Results for "Vocalist"

New York City Gay Men's Chorus

Born: August 13, 1980

The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus is currently celebrating its 27h season. and will conclude the season with a performance, Take the A Train: The Music of Billy Strayhorn, on June 18 at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. The Chorus has been acclaimed by America’s leading music critics as a men’s chorus of outstanding musical accomplishment, and has established itself as a cornerstone in the musical life of New York City, bearing a message of equality and freedom by openly gay performers. It has engaged leading composers to illuminate its mission, including John Corigliano, David Conte, William Bolcom, Libby Larsen and Ned Rorem, leading to over 60 premieres, adding significantly to the repertory of choral music

Lance Hayward Singers

Born: January 1, 1984

Pianist Lance Hayward formed The Lance Hayward Singers in 1984. In his early years growing up in Bermuda, Lance developed a career as a jazz pianist as well as an arranger for American Air Force bands there. He quickly became the most sought-after pianist on the island, and was frequently called to play for important visiting singers such as Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan and even Marvin Gaye. He also formed an all-male chorus, the Mu--En Chorale, that performed regularly for more than 20 years, and became his vehicle for a prolific amount of interesting choral arrangements. Fifteen years after moving to New York and working steadily as a solo jazz pianist, Lance formed The Lance Hayward Singers (the name was chosen by the group, not by the Director!), and was the group's sole arranger

Alexis Cole

Born: January, 1976

Called "one of the great voices of today," by Jonathan Schwartz, Alexis Cole has been compared to classic jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Anita O'Day. She's performed with the Boston Pops and New York Philharmonic on stage at venues from Avery Fisher Hall to the Kennedy Center. She records for Motéma Music, NY, Chesky Records, NY and Venus Records, Japan. Her nine recordings, which feature musical luminaries such as Fred Hersch, Eric Alexander, Matt Wilson, Harry Pickens, Don Braden and Pat LaBarbara, have received high praise in the jazz press and are spun on radio world-wide

Frances Nero

African-American and Cherokee descent. Born--Asheville, NC. Attended Stephens-Lee High School. Other professions--Cosmetologist & Makeup Artist, Cosmetology Instructor, Linen Designer, Cosmetic Entrepreneur and former Motown recording artist with a jazz background. Dinah Washington inspired me to become a singer with clear diction. Actress Doris Day was also an inspiration. I have written mini-plays and produced them in lounges. I have written and produced a movie, [i]Reject Island[/i] and the accompanying soundtrack, [i]Frances Nero sings Reject Island[/i]. I have scripted and produced my autobiography, [i]Mountains, Motown & Motion Pictures[/i]

Dawn Alexis

Despite her small stature, this powerhouse performer will surprise you with the strength and precision of her vocals. Exuding a wonderful stage presence, Dawn Alexis commands her three-octave range with a remarkable agility and an unfailing sense of swing. Born the fifth of seven children, Dawn Alexis Suchoboki began her professional career fresh out of high school with 3 years of full time work in musical revue and improvised comedy, performing popular tunes such as “Lion Sleeps Tonight”, “Proud Mary” (Tina Turner), “Midnight Train To Georgia”, and several Aretha Franklin greats (“Chain of Fools”, “Think”, “Respect”, “House that Jack Built”)

Diane Nalini

Born: April

Diane Nalini’s new album, 'Kiss Me Like That,' is a collection of 13 songs celebrating humanity's fascination with the sky. From the title track's infectious rhythms, to ‘Cuando sale la luna’ - Diane’s sultry ode to the moon, her original compositions on this album are all influenced by the wonders of the sky and stars. Her six original songs are perfectly complemented by classic jazz standards chosen carefully for this project, like "Stardust", "Skylark", "They All Laughed", as well as her intimate interpretations of folk & pop songs such as James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" and Sting's "Valparaiso." Songs from Kiss Me Like That have already attracted considerable interest in the media, being previewed nationally on CBC Radio's "The Sunday Edition", "Fresh Air", "As It Happens", "Metro Morning" and CBC Radio Two's documentary programme, "Inside the music." It has also garnered praise and airplay on Radio-Canada's "Espace Musique." Maclean’s Magazine, Canada's national news magazine, also did a full-page article on her recently. Singer/songwriter Diane Nalini's previous album put a uniquely modern spin on the words of William Shakespeare

Jerry Costanzo

Born: November 8, 1959

“Bringing The Great American Song Book into the 21st century”. "Dedicated to the preservation of one of Americas true art forms." In another time and place, Jerry Costanzo wouldn’t be interpreting the Great American Songbook. It’s likely he’d be conceiving it. Midwest Record deemed the luminous vocalist and bandleader “A cat that knows how to swing it and grab the Vegas vibe that most of us never were old enough to experience,” while Jazz.com raved, “As all great singers do, he tells a story.” Raised in a musical family, Costanzo’s musical stencil was etched with the likes of Sinatra, Sammy, Dino, Perry Como, Count Basie, Mel Torme, Jerry Vale and Nat King Cole

Janine Alondres

Born: July 31, 1965

Janine Alondres is a jazz recording artist who focuses on smooth jazz and contemporary jazz standards. Ms. Alondres now resides in New York City, but was born and raised in San Francisco, California to parents from the island of Oahu in Hawaii. In November 2002, she released her full-length debut CD, dreams do come true, receiving positive reviews and accolades: “I met Janine when she asked me to play harmonica on her CD, I only play on projects I believe in so I had a lot of questions...she sent me a rough copy of her record and was floored by both her voice and the unique and refreshing approach to these timeless American Jazz Classics

Debbie Cunningham

Born: August 15, 1965

"Soulful, romantic, elegant and sophisticated, an exquisite taste of jazz." These are just a few of the words that listeners have used to describe Debbie Cunningham's music. Vocalist Debbie Cunningham studied classical music at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Although a Tennessean for the last 2 decades, Cunningham returned to the city of brotherly love to record her debut CD with jazz pianist, Barry Sames. Sames had hounded her throughout her undergrad to give jazz a try but she resisted. Twenty years later, Sames won out. The result is an eclectic mix of jazz standards, pop tunes and an original bossa nova penned by Cunningham and a close friend

Rana Farhan

Jazz siren Rana Farhan proclaims on her web site: “Jazz is peace.” She’s not just borrowing 60s flower child rhetoric. She knows firsthand. Born in Iran, Rana grew up listening to any albums she could get her hands on, fostering a love for American blues artists like Brownie McGhee, Leadbelly, and Johnny Winter; while rockin’ to Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Soon she was begging her older brother to teach her guitar and singing through a microphone she had plugged into an old radio in her families living room. Rana left Iran after the religious revolution made her artistic pursuits nearly impossible and she soon found herself in New York City, exploring her talents in lacquer paintings, restoring antique furniture, and soaking in the sounds and music of Manhattan