The Musicians With Chops! contest came from a tradition I started many years ago.Each time I would buy a new bass,I would give away the old one. To date, I have given away five electric,bass guitars. Why would I do this? Well,it’s simple,the more I give,the more I get.        The seed for this action was planted some years ago when I played a concert in Burlington,Vermont. It was a passionate and deeply concentrated performance. After I performed a very intense bass solo,the performance was complete and I felt satisfied but sore. I wrapped my wrist in a towel with some ice and then entered the crowd to greet people and sell CDs. A beautiful woman walked up to me,introduced herself and told me’ that was the most incredible bass solo I have ever seen,I’m very touched’. She went on to ask me why my wrist was swollen. I explained that the instrument I’m playing is so cheap that I have to work my hand much harder to play it. She then asked,‘if you could have the bass that you want,what would it be’? I told her about the Spector Bass that I had tried at my local music store,Falcetti Music Mall in Springfield,Massachusetts,and had fallen in love with. The very next day I got a phone call from Falcetti’s saying that someone had just purchased a natural wood Spector Bass in my name! Come pick it up! Whoa! I was speechless.

When I began to publicize the Musicians With Chops contest I received many questions about how this contest would work. Out of all the questions asked,the one that participants asked most frequently and were most concerned with was if they would have to play one of my songs. The details went out to 21 contestants and ‘yes’ they would have to play one of my tunes along with a free form solo. Their performance would be posted on youtube. The actions of the 21 contestants were varied and surprising on some levels! Some withdrew immediately, most without a reason or communication of any kind. Othes kept asking questions that I had already answered,and was not going to answer again. Then,there were those who just simply did not submit anything before the deadline had passed. All except 2 incredible,serious,musicians had  fallen out of the contest,proving that the contest was not only about musical skills but also about confidence and determination,skills perhaps more important in making it in the world of music.

Bassist Joshua Young, a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston,Massachusetts, submitted a mind blowing version of my song Springtime Ride along with an incredible free form solo. Needless to say, I’m humbled and honored that he would put forth the necessary not only to complete the task but pay tribute to my legacy. He is truly deserving of my red Spector Fretless Basss,and of all future success he is sure to have.

Then there is drummer Zack Bevelacqua who lives in Slovenia. He has become a good friend of mine now by way of this wondrous tool we call the internet. We had been checking each other out on youtube for a little while so I was delighted when this very talented drummer decided to enter the contest. When I viewed his submission of my song New Way of Thinking, I was stunned. My thought was that people always get they deserve. Zack deserves the money,the prizes,the title of winner and if he continues in this manner,a stellar career as a drummer. It feels amazing to give back and support others in their quest for a career in music. Like Sir Winston Churchill said ” We make a living by what we get,we make a life by what we give.” I would like to thank the following people for helping me in ‘making life’.  PJ Rubal(Spector Bass),Tony Falcetti and Don Brown(Falcetti Music), Gary Carra ( Valley Advocate), Warren Ammerman (Rotary Records),Cyndie Morin,Matt Garstka,Papa ‘C’, Greg Garstka, Elisabeth Olivera, my company La’ Jaz Productions and last but definitely not least bassist Joshua Young and drummer Zack Bevelacqua.

To see the amazing footage of these deserving musicians go to  www.youtube.com/josallins1

Superintendent Clark”Skip” Hults Speaks from the heart,

Hi Jo,

And it is Skip.Words cannot express what you accomplished at our school. We have never enjoyed an artist who so effectively touched people from kindergarten to parents. We have also never had an artist that drew so much praise, and what is so amazing is that it is again from kids to adults .I love that you were able to reach every subgroup from athlete to scholar equally well! I think it is not only your gifting and talent, but your excitement for music. It was simply contagious!!!!! Jo, thank you! I so look forward to having you return!!!!

Because you are family here in Newcomb ,please come back home soon!!!!!

Thanks for everything!

Skip

Music Teacher Jennifer Moore from The Willsboro Central School District in Willsboro ,NY. will bring the Jo Sallins Trio to her school Friday February 18,2011–After participating in a workshop this past summer with Jo Sallins’ 2 Man Trio she writes….

Congratulations! I have to tell you that your taking the time to talk to everyone about the message within your music making was what separated  you from many other performer/teachers that I’ve seen. Once you spoke very openly about the role of music in your life , we could feel those words resonate in every moment that you worked with us. It was thrilling to be part of that vibrant energy. It made learning and experimenting  very satisfying  and easy…you got us out of our own way. Every kid should experience that freedom and that joy.

And so they will…February 18th!!

Jennifer

September 14 th 2010- The Jo Sallins Trio- Newcomb Central School- Newcomb, NY.

” My critique of your time here at the school was awesome. My dad came to the performance and he told me it was inspirational. He went on to say that he wishes when he was a child if someone like you came to his school he might have turned out differently.”

Martha Swan- Spanish Teacher at Newcomb Central School

” The entire school is pulsating with joyful energy and an exuberant esprit de corps. I’ve never seen anything like it! EVERYONE wants you to come back– sooner than later! Lots of kids and classes are writing messages for you. Thank you for all that you give and how you give it. You are loved,you are missed!

Martha

THANK YOU, Principal Clark”Skip” Hults,Teacher’s,Student’s,Parent’s,Jim and Judy DePasquale,Vito’s “majik” Tea,BOCES,Abdou Sarr,Baka Niang And last but nowhere near least the lady that made sure it all happened my friend MARTHA SWAN! Peace and many Blessings to all. JO “Mr. Cool” Sallins   “Family is Everywhere”-Maya Angelou

If I had to choose between some foolish person burning a book that I love or burning me to death and ending  the life I love hmm…with all the purposeful things we can do entering in a fool’s paradise is not one of them. Saleem- malekum.

My early morning practice sessions are starting to produce some amazing results,my fingers are flying over these keys with very effort.(piano keys). This weekend I will set up all my “Toys” and play,play,play!

For a few days I think you should invite to your radio show a group of black folks that cover the spectrum of age,class,religious beliefs and sexual orientation and ask when was the first time they  heard the word “nigger” and what was the context in which it was used.The first time i can recall hearing the word “nigger” used in a conversation was from my father and although it was rare, my mother would use it from time to time.I was intrigued with the power and creedance we gave to this word and it seemed every adult negro personI came in contact with was using it.When rappers began using it in their lyrics it was like giving  permission to the races of the world to start calling each other “niggers”,”niggas”or “niggaz”.I know times have changed when I walked into a high school and overheard an asian student say to an african american student,”Wat’s up my nigga”, ’nothing like unity in the community’. When I was a teen if a white person uttered the word “nigger” in front of an afro american person it was an automatic “beat down”. People my personal unprofessional advice is as follows, less involvment with all forms of media,more exercise,more self reflection,way less fast food,more fruit and veggies,find a worthy cause to champion,use time that others waste and remember actions speak louder …and finally the N-Word was used a total 7 times in this blog.Peace, Jo   (Awareness,Relevance,Disturbance)-A.R.D.

I’m workin like a maniac on my new CD-DVD & Book. You would not believe my practice and workout routine.