Carrie Jackson

I love jazz because it is America's Classical Art Form and we need to preserve it's legacy and contributions. I was first exposed to jazz as a young child of the 60's, my parent's listened to the swing music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie Band, being from Newark, NJ I loved to hear singer icon, Sarah Vaughan, also from Newark, I honed my vocal style listing to singers, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Carmen McRae, Dakota Staton, Nancy Wilson, and uniquely developed my own, I met my mentor and teacher Duke Anderson, big band leader, Norman Simmons, Lisle Atkinson, and many other great musicians. The best show I ever attended was seeing Nancy Wilson performing live... The first jazz record I bought was Sarah Vaughan, international recording also from Newark, NJ My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.