Jean Mazzei
Some might say that starting a rock band at an age when most rockers
have either made it or are working a day job is crazy. "But
hey, who isn't?" asks Jean Mazzei, songwriter and visionary
of the eclectic pop-rock band, Flying Venus. After a health
scare a few years ago, she took a look at her life and decided to
weed out what was bringing her pain and to nurture what was giving
her joy. "Life is too short to let those dreams pass you
by," says Mazzei.
"Ever since I was two, and performed my rendition of 'I
Saw Her Standing There' in my parents' living room, I've
dreamed of being in a band." In 7th grade she wrote her
first musical called "Mayonnaise and Raw Eggs" about two
girls who visit their subconscious mind. She eventually attended
Mt. Holyoke where she double-majored in music and dance. Fast
forward over a dance career that took her from the
Big Apple to Kansas City, and past the resurfacing
of her music passion that brought her to northern California, and
let Jean tell her Blue Bear story:
"I've been gigging in the jazz world since the '80s,
and about three years ago I took a Blue Bear class from Bonnie
Hayes to help my songwriting. I went to see her at the Sweetwater
and she inspired me so much that I bought an electric
guitar the next day! I'd always wanted to play electric as a
kid, but my mom felt very strongly that I should learn
classical guitar. Eventually
I got frustrated because I wasn't able to express myself
and create the sounds I was hearing in my head on my
guitar, so I poured my energy into singing and dancing.
"My husband told me
about Bonnie and made the suggestion. He
and I had been collaborating on some songs and I felt
the need to gain musical independence. After I bought the guitar,
I took private lessons with Mike Rao. At that time I was in
Bill Spooner's Contemporary Rock Band Workshop, where
I met who was to become my first bass player. I wanted to develop
finger strength so I got an acoustic axe and took with
Spooner for awhile. I
decided I needed to learn some covers and get some
inspiration for songwriting so I took Acoustic IV with
Kent Brown. Then
in January I took a seminar from Tal Morris and found
my guitar teacher. He
is exactly what I've been looking for to help get me
to the next level."
Jean Mazzei and Flying Venus now
gig a few times a month as a whole band, and she also
does solo and duo acoustic gigs. She's
played a few gigs in LA as well as lots locally (Hotel
Utah, Red Devil, Irelands 32, Bazaar Cafe etc etc etc). Her
CD Wild Heart Girl was released in October 2003. You can learn more
about Jean at her website www.jeanmazzei.com.
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