It’s My One Year Blogaversary! How ‘Bout Some Free Music?

One year ago today I started this blog. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I thought it would be helpful both for me and for others if I chronicled my life as a working musician. My hope was that I might inspire others to take the journey which has been the most rewarding of my life. I said then and still believe that if I can do it, anyone can do it, so long as they have the drive and determination and are willing to put in the work.

My first post set the tone with this quote from Rainer Maria Rilke:

“…Try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

Since that time I’ve been called “The motivational speaker of the Jazz internet” and “Da Willy Wonka of music marketing”. I love both of these titles, as they echo my goal, not just in music but in life, of always trying to be positive and always trying to see the good in situations and in people. It is this outlook that has gotten me just about everything that I have achieved as a working musician.

I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read my thoughts. I love each and every comment I’ve gotten, and welcome all to chime in, whether you agree or disagree with what I’m saying. As the Rilke quote states, it’s the questions that allow us to learn and grow, not the answers. If we live with the questions, the answers will come in due time. I’m fortunate to have found a like-minded community, both here in Seattle and all over the internet, who want to live the questions with me. You have inspired me, and I hope I have inspired you. Together we will find the answers.

In honor of my 1st birthday, I am offering all downloads of the three Jason Parker Quartet CD’s as “pay-what-you-want”. This means that you are welcome to download them for free if you so desire. If you’d like to support my efforts to make a living as a musician, however, you can pay $2, $5, $10, $75…whatever you feel the music is worth to you. If you’ve gotten any ideas or inspiration from this blog in the past year, this is a great way to show your gratitude!

Thank you for coming along for the ride, and here’s to another wonderful year of Makin’ it Happen, Livin’ the Dream and Payin’ the Bills!