Barbara Bjork is a fresh voice on the Twin Cities jazz scene. Tracing a musical trajectory through classical, pop, choral and a capella music, Barbara found her heart and soul in jazz. A sensitive yet sassy singer, uniquely painting a picture with every sultry bossa, uptempo bop or a wistful ballad, Barbara loves the lyrics as much as she loves the melody. The native Midwesterner began her vocal training at the age of 8, and has studied with local jazz mainstay Vicky Mountain as well as the renowned Judy Niemack, Janice Borla and Madeline Eastman. Recent performances include Hell’s Kitchen, Stones, Sage Wine Bar, The Times, Jitters, Fusion Music Cafe and numerous private parties. She is also is a member of the Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota, and former board president of the West Bank School of Music.

Andrea Canter is a non-musician affiliate member. After working as a school psychologist for 30 years in Minneapolis Schools, she retired in 2004 and took off on a new career as a jazz journalist and photographer. Currently she writes show and CD reviews as well as promotional articles as a Contributing Editor/Photographer for the Jazz Police website (www.jazzpolice.com), and launched her own jazz resource site in spring 2006. Andrea also writes liner notes (e.g., for Dorothy Doring, Carole Martin, Tommy Bruce, and Christine Rosholt) and press releases. You can usually find her hanging out at the Dakota, Artists Quarter, Times or Sophia’s. If she could sing, it would be as a mezzo non voce. Visit: www.jazzink.com

Roxy Cruz was born and raised in northern Wisconsin, graduating from UW-River Falls with a degree in piano/vocal music education. After teaching public school music and choir for three years, she moved to the Twin Cities area where she has sung with the Dale Warland Singers, the Plymouth Music Series Chorus and various vocal jazz and big band groups in the Minnesota/Wisconsin vicinity. A classically trained vocalist, Roxy uses her extensive vocal range and fluid musical style to deliver everything from ballads to scat with ease and flexibility.  She sings regularly with her guitarist/husband, Joe Cruz. Together they perform a collection of jazz and pop standards in their own unique arrangements.  They have recorded one CD, The Cruz with Roxy Quartet.

Dorothy Doring is a Minnesota-based vocalist with a versatile and savvy sound that exudes passion and experience. Her CD About Time featuring Hammond B-3 maestro Billy Holloman, guitarist Loren Walstad and Doring's long-time collaborator. Donald Thomas on drums, was nominated for a 2001 Minnesota Music Academy Award. In addition to singing jazz, Dorothy has an eclectic background in everything from rock to country to blues and R&B. Not only a performer, Dorothy Doring is a highly respected music educator for the St. Paul Public Schools. Her most recent release, recorded in New Orleans in 2005, is Southern Exposure. Visit:  www.DorothyDoring.com

Connie Dusseau loves living and performing in the Twin Cities. She was one of the co-founders of Mill City Mix, and has performed with the Clinton Avenue Jazz Trio, the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, the Rod Smith Big Band, Black Tie Affair, Planet Swing and the Wolverines at venues including the Luxx, Yvettes, The Dakota,  Lake Harriet Bandshell, Como Conservatory,  the Zephyr, and many private functions. On the faculty at West Bank School of Music for many years, Connie co-wrote and performed in the original musical comedy Boogie Woogie Canteen  at Bryant Lake Bowl, and was commissioned by Theatre Unbound to compose music for their entry in the 2004 Fringe Fest.

Lee Engele ("Jazz with an Attitude") is a singer who demonstrates contagious energy, personal charm, and that love for lyrics every time she takes the stage. From her dramatic work in Theater to solo performances on stages throughout the Twin Cities and beyond, Lee's career has been as diverse as her repertoire. Whether out in front of a big band or alongside a swinging piano trio, her confident stage presence and sultry sound have made her a sought-after-performer. A soloist at such venues as the Artists Quarter, Dakota Jazz Club, Minnesota Zephyr Cabaret, and the Twin Cities Jazz Festivals, Lee also works as a Disc Jockey, has performed in radio and voice-overs, and participated in the prestigious Yale Cabaret Conference in 2008. She currently serves the jazz community as the President of the Twin Cities Jazz Society. www.LeeEngele.com

Shannan Hughes is new to jazz singing. Classically trained, she's spent her entire life singing with family, in church, school and college choirs, and as a cantor and soloist for special events.  She recently studied with Vicky Mountain.  Shannan loves the vocal styles of Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald.

Rhonda Laurie:  Hailing from Manhattan, where she grew up in a family of professional musicians and performers, Rhonda Laurie Smith began her career as a cabaret singer in New York nightclubs.  She has studied with several renowned vocal coaches, including jazz legend Sheila Jordan and with Jay Clayton.  Locally she has performed at Rossi's Blue Star, Sophia's, Café Luxx, Bar Lurcat, the Times Bar and Cafe, the Artists’ Quarter and Dakota, as well as at Intermedia Arts, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Lake Harriet Bandshell, The Red Eye Theater Isolated Acts series and the Minnesota Historical Society. Rhonda shares her passion for jazz as an artist-in-residence in the Minneapolis Public Schools, and also as an arts education consultant. Visit:  www.myspace.com/rhondalaurie

Teresa Manzella began her musical training at age 10, majored in music at Boston University, and studied voice with Roberta Swedien. Since 1991, she has been singing around the Twin Cities at night clubs, corporate functions, wedding ceremonies and receptions, country club events, and outdoor concert series. Teresa has sung with big bands, variety groups, and small combos, and has had the honor of singing with the great Alice Babs. She released a CD, Torch Swingin’, several years ago, which received favorable critical reviews from around the country and the world. When she’s not singin’ and swingin’, Teresa keeps busy as a freelance professional editor. Check out her Web site at www.teresamanzella.com. 

Gregg Marquardt The director of the high school play proclaimed: “You’re one of the worse singers I’ve ever worked with.”  Thus began Gregg Marquardt’s 30-year singing career. Armed with that first critique, Gregg started vocal training in 1976, and now models his voice after Mel Tormé, Mark Murphy, and Kurt Elling. He has performed at The Dakota Jazz Club, The Times Bar & Cafe, the Artist’s Quarter, Yvette’s, The Luxx Café, and many other venues. His debut CD, Starting Point, has sold in the U.S., Switzerland and Italy. Gregg sings regularly with the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, and now he’ll often hear a fan proclaim: “You’re one of the best singers I’ve ever heard!”www.cdbaby.com/cd/marquardt

Jackie Moen, a new Twin Cities jazz singer, is a lifelong musician. She minored in music at the University of Minnesota in the 80s as a harpist. More recently she has studied with jazz vocalists Bruce A. Henry and Vicky Mountain. She is also a student of Paul Renz, local jazz composer, musician, and educator. Jackie has performed in several JzVMn showcases, including performances at the Sage Wine Bar, and currently performs with a West Bank School of Music jazz ensemble, the Old House Quintet, at venues such as the Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar and the Honey Lounge. Jackie is a past board member of the Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota. Visit: www.myspace.com/jacquelinemoen

Vicky Mountain: "Three words describe her style: vocabulary, sensibility and fire" (Criterion Jazz Review). Vicky Mountain's warm tone, love of the lyric, exciting scat singing and entertaining stage personality have charmed audiences since the 1970s.  Her eclectic past runs the stylistic gamut from warming up for the Hollies, Tim Weisberg, Scarlet Rivera and others to co-writing and performing original jazz operas to concerts from Winnipeg to South America to nightclub and church performances with duos to big bands. Currently she performs with her own group, as a freelance singer and teaches jazz voice at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis.  Vicky can be heard on the Lakewood Jazz Ensemble CDs "Lullaby of the Leaves" and "Together Again".  Her own CDs "Birds Of A Feather" and "Don't Go To Strangers" feature her original lyrics and some of the best musicians in the Twin Cities. Visit:  www.VickyMountain.com

Lucia Newell has sung in jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals around the world. She spent years singing  background vocals on major label recordings and can also be heard on local and national TV and radio jingles. Lucia teaches improvisation and enjoys writing music and lyrics. She released the critically acclaimed CD Enter You, Enter Love with guitarist Joan Griffith and is featured on Laura Caviani’s jazzy Christmas CD, Angels We Haven’t Heard.  Lucia’s 2004 release, Steeped in Strayhorn, is a collaboration with the highly charged sextet, Pete Whitman’s Departure Point, featuring the music of the great Billy Strayhorn. She is featured on the 2006 Soul Café live recording, The Poetry of Jazz: Pablo Neruda Meets Rodgers and Hart.   Visit www.LuciaNewell.com

Karen Quiroz has put together a stunning repertoire of Jazz and Roots music from Brasil and the U.S. With non-stop rhythm, lush harmonics and intimately delivered melodies, her repertoire is as personal as it is eclectic. She has studied with Brasilian composer and vocalist Moyseis Marques, nationally acclaimed Bebop queen Sheila Jordan, and local Jazz greats Bruce Henry and Vicky Mountain. She can be heard singing in Portuguese, Spanish, English or just scattin’ with her own band, Mariameu, Ticket to Brasil (Bossa Nova) and Manguito Pop (Funky Latin Jazz). She also drums and sings with Batucada do Norte, a traditional Brasilian percussion group.