Q. What inspired you to first start singing?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: I loved music for longer than I can remember. It was always a part of my family and we were brought up in church - listening and singing from the time my sisters and I were two or three. I was deeply affected by the music I heard and longed to be a part of it.

Q. Did you take lessons or are you self-taught?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Mostly self taught or rather, was just born with the natural ability. I took ten years of voice lessons to build my confidence, but learned more 'on the job' by working with other amazing musicians.

Q. Who inspired you to learn and focus on "the voice"?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: I was deeply influenced by the music of my youth and I fell in love with emotion through singing. It wasn't all the tricks (in my school age days) that wasn't a key influence, it was emotion. Karen Carpenter, Barbara Streisand, Judy Garland, these women emoted through their singing. Not necessarily the writer of the tune, they could convey all the writer intended. i wanted to climb through the radio and talk to them about it.

Q. What is your practice regimen like?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: I try to live healthy and take care of my voice, then when I'm ready to sing I'm half-way there. Sleep deprivation is a voice killer. I try to sing for several hours each week and then rest!

Q. How would you define your style of singing?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Emotional. I don't have a big range, and knew that at an early age. So I focused on 'packing a punch' to what I did offer. I LOVE textures in singing. I want to create a feeling or 'a moment' when I deliver the music. It's an incredible experience when it happens, rather spiritual for me.

Q. What can we expect from your debut CD release with JMood, "A Midnight Clear"?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: A fresh, yet classic approach to much-loved Christmas music. We wanted to bring our own style to the arrangements, while trying to maintain the integrity of the original.

Q. How was J-Mood formed?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: We needed to provide Christmas party music for some friends who knew John and I from our church. We asked Jon and Joe to help us out. It was magic. We learned very quickly that chemistry isn't something you can manufacture, it just happens. We knew we had to form a group and keep digging in to this genre together.

Q. Tell us about the musicians that appear on your CD release?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Each of the musicians in J Mood are extremely talented and devoted to the art of their craft. I am in awe when we work together and this project is no exception. John Carrozza created an arrangement for each song and then in the studio we worked together to tweak it til it really felt right. The creative energy is boundless. Each of their resum?s would be daunting to any up and coming musician, but these guys are so at ease with themselves, quick to laugh and to be humble is truly inspiring. It's honest to me, what you hear is the real deal.

Q. What other types of music or artists do you derive inspiration from?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: I love bluegrass, acoustic, folk, rock, pop pretty much anything that is melodic, creative and fun. I'm not much for anger in music, although it can be quite beautiful in it's expression. As far as singers go, anyone with a great texture or impressive emotion grabs my attention. Some of my favorites in the past few years are Diana Krall, Joss Stone, John Mayer, Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Rufus Wainright, to name a few.

Q. What's the most important bit of advice you were given by another musician?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Don't think too much. Just try to feel and enjoy the moment. Music is a gift not to be squandered.

Q. What's been your proudest playing moment or J-Mood's proudest group moment?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Some of the live performances have been unbelievably fun. But my most proud moment came at a Catalyst Conference, a weekend for future church leaders. We were asked to open for a popular writer, Donald Miller, who authored the book, "Blue Like Jazz." Here are these college/grad students having already heard the most edgy, current music during the weekend and then in the round at the Gwinnett Arena are us 'old school-ers' playing jazz. By the bridge of the tune, they were on the feet cheering us and going wild like we were, The Beatles. It was pretty astounding. Taught me that great music delivered with passion reaches any age group.

Q. What's the biggest disaster you've ever had on stage, and how did you cope with it?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: It was a concert in the round for a group of 100 or so VIP's. They were dead silent. They were mesmerized by the music, but it was completely unnerving. At one point, one of us forgot how the tune went that we were playing - it was 3 minutes of agony...but we got out of it and no one was the wiser. We squirmed, but covered it pretty well.

Q. Do you warm up before a concert and if so how?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: We always do a few songs to get warmed up but we try not to over think it. Save some fun for the real deal.

Q. What's the most important bit of advice you could give to new vocalists or those wanting to start their own band?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Do what you love but be prepared to work hard. Even if it's your dream job, in the end it's still a job it takes everything you've got. Don't take the shortcuts. Learn all you can, and to quote Del Paxton from "That Thing You Do" 'Keep on playing, no matter where, no matter with who, and watch your money. You'll land on your feet.'

Q. Thanks for your time and consideration for this article and interview. Any last thoughts for our readers?

A. Jennifer Carrozza: Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did making the record!