Laury Shelley and Russell Ferrante at the Jazz Showcase
The year was 2014 and I remember being so excited to be going to hear for the first time the incredible R&B jazz fusion group the "Yellow Jackets" at the Jazz Showcase. Well what can I say, the Yellow Jackets totally blew me away, wow!!! They were not just a jazz group but were much more. They way they crossed over and melded music like gospel, jazz, R&B was brilliant!!! Their original compositions were fantastic and each musician was excellent in their own right. I met all t
Laury Shelley and Eric Hochberg at the Jazz Showcase.
I used to feel that it wasn't ok to show my passion or even have too much of it but now I realize that’s not true... After knowing and excepting who I am, I've learned it's one of the most important feelings you can have as an artist and a performer and that passion is a gift to share with the world! Today I'm very proud to share one such moment that occurred while playing with one of the finest bassists around, Eric Hochberg. Don't let anyone ever tell you it's not ok to be
WRRG Triton College Radio
On this TBT I thought I would remember a wonderful time when I was asked by radio show host Nick Calabrese and Bruce Gibson with WRRG, Triton College Radio 88.9 FM to come on their show "Local Jazz Focus", a show which promotes local jazz artists. I was on the show promoting my jazz concert for my first performance at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago and it just so happened that my "Pieces Of Dreams" EP had just come out so it was perfect timing, air play and all! Nick, along wit
Last night at Katerina's
A past performance that will stay in my heart always... I had already performed my last show there a couple weeks earlier but we all gathered one more time on the last night before she closed her doors to say goodbye to the coolest most unique restaurant/club "Katerina's" in Chicago. Legendary blues jazz pianist Erwin Helfer, who was also like many of us a regular at Katerina's, performed with his band that night. Many were asked to speak their heartfelt words to the "Lady" K
In Memory of Grady Tate
I'm so saddened to say I just found out that one of the greatest drummers ever and also a tremendous vocalist, Grady Tate passed away. I am dedicating this post to the memory of Grady because I performed with him many times while touring with Michel Legrand He was the drummer of choice for Michel's concerts. A world renowned musician who performed and recorded with the best of the best from Legrand, Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones to Paul Simon, the list is endless..
Michel Legrand at Carnegie Hall
One of my earlier performances with composer Michel Legrand... When I first started performing with Michel I couldn't believe it! I was touring and performing with the Grammy and Oscar winning composer who wrote songs that I was already madly in love with before I started singing with him! As you can imagine when I got the word that one of our tour stops was going to be at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York City I was excited beyond words!!! I remember the day of rehearsal
