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Tania Grubbs

JAZZ VOCALIST, PITTSBURGH, PA

About Me

TANIA GRUBBS Vocalist, Producer, Composer

Tania Grubbs has an extensive vocal range and has a interesting take on unique literature. Grubbs has been singing as long as she can remember, in many different venues & genres. A graduate of Youngstown State University, located in Youngstown, Ohio while a student there she gravitated toward singing and learning about jazz starting with the classic American Songbook. Tania focused on listening to every vocalist she could get her hands on. Whenever possible, she would sing, and a little over 20 plus years ago at a jazz session is where she met her now husband bassist, Jeff Grubbs. Jeff’s career landed the couple in South Florida where they lived for 5 years. While in Florida Tania sang in many jazz clubs, performed in numerous concert setting and theatre productions. Tania was a featured vocalist with the Florida Philharmonic, and a “voice” of Boca Raton Pops Orchestra for 3 years. In 1996, Jeff accepted a position with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he is no celebrating his 23rd season.

Today you will most likely hear Tania fronting their own jazz quartet, The Tania & Jeff Grubbs Quartet, featuring Jeff on Bass.Tania is the Co- Music Director of the Fairmont Pittsburgh helping to oversee Jazz at Andys, a 3 night per week series located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

While in Pittsburgh, Tania has been a four-time recipient of the Ready for Life Grants, founded by the Heinz Foundation, working with young children through music and movement. She has also been a featured vocalist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Jazzlive Series, Pittsburgh Jazz Society, Washington Jazz Wine & Jazz Festival, Westmoreland Jazz Society as well as Butler Jazz Society. Tania remains active by touring nationally and conducts masterclasses for high schools and colleges. 2019 Tania wrote and produced a series of six/80 minute concerts, titled the I AM Series Vols1-6, Tania explains them as “mini documentaries”. The concerts were debuted at City of Asylum’s Alphabet City throughout 2019. The I AM creative is artistically encouraged and artistically supported by the City of Asylum and the Heinz Endowment Small Arts Initiative.

In 2014 Tania released her debut CD; Lost in the Stars...”as a mother of three and a woman who has been given the privilege to revisit the thing she loves to do-sing; I feel that now more than ever I have something to sing about”

NEWEST RELEASE ~LAUNCHED 2020 CD “Live at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar” Tania Grubbs Quintet featuring David Budway piano, Ron Afiff guitar, Jeff Grubbs bass, James Johnson III drums.

“It is obvious, listening to Live At Maureen’s Jazz Cellar, that Tania Grubbs deserves to be much better known. Her singing is classy, very musical, and a consistent delight” ~ Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 11 books including The Jazz Singers

Jeff and Tania are proud parents of three great kids, and they are honored to call Pittsburgh their home and to be part of it’s rich musical legacy.

For more information visit: http://taniagrubbs.com https://mobile.twitter.com/oftising Facebook: Tania Grubbs Instagram: Tania Grubbs 2020 RELEASE LIVE at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar Tania Grubbs Quintet available on all streamwaves http://hyperurl.co/km46n6 Lost in the Stars by Tania Grubbs https://itun.es/us/cIT41 https://youtu.be/Lr2L5v7VPWU http://www.pandora.com/tania-grubbs/fans https://open.spotify.com/artist/44fGt8ha2jZ0JnD Z1SPnLv?si=DpJEi13iTq6v9ZOSE_rA5Q

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because...I makes me feel. I was first exposed to jazz...was in my 9th grade year of high school, I was approached by our jazz band director who asked me to be featured as a vocalist with the jazz ensemble, I sang two Duke Ellington tunes and was hooked ever since. I’ve heard live, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie all of whom I LOVE! The best show I ever attended was...Betty Carter at the Hollywood Jazz Fest, Dizzy Was on the bill too! The first jazz record I bought was...Ella songs Gershwin My advice to new listeners...listen, really listen to instrumentalists and vocalists, sing the melody first (know the melody)!!! and keep listening and supporting music in a local level, national and international level