jnj: Please tell me what (or who) has attracted you to jazz music in the first place and what influenced you to become a jazz singer.
Joanna Pascale: I was first attracted to the music when I was about 15 years old. I heard a recording of Billie Holiday singing "Good Morning Heartache" being 15 and completely over dramatic I became obsessed with the heart wrenching lyrics. I went out and bought as many Billie Holiday recordings that I could get my hands on and learned all of her repertoire.


jnj: You have a working repertoire of over 400 songs. That's an impressive number. How can you remember so many songs?
Joanna Pascale: I have been gifted with a memory to remember everything that I hear. I honestly don't know how I remember all of the lyrics but I never have to read off of a lyric sheet. I am so in love with all of these songs that they become so personal to me. Each one is very special and different. Every lyric tells it's own story.


jnj: Do you have a favourite jazz song that in your opinion sums it all up what music is all about despite the 400 songs in your repertoire?
Joanna Pascale: I don't really have a favorite song. I do go through periods where I will do certain songs fairly regularly and then maybe put them to rest for a few months and come back to them with a fresh perspective. Right now I do have a few favorites. I have been listening to a lot of Blossom Dearie and have been trying to learn alot of her repertoire. I do tend to lean more to songs by Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter, but I really try to seek out the obscure and underperformed standards and and bring some life to them.


jnj: Please tell me how you teamed up with the musicians that play on your album.
Joanna Pascale: Well all of the musicians on the album are great friends of mine, most of whom I met just working around Philadelphia. And actually Terell Stafford was one of my teachers at Temple University where I went to college. We stayed in touch and remained great friends. All of the musicians on this album are gifted players in their own right, I was so fortunate to have them all there to capture that moment.


jnj: Do you plan to tour outside the USA, e.g. in Europe to promote your album?
Joanna Pascale: I would really love to travel. If I had it my way I would be on the road right now. I have made a lot of connections overseas and hopefully travelling isn't too far down the road.


jnj: You have released your album independently. What do you think of major labels and their politics? Would it be an option for you to sign with a major label?
Joanna Pascale: If a legitimate opportunity presented itself to sign with a major label then yes it would most definitely be an option. On the other hand I loved the fact that I had total control musically and artistically with this particular project especially with it being my first effort. I didn't have anyone telling me what to do or how to do it. There is a certain freedom remaining an independent artist. The hardest part of doing it on your own is the distribution and promotions. That is one of the benefits of having that label support.


jnj: Do you plan to write and record your own songs instead of singing cover versions only?
Joanna Pascale: What brought me to this music in the first place was standards and nothing makes me happier than singing them. Performing these songs is all that I want to do right now. This may all change someday, but for now I'm just doing what I love to do and hope that people can appreciate my attempts to keep these songs alive.