Results for "Swing"

Todd Gordon

Born: June 7, 1958

Aged 44, Todd Gordon was a late arrival to the jazz scene but quickly established himself as “one of Britain’s most popular singers and entertainers” (Scottish Television). An avid Beatles fan until the age of 11, his musical horizons broadened when he heard Frank Sinatra's "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" album. From that moment, he collected almost every recording by Ol' Blue Eyes whilst expanding his interest in jazz and swing, encompassing numerous other renowned singers and instrumentalists.

Further inspiration came in 1975 when he met Ella Fitzgerald prior to one of her shows. During her concert, she invited him on stage and sang "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" specially to him. Since then, Gordon has been fortunate enough to meet many more of his idols - including Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Count Basie, Woody Herman, George Shearing and Tony Bennett.

Jason Whatley

Born: April 14, 1979

Jason Whatley is a jazz pianist and composer based in Tasmania, Australia. His compositions admit the unmistakable influence of great jazz modernists like Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus and Wayne Shorter. He leads a quintet featuring fellow Tasmanian musicians Michael Woods (trumpet/flugelhorn), Damon Warner (saxophones), Hamish Houston (bass) and Beau Thomas (drums). He has released two albums with this lineup, Newfound Cool (2013) and On the Beak (2020).

Sam Merrick

Born: January 1

Sam Merrick is a British singer of ever growing repute. He has had the privilege of sharing the stage & performing with some of the top names in Jazz such as; Ian Shaw, Jacqui Dankworth, Claire Martin & Wynton Marsalis.

​Upon completion of his training at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2014, Sam leapt straight into touring the UK extensively, as a soloist with the renowned ‘Nick Ross Orchestra’ which has led to further appearances performing with the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, Len Phillips Big Band and many other projects on the London, UK & European Circuits.

Luke Carlsen

Having been a fan of jazz and big band music since childhood, Luke Carlsen naturally began singing in the genre very early. While still in college, his big band professor, Albert Alva, introduced him to legendary jazz singer, Barbara Morrison, at Steamers Jazz Club in Southern California. Morrison invited the young singer on the stage with her to sing “Fly Me to the Moon.” The crowd erupted with applause after his performance, and his career in jazz performance unfolded. In the spring of 2016, Carlsen and his band played a Frank Sinatra tribute at Barbara Morrison’s club for Jazz and Blues Month

Jim Altamore

Jim Altamore is a versatile singer of popular standards from what is known today as the Great American Songbook. Jim grew up during a time of transition……the music world was changing with the arrival of the Beatles. However, his family always appreciated the true American music of jazz and swing and kept him in touch with the great singers like Sinatra, Ella and Bennett. Jim’s indoctrination in the world of music started on the right path….and it never changed! Fortunately, Jim met some jazz musicians who encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer. He worked hard at his craft and eventually let the public know that he was ready to sing for them

Kyle MacLeod

Born: June 16, 1984

Son Of Ugly is a Brighton-based instrumental 5-piece, formed by multi-instrumentalist and composer Kyle Macleod in 2016. Born from a love of film soundtracks, B-movie sci-fi and 60's cartoons, Son Of Ugly created their own brand of music. The band's epic, theatrical style of cinematic rock, pulverizes you one moment and caresses you the next, with each song taking you on a different journey as the lead character in an ever-evolving soundscape. Kyle Macleod's synths and effects add a dynamic element to the music that can inflict punishing terror one minute and antiquated beauty the next, with a side-helping of kooky 60's lounge organs, and pervy kazoo

Eric Seddon

Eric Seddon is a clarinetist, saxophonist, and jazz composer based in Cleveland, known for the big, warm sound of his vintage instruments and his blues informed, lyrical lines.

Wolfgang Seligo

Born: December 7, 1968

Pianist and composer Wolfgang Seligo is very much at home in many divergent musical styles. His original music is influenced by jazz, rock, and modern classical music and driven by a funky and powerful sound from the piano. He brought his work onto the international stage in various formations but also solo. He gave concerts in the Forbidden City of Peking, on the Red Square of Moscow, but also in Morocco, Senegal, Chicago and Washington. Other performances include festivals and concert series in Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States. After jazz studies in Vienna, Wolfgang Seligo gathered his first experiences as a composer, producer and musician in the early 1990s. In addition to his participation in various ensembles in the Viennese scene, he cofounded together with Dhafer Yousseff and Gerhard Reiter the ethnic jazz project "Ziryab" (Extraplatte) which toured in Austria and Germany. He also pursued other activities, including individual activities as a composer and a co-producer for some regional music projects (Ariola BMG, EMI) and working as an advertising and media composer for radio, TV and cinema.

Jennifer Roberts

Born: April 6

Jennifer is an accomplished Singer and Actress, with a Musical Theatre background, and experience in television and film. She is a classically-trained vocalist, who “excels at ballads, and in a jazz or swing mode, and can even have fun with country ” – William Wolf. With a BFA in Theatre from Wayne State University, she later studied acting with Uta Hagen. Jennifer, whose regional credits include Sarah Brown opposite Broadway leading man Tom Wopat in Guys and Dolls, serves up entertaining, exhilarating, jazz-infused shows that highlight her wide vocal range. Drawing on her own diverse and eclectic background – she’s been a symphony soloist, motivational trainer, high school drama director, Opryland theme park singer and dancer, and traveled the country as an automotive industry spokeswoman— Jennifer’s heartfelt, theatrical performances showcase her unique blend of drama and humor

Shelly Berg

Born: August 18

Shelly Berg is a Steinway piano artist and multi-Grammy nominated arranger and producer. His latest jazz trio album Alegría (ArtistShare) features bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and drummer Dafnis Prieto. His previous album Gershwin Reimagined: An American in London was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by José Serebrier (Decca Gold).

The All Music Guide says “Shelly Berg is one of the finest pianists around in the early 21st century playing modern mainstream jazz.” His recording project The Deep with bassist Dave Finck on Chesky Records is widely praised for its versatility and virtuosity with 4.5 stars from DownBeat magazine