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Iva Jean Ambush

Iva's phrasing is magnificent and her scat is playful encouraging reminiscent of Ella, Sarah and Phyllis Hyman!

About Me

I returned to my birthplace and decided to pursue a professional music career. Most of my family on both sides sing and/or play an instrument. My maternal Great-Grandfather, Walter Bowie, organized the Bartonsville Coronet Band back in the early 1900's and he encouraged his brothers to join the band including W. Lester Bowie, father to trumpeter Lester Bowie (Art Ensemble of Chicago), Joseph Bowie (Defunkt), Composer and Multi-Reed Player, Byron Bowie and Guitarist Jonathan Townes (Live Art). And that's just to name of few. On the paternal side of the family most of the women sing and play for the church and several of the men are professional musicians, including Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra) and Pianist Allen Ambush. I was exposed to all types of music but most of the professional musicians in the family perform some form of Jazz and Gospel. I was raised in York, Pennsylvania but spent my summers in Frederick and the seed was planted to share life through the love of this art.

My first full CD, “REVERENCE,” is due for release Christmas 2010. I have two original composition, “All I Want” is a gospel and inspirational tune and the jazz tune “Reverence” is dedicated to those who have inspired me over the years.

Keep Jazz aLIVE!

My Jazz Story

I was first exposed to jazz as a kid at our annual family reunion, the Bowie-Thomas Family Union. I remember the 2nd line and the opening of the family celebration. For more than 60 years we have been celebrating life through this music Jazz. The Bartonsville AME Church (Frederick MD) and the Bartonsville Coronet Band were instrumental in the legacy of this family.