Results for "Swing"

April Varner

Award Winning NYC-based jazz vocalist and composer, April Varner, has often been described as a “direct, authentic singer…”, demonstrating “vocal dynamism… authentic jazz phrasing…electrifying numbers…” and possessing a “profound command of deep scat and vocalese…” (Marilyn Lester, The New York City Jazz Record). 

Recognizable by her curly red hair and voice of an “old soul”, April brings her listeners to another place- one long ago when the giants of jazz were still gracing the stage. Amassing several viral videos of 1 million+ views on her social media of her challenging solo transcriptions, cleverly crafted vocaleses and acapella renditions of the Great American Songbook, April’s voice can fit itself into a myriad of different molds. 

Crystal Clulee

Crystal Clulee is a powerful, charismatic singer with an impressive range and compelling stage presence. A life-long musician with a rich and soulful voice that is both powerful and nuanced, polished and effortless, Crystal has a warm, magnetic stage presence and superb musicality. With a repertoire that ranges from classic jazz standards to contemporary smooth jazz melodies, she offers a unique and engaging musical experience. Crystal's passion and joy shines through in every performance, captivating audiences of all ages and walks of life.

Crystal’s history includes a scholarship to the acclaimed Berklee College of Music where she majored in music business and vocal performance, followed by private study with renowned vocal coach, Mark Baxter. 

Michael Snow violin and keyboards

Abraham Pollack

Greg Hammontree

Greg Hammontree is a dynamic NYC multi-instrumentalist and composer, whose extensive credits range from The Blue Note NYC, Radio City Music Hall, Symphony Space, and The Jazz Standard to Bing Concert Hall (Stanford), The Kaufman Center (Kansas City), and Concert House Berlin (Germany). His appearances include Netflix, CBS, HBO, RAI, PBS, and ABC, and he's enjoyed opening for such popular names as Josh Groban, Ginuwine, and Christian McBride.

Hammontree currently tours internationally with The Queen’s Cartoonists. They regularly headline at performing arts centers and jazz festivals, and have opened for the New York Philharmonic. As an arranger and composer, Hammontree has worked for various artists such as Jason Trachtenburg (Late Night with Conan O'Brien & MTV) in addition to his own new music.

Stephanie Porter

Born: June 1, 1974

American Jazz Vocalist, Stephanie Porter was first heard nationally in the mid-nineties, reaching the top 100 Gavin National Jazz Radio Chart.  A world class vocalist with a rare contralto range, Porter has been on a total of 14-album releases, including her latest, “Radio Theatre”, where she penned seven original tracks. An album featuring multi-platinum trumpeter, Steve Madaio.  

Stephanie has shared stages with original jazz greats Ernestine Anderson, Buddy Catlet, Bob Hammer, Jack Percival and Red Kelly, to name a few.  She has also opened for contemporary artists, including Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan, Cameo, Kansas and more. As a special guest, Porter has worked with The Tacoma Symphony under the direction of both Harvey Felder and Sarah Ionnides, The Harry James Orchestra, The Radio Rhythm Orchestra,  The Full Circle Jazz Orchestra, SRJO and Roadside Attraction.  As a background vocalist, she has performed with The Steve Miller Band in concert. Stephanie also toured with Hit Explosion during the 1990's, a very popular dance band, booked regularly at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, The Seattle ShowBox, Fenix Underground, Kingdome and Key Arena.   

Jared T Hall

Born: May 1, 1985

Trumpeter, composer and educator Jared Hall hails from Spokane, Washington. He studied at Whitworth University, the Indiana University Jacobs School Of Music and the University Of Miami’s Frost School Of Music, where he received the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in 2015. His primary teachers include Terence Blanchard, Joey Tartell, Dan Keberle, Whit Sidener, David Baker and Brian Lynch, under whom he pursued his doctoral studies. Hall is the winner of the 2013 National Trumpet Competition – Jazz Division, and has performed and recorded with Paquito D’Rivera, Bob Hurst, John Daversa, Arturo Sandoval, Maria Schneider, Vincent Herring, Peter Erskine, Dave Liebman, Alan Pasqua, Brian Lynch, Ira Sullivan, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Terence Blanchard, Rick Margitza, Wycliffe Gordon, David Binney, Johnny Mathis, George Benson, Gloria Estefan, Fred Hersch, Shelly Berg, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra, and the Frost Concert Jazz Band.

Thisbe Vos

Thisbe Vos is a Dutch jazz singer and songwriter living in Los Angeles. With songs that sound like the traditional classics from the '40s and '50s, she is one of the bright new voices that is contributing to the revival of romanticism in jazz in the 21st century. Her fans say that they love her unique, clear voice that reminds them of Doris Day and Peggy Lee. Critics hail her songwriting as “the real thing,” likening her work to that of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. 

Thisbe grew up in a small town close to Amsterdam. At the age of 17 she joined the UK's No 1 swing band "The Jive Aces" as their first female singer and toured with them for three years, visiting 80 cities in Europe and the United States before the age of 21. 

David Jones

Born: May 28, 1948

As a jazz musician I have performed in the New England area, the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in Mississippi. I’ve played with Mississippi musicians Eden Brent, John Horton, Knight Bruce, Raphael Semmes, Donnie Brown and many others. My major influences as a saxophonist have been Dexter Gordon, Charlie Rouse, Stan Getz, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane and Gene Ammons. I have lectured on jazz and the lives and times of jazz musicians for both young people and adults.

Bob Sunda

    Bob Sunda was an incredible jazz musician and teacher. He was an upright bass player, piano player, and band leader whose music took him all the way to Tokyo. Born in Ohio, he played in Asia, New Orleans, Alaska, and eventually Memphis. He was a highly charismatic individual who made a positive impact on society. He especially made a positive impact on his students' lives when he began a teaching career in Memphis at Rhodes College.

    Bob was born in (..) to a family of (..)?. He began playing the bass at (..?) years old, and by (..) age he had accomplished (..?). He attended the Interlochen Academy of Arts at (..) age, and then moved to (..).