Toscanellie Marcelain

Jazz Vocalist, bandleader and clinician, Toscanellie Lady T. Marcelain features the songs of the hottest years of vocal jazz. A national and international performance favorite, she has enjoyed great success with her dedication to the preservation and perpetuation of America's jazz.

Lady T. held an 8-year Friday and Saturday night residency at the Ciao Bella Ristorante/Pacific Blue Seafood-Steaks- Oysters Restaurant in Glen Ellyn, IL. Other venues have included Salt Creek Wine Bar (Brookfield, IL), Blue Star Bistro and Wine Bar (Chicago, IL), CHANT (Hyde Park, IL), Philander's (Oak Park, IL), the Sushi House Dragon Lounge (Oak Park, IL), Cyrano's Farm Kitchen (Chicago, IL), the Jazz Showcase (Chicago, IL), Vittorio's (Glen Ellyn, IL), Scores Nite Club (Harwood Heights, IL), Roth's Steak House (Lemont, IL), Bistro America (Geneva, IL), Erik & Me (St. Charles, IL), as well as Jazz Vespers for Chicago-area churches, Northern Illinois Libraries, corporate, private and charity events.

Lady T. has performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, the Maywood Jazz Fest, the East Dundee Wine Festival, and the Hazel Crest Village Festival. She has had several appearances on the Sunday Evening Jazz Series hosted by the Hyde Park Jazz Society at 'Room 43.' T. has been an annual main stage performer for the Chicago Merchandise Mart December One of a Kind Show and Sale, since 2004. Lady T. is an annual performer at the Jazz Vespers hosted by the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (Niles, IL) and she has performed at Grace Lutheran Church (Glen Ellyn, IL).

Known to her international listeners as the 'American Lady with a lot of jazz to give,' T. has been a representative for America's jazz at international and cultural jazz events in Europe, East Africa, West Africa and the former Soviet Union. She hosted a live jazz telecast from the Bass Line Jazz Club she managed in Accra, Ghana; organized, booked, and presented the first-ever Jazz Festival in Lusaka, Zambia and performed at many international jazz clubs and hotels, including performance residencies at the Inter-Continental and Pamodzi Hotels. T. has also presented and directed theater events, and does commercial voiceovers. Toscanellie is a very active mentor, clinician and resource for the jazz community, emphasizing opportunities for young and new jazz listeners, vocalists and musicians. She is an enthusiastic associate for the observance of Jazz Appreciation Month every April on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, organizing, presenting and reporting jazz events throughout the year, and submitting jazz information and materials for archiving this important occasion.

T. has been selected twice for the "Best of the Best" outstanding performances recognized by the Library Administrators of Northern Illinois, and is listed in their three-year publication for 2009 and the upcoming 2012 publication as highly recommended for library adult programming throughout Illinois. Toscanellie is a songwriter and publisher member of ASCAP. Her CD discography includes ‘Bringing Back Some Basics’, ‘A Celebration for Jazz (live at Ciao Bella Ristorante)’, ‘The Lady T. Trio’, ‘Christmas the Wright Way’ with the John Wright Quartet, and her latest release, ‘Speak Low.’ Her recordings are heard on radio and internet play lists.

Lady T. is a terrific performer with a super personality! She possesses a distinctly memorable vocal style and superb musicianship. Lady T. is someone every jazz lover should know!

Awards

T. has been selected twice for the "Best of the Best" outstanding performances recognized by the Library Administrators of Northern Illinois, and is listed in their three-year publication for 2009 and the upcoming 2012 publication as highly recommended for library adult programming throughout Illinois.