Results for "Lyricist/Songwriter"

Jodi Michelle Proznick

Sarah James

Born: July 1

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the NY metro area, Ms. James came from a family with musical influences from her grandfather, who came from County Cork, Ireland, and played traditional Irish music on accordian and parents who were big jazz fans with an extensive record collection of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Huddie Leadbetter, Lightnin' Hopkins and Frank Sinatra recordings. Piano lessons started at 10 and as a child listening to William B. Williams and his "Make Believe Ballroom" on radio, and DJ's such as Allison Steele, "The Nightbird" and Jonathan Schwartz, the music of the big bands and the Great American Songbook informed her sensibility

Lisa B aka Lisa Bernstein

Born: September 28

Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) is a unique combination: award-winning literary poet and riveting singer, performer, and recording artist.

HER LITERARY POETRY is featured in her second book God in Her Ruffled Dress (10/23, What Books Press), her most recent full-length record "Reverberant" (Piece of Pie Records), her first book The Transparent Body (Wesleyan University Press), the chapbook Anorexia (Five Fingers Poetry), and 60+ literary magazines and anthologies, including Antaeus, Caliban, City Lights Review, Field, Kenyon Review, Lilith, Ploughshares, Poetry International, Tikkun, and Zyzzyva. 

Molly Skuse

Born: March 27, 1970

Molly Skuse graduated from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where she studied Vocal Jazz Performance and was recognized for her vocal prowess by Down Beat magazine's student music awards. At the New School, Molly drew inspiration from many Jazz luminaries; She has studied with Sheila Jordan, Reggie Workman, Kenny Werner, Cecil Bridgewater  and the late Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, and Jon Hendricks, to name a few. 

While living in New York City, in the ‘90s, Molly paid her dues gigging 3-5 nights a week in downtown clubs including the Village Gate, The Knitting Factory, Small's, and Nuyorican Poets café. Molly has given concerts of her own compositions, throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, with grant support from Meet the Composer and Brooklyn Arts council.

Patricia Barber

Born: November 8, 1955

In 2011 Patricia Barber has just finished a new 'live' album of the Patricia Barber Quartet recorded ' by Chris Grabowski at the wildly popular Green Mill residency. “Monday Night, vol2” is available through her website: patriciabarber.com She is also putting the finishing touches on other Floyd Records projects, one a DVD entitled Patricia Barber & Kenny Werner— 'Live' in Concert . This chronicles a resplendent evening with Patricia and Kenny and two 9' Steinway pianos at the sold-out 1000 seat Pick- Staiger Auditorium—this DVD will be available in the spring

Anita Besong

Born: January 25

Anita Besong is a talented vocalist, flautist and pianist from Birmingham, Alabama. Currently residing in Georgia, she is one of the South’s most respected vocalists and musicians, recognized for her smooth vocal style and range. Anita is an Opera graduate from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and has performed as both a featured and guest artist throughout the U.S. and abroad with artists such as Brian McKnight and Flyte Tyme (Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) on both live stage performances and recording studio projects. Since childhood, Anita has been captivated by the energy that music bears

Lisa Marie Simmons

“I find in writing songs that I’m often walking that thin line – I’m trying to make a personal, individual experience universal,” muses singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Simmons.  

From her homebase on the coast of Italy’s beautiful Lake Garda, Simmons collaboratively leads two different ensembles – Hippie Tendencies and NoteSpeak – with keyboardist, arranger, and songwriter Marco Cremaschini, each deeply but differently informed by the struggles and triumphs in Simmons’ own life.

Born in Colorado Springs (CO), Simmons survived several troubled adoptions and foster homes. She found solace singing in her church choir and was featured soloist with the Boulder (CO) Youth Choir. At nineteen, Simmons moved to New York City to study theater and music at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and perform in various pop, funk, soul, blues and jazz bands throughout the Manhattan club circuit at night. “Music is my savior, and my past has taught me empathy,” she reflects.

Lori Hendrix

Born: November 7

With a famous last name like Hendrix and raised in the same neighborhood that nurtured the likes of Nat King Cole, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, Ramsey Lewis, Chaka Khan and Minnie Riperton, it was only natural that Lori Hendrix would be interested in music. Possessing vocals in the range of such musical divas as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, Lori came from a musical household on both sides of her family including an aunt who enjoyed a jazz career in the 40's, an aunt who trained vocally with opera singer, Grace Bumbry, and a cousin whose single, "Whatchu Gonna Do With Me Now" became an iconic R&B single

Maria Schafer

Born: October 6

With a twinkle in her eye and a dazzling, velveteen voice well-informed by the Great American Songbook, singer Maria Schafer presents a contemporary jazz voice for the 21st century and has performed in some of the biggest jazz festivals and venues in North America, Europe, and Japan while firmly establishing a home base in Los Angeles. Two years spent touring full-time as the star female vocalist of the international Glenn Miller Orchestra have cultivated an alluring and honest stage presence while her albums "To Know Love" and "No Broken Hearts" garner weekly airplay on international and domestic jazz radio stations alike, including L.A.'s KKJZ 88.1

Gillian Margot

Born: June 23

Following her acclaimed debut Black Butterfly, Toronto native Gillian Margot builds on her unique and emotive interpretations of American Standards with Power Flower, a deeply soothing homage to her influences in the Jazz, Pop, and Funk of the 70s and 80s. Margot spent two and a half years building the work; selecting seasoned titans Geoffrey Keezer, Billy Kilson, Seamus Blake, Ingrid Jensen, and Munyungo Jackson, and working the arrangements and recordings to her complete satisfaction. Included in the liner notes is the phrase ‘All vocals recorded without use of any pitch correction technology,’ which sums up the care and attention she has paid to Power Flower