About
Behind The Vision
Meet the Lumpkins
The Mental Note is the shared vision of John and Jessica Lumpkin, a husband-and-wife team, married for 17 years and proud parents of three daughters: Janelle, Jordyn, and Julia.
Grounded in faith, family, creativity, and community, they created The Mental Note to be more than a music venue. It is a space to feel inspired, restored, connected, and at home.
John Lumpkin
John brings the sound and soul of The Mental Note.
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Artist, jazz educator, producer, and composer
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Founder of the Jazz Discovery Series and JL Institute programs
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More than 20 years of experience producing live jazz throughout the Southeast
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Curates performances, books exceptional talent, and develops jazz education programs
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Builds meaningful relationships with musicians, educators, and jazz lovers across the country
John is the artistic visionary behind The Mental Note, creating an authentic, listening-centered jazz experience that honors the music, the artists, and the stories behind every song.
Jessica Lumpkin
Jessica brings the heart of wellness and belonging.
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor
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Founder of Bloom Imperfectly
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Founder of Imperfectly Perfect Counseling Services
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More than 10 years of experience in counseling, creative wellness, and community programming
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Leads events, wellness experiences, and community partnerships at The Mental Note
Jessica believes people heal and grow when they have space to be fully human. Her work helps make The Mental Note a welcoming place for reflection, creativity, connection, and emotional wellness.
Our Shared Vision
Together, John and Jessica are creating Northeast Florida’s premier jazz destination and a cultural home where:
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Jazz, storytelling, and creativity come alive
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People can experience music up close in an intimate setting
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Community, connection, and belonging are at the center
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Creative expression supports emotional wellness and restoration
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Every guest is welcome to pause, reflect, and simply be
Whether you join us for an unforgettable performance, a meaningful conversation, a creative wellness experience, or simply a place to exhale, The Mental Note welcomes you.
Here, jazz is more than something you hear—it is the everyday soundtrack of connection.
A Cultural Rhythm for Jacksonville
The Mental Note Programming
The Mental Note is creating programming that is consistent, artist-centered, and community-centered. Its work includes:
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Monday-night jazz jam sessions that create a dependable gathering place for musicians, audiences, students, and jazz lovers.
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Artist residencies that give musicians time, support, visibility, and a serious platform to create, collaborate, teach, perform, and grow.
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The JL Institute, which supports learning, artist development, professional growth, and meaningful pathways for emerging musicians.
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The Jazz Discovery Series, which introduces audiences and students to jazz through performances, conversations, clinics, masterclasses, and immersive cultural experiences.
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Creative wellness experiences that integrate storytelling, artistic expression, and mental health-informed prevention in ways that feel welcoming, accessible, and never clinical.
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Community partnerships that bring together artists, educators, mental health providers, local businesses, neighbors, and cultural leaders to create a lasting jazz legacy in Jacksonville.
The weekly jam sessions will serve as the pulse of The Mental Note’s growing ecosystem. By gathering musicians and audiences regularly, these sessions help build trust among artists, establish audience habits, strengthen artistic community, and create an authentic jazz identity from the beginning.
Creating Pathways for Artists
The Mental Note is committed to creating real opportunities for emerging and rising musicians—not simply presenting events.
Through the JL Institute, Jazz Discovery Series, residencies, masterclasses, clinics, ensemble experiences, and professional development opportunities, the organization connects students and artists with the tools, relationships, mentorship, visibility, and performance opportunities needed to advance their creative journeys.
For young musicians, this may mean discovering jazz for the first time, learning directly from working artists, joining an ensemble, attending a clinic, or finding a welcoming stage on which to grow.
For professional and emerging artists, it can mean access to residencies, collaborative spaces, audience development, teaching opportunities, and a community that values both artistic excellence and human connection.
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