Results for "Great American Songbook"

Lizzie Thomas

Born: April 17

Lizzie Thomas is a premier jazz vocalist in New York City, performing alongside some of the genre's most iconic names. Known for her storytelling, adventurous arrangements, and stunning vocal ability, Lizzie’s dedication to the Great American Songbook has solidified her place in the city's vibrant jazz scene.

Born in Pittsburgh, raised in the South, and educated at Belmont in Nashville, Lizzie burst onto the New York City jazz scene. Her critically acclaimed albums, New Sounds From The Jazz Age and Duo Encounters, established her as a leading voice in jazz. The NYC Jazz Record named her one of the best concerts you can attend in New York.

Jennifer Derrick Adams

Born: January 2

For the love of it is my first studio album. As a little girl I would tell anyone who would listen, “when I grow up i’m going to be a singer”. Here I am grown up, having been for quite sometime now and this debut is the realization of this life-long dream. Over the years I would step into the Seattle Jazz scene, scratch the itch, then step back out to manage my day gig, be a mother and deal with the crushing self doubt that can accompany standing on a stage and singing in front of strangers. I exchanged my passion for pragmatism. Singing in private, showing up at open mic nights, attending workshops and it occurred to me that it was time to put it on record, for the love of the music; the love for my son, may everything he does, and you do, be for the love of it.

Ryan Baker

Born: September 2, 1978

Based in Las Vegas, vocalist Ryan Baker has been singing in all types of venues and appearing in production shows all over North America for well over a decade. Originally from Long Island, NY, Ryan moved to Vegas in October 2003, where he began performing at weddings and corporate events at just about every major casino property in town, with performances ranging from Frank Sinatra “sound-alike” to impersonating the man himself. In 2005, Baker helped create and became one of the stars of the original tribute show “Shades of Sinatra”, which received the Entertainment Consumers’ Exchange “Tribute Show of the Year” award in 2007, 2012, & 2014

Don Mopsick

Born: November 7, 1950

Don Mopsick began his musical career as a teenager in his hometown of Linden, NJ, performing on trumpet and bass guitar for local ethnic dances. He attended Rutgers University and The Manhattan School of Music. His first professional gigs were with Rosemary Clooney and Ralph Sharon around Boston.

Mopsick’s interests in jazz have always been eclectic. While in New York, he performed on tuba and bass with The Smith Street Society, Lee Castle (with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra), Jim Chapin, John Carisi, Benny Ventura, the Paul Jefferey Octet and others.

After a move to Ft. Myers FL in 1977, Mopsick began private study on double bass with Lucas Drew at the University of Miami. He moved to Orlando in 1983 and began work at Walt Disney World, Circus World, Rosie O’Grady’s, and as a free-lance bassist state-wide. Until 1986 he was a full-time staff musician at Walt Disney World. During his time in Orlando, Don played concert dates for, among others, The Jazz Club of Sarasota, The Treasure Coast Jazz Society (Vero Beach), the Gainesville Friends of Jazz, the Central Florida Jazz Society, and was a jazz clinician at Valdosta (Georgia) State University.

Scarlett and Bob Finney

Born: May 14

Scarlett has been singing ever since she can remember. She got her start singing in local clubs in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri while still a teenager. Her first paying gig was at The Continental, one of the city's then upscale lounges. She was stunned when the manager put $35 in her hand for doing something she enjoyed so much.

Since moving to California, Scarlett has performed with the the Dr. Bob Finney Jazz Combo in numerous venues to standing room only crowds at the Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge, Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club, the Sky Room atop the Breaker's Hotel, the Long Beach Museum of Art, Rancho Los Cerritos, the Museum of Latin American Art, Duke's Place at the Balboa Bay Club, the Four Olives Restaurant, the Ristorante da Vinci, and the Madison Restaurant

Petra van Nuis

Born: August 1, 1975

Petra van Nuis (pronounced Pay-tra van Nouse) is a Chicago-based jazz vocalist who has been described in Downbeat Magazine as having "a light, gorgeous and fairly delicate voice...a gift for melody and plenty of rhythmic confidence." All About Jazz Magazine calls her music "hauntingly atmospheric and filled with creative substance...poetic, moving and subtly provocative." Famed jazz critic and author of "Singing Jazz" Bruce Crowther says "van Nuis is not as well known internationally as should be the case although she has a devoted following in Japan. An exceptionally gifted singer, she has a light yet subtly textured sound and is always delightfully melodic....lyrics are clearly very important to her and she delivers them with admirable sincerity."

Gretje Angell

Born: July 25

Jazz vocalist Gretje Angell grew up in smoky, dimly-lit clubs as a little-girl roadie for her jazz-drummer father. Her grandfather was also a jazz drummer, so you could say Gretje was born to swing. “If it doesn’t groove then I don’t give it a sh*#,” the Los Angeles-based singer says with a good chuckle. Gretje ascended the bandstand on her own time. She worked through a heavy dose of stage fright, welcomed motherhood, and studied classical and opera prior launching her jazz career. Today, she announces her debut, "…in any key", a classic jazz vocal album—the kind of long player you put on while savoring wine and cooking and cleaning

Moonglow Duo

Dennis Gittens

Dennis Gittens, an East Coast native, grew up listening to the music in his grandmother’s music collection. The combination of Jazz and Salsa music in her collection influences him to this day. In 2001, he moved to New York, where he attended as many live jazz performances as he could, learning from each and every performer. His desire to sing like his jazz heroes took root in his 30s as he began to study the art of jazz. Soon, he was bringing his engaging style to audiences all over San Diego. He has also performed several times in NYC at places such as the world famous Smoke Jazz Club. Dennis tells a story with his vocals and is one singer to keep an ear open for!

Shirley Crabbe

Born: February 18, 1963

Native New Yorker and 2019 New York Bistro Award winner, Shirley Crabbe has been hailed as possessing a voice that “must surely appeal to all who love good jazz singing.” Her “almost Ella Fitzgerald–like vibe glows…” says Downbeat Magazine's John Ephland on her 2011 debut recording HOME featuring the legendary saxophonist Houston Person. Her 2018 Top 50 album BRIDGES (2018) has received rave reviews and spotlights her collaborations with renowned pianists Donald Vega, and David Budway. Shirley has been a guest on syndicated radio programs such as “Jazz Inspired” hosted by Judy Carmichael, and Steve Cuden's "StoryBeat" to name a few, and currently performs at jazz clubs, festivals and concert series in the US