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Alysa Haas
Please read about Alysa's Performance Career
About Me
Past and present collide with jazz vocalist Alysa Haas, but her upcoming performance at the
White Plains Jazz Festival on September 4 is sure to be beautifully timeless.
Combining Broadway standards and classics from the Great American Songbook with
contemporary pop music, Haas courageously steps beyond the predictable and safe; her
eclectic taste in covers reveals her stylistic and emotional range, baring no weaknesses as she
gracefully transitions from one genre to another.
Haas captures the emotional weight and film-noir sexiness to spring the standards back to
life. No stranger to the stage, Haas fuels these songs with a vibrant, larger-than-life
personality that is completely irresistible. “I’m very comfortable on the stage, having grown up
in a family of professional musicians,” Haas explained. “I especially love being a woman on the
stage. I get to be sultry and sexy and men seem to really enjoy it.”
Haas interprets jazz classics with respect and independent vision. These are not paint-by-
numbers remakes. Haas fuels each of the tracks with her own vibrant personality. “Slap That
Bass/Hit Me With a Hot Note” is brimming with giddy sensuality, and Haas is obviously having
a ball with the double entendres in the words.
Haas’ latest album, Spasm, has been receiving rave reviews in the jazz press, and Haas gives
credit to the notable veterans who graced the CD, including producer Jeffrey Klitz and pianist
Tedd Firth. “I feel I have been blessed with the musical arrangers and musicians who played
on my CD. I was very lucky to be connected with Jeffrey Klitz several years ago. He is a
fabulous pianist and creative arranger, and we have worked very closely to develop
arrangements that we both feel will work with my musical interpretation and storytelling,”
Haas said. “I was introduced to the fabulous Tedd Firth (piano/arranger) through Paul
Beaudry. When Tedd said he would be interested in working with me, I was thrilled because he
is one of the best music arrangers and pianists in the business.”
The Westchester-raised singer also incorporates comedy in her live show as well. “When
performing live, much of my humor falls into the banter that leads into the songs,” Haas
stated. “It's wonderful to hear people respond positively, with laughter, to the stories I tell on
the stage.”
Alysa is grateful to her wonderful musical arranger, Jeffrey Klitz, and to
the stellar jazz musicians Tedd Firth (arranger/piano), Paul Beaudry (arranger/piano), Bernd
Schoenhart (guitar), and Tony Jefferson (drums) in her band who contribute to the unique and
harmonious jazz interpretations presented on this CD. You can hear her
music at www.alysahaas.com