Members |
Lila Ammons's roots in jazz are legendary as the granddaughter of charismatic boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons and niece of tenor sax titan Gene (Jug) Ammons. After studying voice in New York City, Ammons spent twelve years singing classical music in the United States and Europe, as well as doing commercial and film work. But she had a strong desire to return to her roots. After relocating from New York to Minneapolis-St. Paul, she moved steadily back into jazz and has since appeared at several Twin Cities venues, including the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Times Café, and Artist’s Quarter, among others. In 2007, she performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, the Arches Piano Stage at the Cincinnati Blues Fest, and the Brussels International Boogie Woogie and Blues Festival in Belgium. In 2008, she was invited to begin touring throughout Europe with Axel Zwingenberger, a renowned master of boogie-woogie and classic blues. They continue to tour as a duo in 2009 and their first CD will be released early in the year. Ammons has a passion for musical tradition, but she is also a singer who likes to remain “fresh”. With her versatility, she can make the old seem new. 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. Tommy Bruce has wanted to sing since age five. Now, finally, after more than four decades he is on the scene. His first year as a professional performer, he sang at Three Fish in St. Louis Park, a venue not known for music. As a matter of fact, he and friend Bob Ockenden were the only singer/guitar duo for most of their two-year run. Tommy follows in the steps of his older sister, the late Roberta Davis. Tommy has a gentle nature til the music gets hot and fast--then stand back. People say that he sounds a little like Chet Baker with lots of control. Tommy’s first CD, Limerence, released in early 2005, was met by wide acceptance throughout the Twin Cities jazz community. Take a look at his calendar to see dates and times of events. Visit: www.tommybrucejazz.com 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 Katie Craft, who is also known as "Miss Katrine", is one of the newest fresh voices in the Twin Cities jazz scene. She started her singing career with the Jump Blues Band The Solid Senders in 2002. You can find her singing around the area with a variety of groups. Visit: www.MissKatrine.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 Arne Fogel has been called “...one of the Twin Cities' most interesting people -- a singer, musician, actor, composer, writer, producer,music-film-comedy and entertainment historian, collector and oral Nancy Harms has a unique style that beautifully transforms each musical phrase into an opportunity to really communicate with her audience. She sees the act of performing as a sort of invitation--to a musical dialogue, to experience a sense of sonic intimacy. Nancy has recorded her own EP, sung backup on various other CD and jingle projects and has enjoyed radio airplay on such outlets as WCCO-AM and the Minnesota Public Radio Network. She has performed at The Dakota, The Times, The Artist’s Quarter, the The Fine Line and other area venues. Wrote Pamela Espeland (Bebopified), “I like her voice very much, her tone and how she forms words, and her strong sense of timing; she doesn't sound like anyone else I have heard." Bruce A. Henry’s music has taken him all around the world, garnering a large following in France and the Far East. He has been heard on a Worldwide Radio Live Concert on the BBC as well as notable movie soundtracks. Henry has performed on such exotic and legendary stages as the Malate in Manila, the Klezmer Festival in Israel, Le Bilboquet in Paris, The Whitbread in London, the Coconut Grove in Miami, the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and the Grand Wailea in Maui. Bruce has also been featured on numerous national and international commercials and has released three acclaimed recordings. Bruce makes his home in the Twin Cities, where he regularly performs at top venues such as the Dakota and Artists Quarter, and at prestigious events. Visit: www.BruceAHenry.com 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 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.myspace.com/greggmarquardt 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. Now a student of Twin Cities’ jazz vocalist Bruce A. Henry since 2004, Jackie is finding her unique jazz voice. She is influenced by the country and folk music she grew up listening to, as well as her years of classical music training. Her voice has a smooth, bluesy sound, whether she’s performing a Gershwin tune, a Jobim bossa nova, or a classic blues standard. Jackie is a member of Bruce Henry’s Freedom Train Ensemble, and she currently serves as the Treasurer 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 Newellhas 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 Connie Olson began her career in Minneapolis as a lead singer in many of the area’s top local bands, performing various styles of music, especially Rock and Roll, R&B and Jazz. She attended the Dick Grove School of Music and worked many of LA’s prestigious venues with top musicians. Connie has recorded various corporate CDs and was featured as a lead vocalist on Dr. Fink’s newest CD, "Ultrasound". She has been a clinician at the Manhattan School of Music and toured the US with German vibraphonist, Bill Molenhof. Connie is currently working on two new CD projects, with Tim Bonhomme, keyboardist for the Beach Boys Band, and with Benny Weinbeck. Connie’s CD, "Daydreaming: A Tribute to Doris Day", was released October of 2004. Visit: www.ConnieOlson.net Kristin Sponcia, from St. Paul, MN, is an active pianist, vocalist, arranger and composer. She specializes in unique interpretations of jazz standards and contemporary favorites. Presently, Kristin is an Instructor of Keyboards and Theory at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, where she continues to teach, perform, write and record. She also maintains a home studio teaching piano to children and adults. Additionally, Kristin sings and plays solo at the Nicollet Island Inn regularly, and accompanies several of the Twin Cities’ well-known singers. For more information about Kristin and her upcoming performance schedule, go to her Myspace page. www.myspace.com/kristinsponcia |