Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Congito Jaffe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Congito thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
after a forty year career as a career counselor, adult work/life/meaning and purpose and all things career related visionary retirement allowed my to pick up my guitar and bass again, master songwriting and performing, transfer the vision of my wife the poet and lyricist Lady Ives of Rocky River, Ohio into music that is well received in the coffeehouses and singer songwriter venues of Northern Ohio I now at age 72 am enjoying sharing this lyrical creative vision and bring back the vibe of an espresso scented coffeehouse of 1971,
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m pleased that by sharing videos and live performances in this era of short attention spans and often an american aversion to complex introspective folk style music only one performer one instrument no elaborate production no hype no world tour there is an audience that wants to relax, reflect come out live to hear and often play and sing as well in a low tech intimate style more akin to 1973 than 2023.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
after initially hearing NO LIVE MUSIC, approaching many venues live, or e-mail or sending a video the small coffeehouse Blue Cafe in Lakewood, Ohio offered me an hour on a Saturday night in March 2021 ….which led to invitations back, small appreciative audiences and introductions to other performers and venues, playing songwriter forums and sharing this process that is richly rewarding in a creative and musically contributing to the quality of life though not exactly hugely profitable ( I wont be on the next Taylor Swift tour) yet my new career is engaging, vital, interesting and contributing to the fabric of culture and a space for music and calming of the soul.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I did not know that all over America there are songwriting workshops and performance retreats until I was well on my way into writing and performing and a google search brought up resources like John Lamb’s retreat in Harbor Springs, Michigan which I have attended twice now and brings in singer/songwriters and gurus from all over to perform, share ideas and serve as an inspirational community In April 2024 I am looking forward to the Ola Belle Reed folk and traditional music workshop in Ashe County North Carolina.
Cleveland ohio has numerous open mics as well to meet and share with other performers and gain confidence, encouragement and learn from the experience of peers and mentors of varied ages and experience.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Congito Jaffe
- Youtube: many videos up on you tube page of Thomas Kublickas who videos local performances.
Image Credits
the outdoor photos of Congito in his backyard were taken by his wife the Lady Ives the performing shots were by open mic host Meganne Stepka or videographer Thomas Kulbickas.