Once she was playing with top bands in Japan, she decided to move to the United States for more opportunities. She first went to New York City, where she has friends. After listening to a lot of live jazz, she decided to visit New Orleans in 1998.

“It was totally different!” she exclaimed. “I liked the groove, and realized this is the place where I wanted to be.”

Although she didn’t know anyone in New Orleans, she had rented a room from a woman who introduced her to piano player Mari Watanabe.

The Crescendo program is more of a conversation than a lecture. Musicians’ stories and actual situations are used to present the information. The combination of Whetstone’s and Hill’s perspectives is what makes the series so dynamic. 

 Whetstone’s advice centers on the legalities of the industry — and watching out for red flags. Hill’s guidance centers more on the strategies and processes of the music business. 

 “We want to make the material relatable,” Whetstone said. Now in its sixth year, the series is available virtually in Louisiana and in-person at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Although participants can pick and choose which sessions to attend, the series is designed to build a body of knowledge in sequential order. 

Lou Hill is a musician and music/media entrepreneur born and based in New Orleans. You may know him as the drummer, vocalist, and songwriter of the local Billboard-charting funk band Water Seed, his current and long-term project. A true multi-hyphenate artist-entrepreneur, Hill sustains his music career in roles of songwriter, performer, producer, tour manager, and has created opportunities for other musicians as well. Lou is also a lead presenter of The Ella Project’s Crescendo music business intensive program.