY Purchase where I was teaching. They were great. I so enjoyed singing for my friends who had such open ears and were an attentive and engaged audience full of soul. I remember sitting in the back of the room, listening to the different wonderful singers in the jam, many old friends, and feeling such a sense of gratitude and belonging.

Later in 2020, when the world came to a halt, and there was so much uncertainty and isolation, Jocelyn pivoted and put the jam online. Who could have thought that would be so much fun!? She featured my super star student Samara Joy, and so many vocalists I feel I have a personal connection to. A few times, my Dad joined us from his home, at the Jam, and sang a song. It was so great to bring him into our loving group. It was also a great way to connect from afar with my longtime idol Marguerite Juenemann, who really committed to singing in the jam.

During that time, just like now, I was working on the presidential campaign, going door to door and getting out the vote in PA. There was such tension. I had also recently started JazzVoice, and it was a really intense and stressful time. I was continuing listening to the jam after I had already sung, and I hopped in the outdoor shower on a late summer evening, (camera off!). I know many of the voices on the jam, and so when I heard an unfamiliar and fabulous singer coming at me from the bluetooth speaker, I had to run wet from the shower to the computer to see who it was, and that’s when we heard the fabulous Michele Thomas from Chicago at her first jam. Memorable moments.

In 2021 when we founded the Vocal Jazz Summit, we knew Jocelyn had to be a part of it. She hosted the virtual jam, bringing us all together as she does, and intrinsically joining our communities.

In 2022 she came to the first in person Summit in Virginia Beach and hosted, and in 2023 she again hosted the virtual jam from Colorado. She also contributed a class on JazzVoice on the topic of Jam Session Etiquette, and became one of our private teachers available on the site.

So now, on the cusp of the 10th anniversary of the jam, our triumvirate communities will rise up as one. Launching on October 6, the new monthly Jam Event will have ongoing sponsorship by JazzVoice and the Virginia Beach Vocal Jazz Summit. Dylan Pramuk will be our guest, with pianist/vocalist Will Gorman accompanying! This is the new not-to-be-missed event of the month! Visit the Jam Session page on JazzVoice.com/jam to reserve your spot and watch previous jams.