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Janice Jarrett

Singer, Lyricist and Arranger Contemporary Jazz

About Me

Working her way through multiple music degrees, Janice Jarrett sang blues, soul, rock, classical and new music, adding a few world musics along the way.

In her own bands, it was jazz.

Although rooted in the heart of the jazz singer’s deep and diverse legacy, early on Jarrett expanded her book with lesser known gems and range-challenging vocalizations. Coming up alongside some of the best in jazz, she kept finding original music, too often instrumental music, that moved and inspired her. Her thoughtful, respectful lyric writing came naturally out of her affinity and appreciation for these composers, and their work.

Before long, she had a rich collection of new interpretations. Some she arranged to form the bulk of Borrowed Time’s book, her LA-based five-voice jazz group, including works by Kenny Barron, George Cables, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Russ and Moacir Santos. In time, like Cables's “Blue Nights,” Barron's “Illusion,” Hubbard's “Skydive,” and Santos's “Kathy” and “Jequie,” composers brought more compositions to her for her lyrics.

What makes a musician's work worth a good listen?  That mysterious mix of familiar with fresh? Or simply, originality, the personal ‘voice’ jazz musicians say you must find to really play the music? Over time, Jarrett’s lyrics have quietly traveled on their own from singer to singer - to New York, to Paris, to Japan, Australia. Like Jarrett, these singers heard something they wanted to sing. Jarrett has finally released her own CD, Blue Nights & Sunshower, an overdue first look at a unique library of a singular jazz ‘voice’ showcasing standard-worthy, beautiful compositions.