Divinity Roxx in Conversation with CJ Shearn
For this edition of the podcast I bring you a discussion with bassist, songwriter and emcee Divinity Roxx. She has played in Beyonce’s band in the past decade as well as toured with Victor Wooten, and her music is an effervescent blend of funk, rock, hip hop and jazz. This past April she released her album ImPossible (Self produced, 2016) a wordplay on I’m possible, to critical and fan acclaim buoyed by the powerful single “We Are” and this coming Sunday February 19th will be offering a workshop at New York Jazz Workshop about playing bass, rapping, singing, and strategies at getting your music out there as an independent artist. Divinity Roxx is incredibly charismatic, and in our talk we discuss her career, her album, and the impact hip hop has had on her as well as that form’s innovations on jazz today. Special thanks to Jessica Sternick for coordinating this interview.
For the New York Jazz Workshop podcast, I’m CJ Shearn. Peace, love, groove and keep swinging everybody. This podcast was recorded, edited and produced for the New York Jazz Workshop, A Wheelchair Jazz Man Production.
I have been the staff writer for the New York Jazz Workshop School of Music blog in midtown Manhattan since 2014, and that has broadened my freelance writing skills considerably. In addition to writing artist bios, and articles of interest that pertain to the mission of the school, I have interviewed (in print on the site) legendary guitarist and NEA Jazz Master Pat Metheny, trumpeter Cuong Vu, and in 2015 embarked on producing a podcast for the school where I have achieved my dream and interviewed jazz giants such as Dave Liebman, Lenny White, rising talents like Thana Alexa, Logan Richardson, guitarist and bassist Brian Kastan, among others. I also work on SEO optimization for the blog. In 2015 I started my blog Jazz Views with CJ Shearn, and have written liner notes for 5 time Grammy winner and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, Antonio Sanchez (for his latest recording “Channels of Energy”) and guitarist Gene Ess for his latest recording, scheduled to be released in November 2018.
My passion for jazz music is what drives me, which is an interest I’ve had since I can remember. I initially began writing about jazz at the age of 13 for my high school newspaper, and in my late teens contributed occasionally to jazzreview.com. In college I was member of the Harpur Jazz Project which brought jazz acts to campus. I’ve also contributed in the past to AllAboutJazz where I was mentored by John Kelman. I decided to focus on my passion for jazz music journalism after a job in the social services field as a caseworker went south, and as a person with a physical disability I work on going against the odds, living independently and having accomplished things people had said I’d never do.