Results for "Ella Fitzgerald"

The Continuing Evolution of Kurt Elling

by Mathew Bahl
August 23, 2023

"I feel like at this point in my career I don't have to prove that I can do fifteen different things to greater or lesser degrees of expertise." Kurt Elling is discussing the genesis of his latest record, Flirting With Twilight. “I've made these roller coaster rides every time," says the Chicago-based jazz singer ...

Paula West and the Art of Making Art

by Mathew Bahl
August 23, 2023

Jazz singing is like a horse race. To the casual eye, all the horses in the stall look the same. But they aren't. Some have more talent. Some are better trained. Some have better jockeys. Some are more exciting to watch. But no matter what we see or don't see, what the odds might be, or ...

Tierney Sutton: An Instrumentalist’s Singer

by Mathew Bahl
August 22, 2023

"Jazz demands something of you," says Tierney Sutton. The Los Angeles based singer is discussing the challenge of selling complicated, improvised music in a culture addicted to simple, pre-packaged formulas. “Being barraged in the media teaches people not to engage, not to seek great art, not to listen with their own ears, not to ...

The Jazz Education of Ian Shaw

by Mathew Bahl
August 22, 2023

A few notable exceptions aside, great jazz musicians are not born; they are created. Most young musicians start by absorbing the work of important influences and then, through practice and live performance, decide what to keep, what to modify and what to discard. Ultimately, originality is less a byproduct of inspiration and more the end result ...

Carol Sloane on Singers and Songs: A Blindfold Test

by Mathew Bahl
August 21, 2023

Tell Carol Sloane you like one of her records and you will probably get the same reaction every time. She will smile graciously, thank you sincerely and then proceed politely to explain how she could have done the song better. Given her own exacting standards, not to mention her experience as a disc jockey and as ...

Why René Marie Can't Keep from Singing

by Mathew Bahl
August 20, 2023

"I don't like being bored while I'm singing," laughs René Marie. The Virginia-based vocalist and MAXJAZZ recording artist is explaining why she sings jazz. “You don't know what somebody's going to say, musically, or what somebody's going to do. If you go to a rock concert or pop, they want to hear the ...

The Jazz Historian: John Edward Hasse

by B.D. Lenz
August 17, 2023

Jazz is not simply a style of music; it is also a culture. The impact of this cultural force has had many ups and downs throughout the last century but, undeniably, has been felt worldwide across all nations and all languages. With such a storied past, it's important that an account of its beginnings and those ...

Martha J.

Born: June 2, 1964

Still young, she embarked on her journey into singing and guitar as an enthusiastic self-taught artist, driven by an unwavering passion for music.

Her career began in 1986, performing in various venues in Milan and Northern Italy as a singer and guitarist with a repertoire of renowned singer-songwriters and English and American bands such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, as well as English and Irish folk music with influences like The Pentangle.

She explored classical singing under the guidance of sopranos Edith Martelli, Mary Lindsay, and Eun Sun Park. Perfecting her vocal technique with the assistance of Andrea Tosoni and Monica Scifo, she immersed herself in the art of jazz through seminars led by luminaries such as Sara Serpa, Sheila Jordan, Kevin Mahogany, Rachel Gould, Patricia Williamson, Jeff Ramsey, and Dennis Montgomery. Additionally, she trained as an actress at the Studio Laboratorio dell'Attore and studied modern dance with Miguel Angel Cragnolini.

Rene Marie at the new Dazzle

by Geoff Anderson
August 14, 2023

Rene Marie Dazzle Denver, Colorado August 4, 2023 It's always a joy when singer Rene Marie comes to town. Friday night was special because she opened the new Dazzle nightclub with two sets and two more on Saturday night. Marie lived in Denver for several years and, as one ...

Take Five with Vocalist Vanessa Racci

by AAJ Staff
August 14, 2023

Meet Vanessa Racci Vanessa Racci is a jazz singer of Italian American descent with a passion for retro jazz and music made famous by Italian Americans. She has recorded two albums (Italiana Fresca and Jazzy Italian) and produces and performs in several shows that celebrate American jazz, Italian American music and their contributions to jazz and ...