Tag: jazz singer

After Hours featuring Andrea Miller, air date July 20, 2022

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours Alaska at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, on KRBD public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with award-winning jazz vocalist Andrea Miller.

Andrea Miller’s voice has been described as soulful, sensual, hypnotic and endearing. In 2021 and 2020 she became a Top 5 Finalist in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Influenced by Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan and Stevie Wonder, Andrea is currently heating up the international jazz scene.

Andrea opened for the legendary Al Jarreau at many concerts before he passed including the Newport Beach Jazz Festival. She received a standing ovation and gracious compliments from Jarreau and his band and was set to tour with and open for him on his European tour, just prior to his passing.

In 2022, Andrea headlined the Punta Mita Jazz Festival and will headline San Jose Jazz Weekend, The Texas Jazz Festival and Festival de Jazz de Polanco in Mexico City. In 2020 she headlined Bemol 5 Jazz club in Lyon, France. In 2021 and 2019 Andrea headlined Jazz De Polanco Festival in Mexico City and Jazz at LACMA in Los Angeles. In 2018 she headlined the Newport Beach Jazz Party Series, and in 2017 she headlined the Utah Arts Festival, the Salt Lake City Jazz Festival and the Newport Beach Summer Jazz Series with the Tom Kubis Big Band. 

“A brilliant young singer” – Al Jarreau

Click this link to go to Andrea’s personal website. Click here to listen to a recording of her interview.

After Hours featuring Molly Johnson, air date June 22, 2022

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Philanthropist, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours Alaska at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, on KRBD public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with award-winning vocalist Molly Johnson.

Molly is known as one of Canada’s greatest vocalists. She is a mother, singer-songwriter, artist and philanthropist, who has just released her highly anticipated new album, “Meaning To Tell Ya”. Produced by multiple GRAMMY Award winning producer, Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Norah Jones); it is more than a jazz record. It’s funk, it’s soul, it’s groove played by some of Canada’s best musicians.

Dedicated to supporting communities in need, Molly established the Kumbaya Foundation and Festival in 1992, raising awareness and funds for people living with HIV/AIDS, and continues to work with several other charitable organizations each year. Molly has been awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal, and in 2008, was honored with becoming an Officer of The Order Of Canada (O.C.). This rare distinction was given to Molly to recognize her philanthropic work for a variety of causes and for her international contributions to the arts. In 2016, Molly launched the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, which fills this colorful and vibrant area of Toronto with over 400 local Canadian musicians, performing 150-plus shows over one weekend in September to more than 5,000 enthusiastic music fans. 

Molly was the voice of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio 2 Weekend Morning program where she eased listeners into their weekend with great Canadian songs, and stories about musicians and the people of Canada, from coast to coast. The Canadian music icon’s latest release, the Juno-nominated, Because of Billie (2014) is a celebration of the music of Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday’s journey inspires Johnson not only as an artist, but as a model citizen. Paying homage to Holiday’s childhood struggles, Johnson donated a portion of album sales to the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Tune in and be inspired.

Click this link to go to Molly’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Stacey Kent, air date Feb. 16, 2022

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours Alaska at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16, on KRBD public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with vocalist Stacey Kent (this interview originally was scheduled to air on Dec. 8, 2021).

Stacey Kent is a jazz singer in the mould of the greats, with a legion of fans worldwide and a host of honors and awards, including a Grammy nomination, album sales in excess of 2 million, platinum, double-gold and gold-selling albums that have reached a series of No. 1 chart positions during the span of her career.

Her album, I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions (Sony) has had more than 40 million streams, won ‘Album of the Year’ in the vocal category at the 2018 Jazz Japan Awards, and received glowing reviews, including a coveted five stars in Downbeat, and was described by All About Jazz as “intoxicating understatement at its finest…one more jewel in a discography with many, it’s one that deserves singling out for its luster.”

This comparative literature graduate with a passion for music travelled to Europe to further her studies, and after receiving her degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, through a series of twists of fate, she found herself in London where she enrolled in a graduate music program at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and where she met her future husband and musical partner, Jim Tomlinson.

Click this link to go to Stacey’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Leslie Page, air date Feb. 9, 2022

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours Alaska at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, on KRBD public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with jazz vocalist Leslie Page.

Leslie is a singer/songwriter and resident of sunny Southern California. She is an incredible vocal force with unique life experiences that resonate in the timbre of her rich and sultry tone. Her career as a live performance vocalist, studio session singer and touring background vocalist spans with more than 20 years of experience.

Leslie has shared the stage with an ongoing list of world class musicians and entertainers including Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Billy Gibbons, Rick Springfield, Zack Brown Band, Gary Clark Jr, Hunter Hayes, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Peaches and Herb, Richard Marx and many more. Her vocals have been featured on numerous television/film/commercial recordings and album projects. In July 2019, Leslie released her first jazz album, Heart Songs, produced by Tony Guerrero, featuring some original music as well as covers of some of her favorite jazz tunes.

She has been described as a pro’s pro, having one of the finest and most adaptable voices you’ll ever hear and has been dubbed by producers as the “one take wonder”. Leslie is a woman who sings from the depths of her soul, with great tune and skill. She is truly a master of her instrument.

Click this link to go to Leslie’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Douyé, air date Aug. 11, 2021

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, on KRBD of Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with Nigerian-born jazz artist Douyé. This show is tentatively set to broadcast at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, on KSTK in Wrangell, and will air at 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 16, on KCAW in Sitka.

Douyé was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and regularly spent her summers in England. She was in a church choir in Africa when she was quite young and often sang along with recordings from her father’s record collection.

Douyé also wrote poems and songs as she grew up. Early on she knew that singing was going to be her lifelong love. In her pursuit of singing, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute as a vocal major.

Don’t miss this exciting soulful interview.

Missed the show? Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Douyé, originally broadcast on Aug. 11, 2021. Click here to visit Douyé’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Madeleine Peyroux, air date Oct. 19, 2020

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Guitar, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the Oct. 19, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined in conversation with American jazz singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux.

Madeleine began her career as a teenager busking with her guitar on the streets of Paris, much like her idol Edith Piaf. She sang vintage jazz and blues songs before finding mainstream success in 2004, when her album Careless Love sold half a million copies.

Madeleine’s dusky voice was likened to that of Jazz greats Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Featuring top musicians Marc Ribot, Vernon Reid, Cyrus Chestnut, Charlie Giordano, Greg Cohen, Kenny Wollesen, Regina Carter, Leon Parker and James Carter, her 1996 debut album, Dreamland, included Madeleine’s renditions of Holiday’s Gettin’ Some Fun Out of Life, Bessie Smith’s Lovesick Blues and Fats Waller’s I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.

Dreamland cemented Madeleine Peyroux as a ‘classic’ musical talent that was here to stay, and the soulful singer found herself touring the world, singing with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and opening for Cesaria Evora.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Madeleine Peyroux, originally broadcast on Oct. 19, 2020. Click here to visit Madeleine’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Roberta Gambarini, air date Oct. 12, 2020

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the Oct. 12, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined in conversation with Italian-born jazz singer, now living in New York City, Roberta Gambarini.

Roberta moved to the U.S. in 1998 and won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. A few weeks after her arrival in America, she entered the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition and came in third behind Teri Thornton and Jane Monheit.

She was invited to sing in New York City, where she met Benny Carter and James Moody. Moody became her teacher, mentor and friend.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Roberta Gambarini, originally broadcast on Oct. 12, 2020. Click here to visit Roberta’s personal page on Facebook

After Hours featuring Sheila Jordan, air date May 18, 2020

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the May 18, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined in conversation with guest artist Sheila Jordan.

Sheila is an American jazz singer and songwriter. She has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums. Sheila pioneered a bebop and scat jazz singing style with an upright bass as the only accompaniment. Her music has earned praise from many critics, particularly for her ability to improvise lyrics.

Scott Yanow describes her as “one of the most consistently creative of all jazz singers.” Charlie Parker often introduced Jordan as “the singer with the million dollar ears.”

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Sheila Jordan, originally broadcast on May 18, 2020. Click here to visit Sheila’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Gina Saputo, air date April 13, 2020

On By Charles BinghamIn Author, educator, Featured guest, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the April 13, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined in conversation with L.A. jazz singer gem Gina Saputo.

Gina is an international jazz performer, college instructor, recording artist, session singer, model, actress and three-time published author. She is currently finishing her fourth book, Vocal Technique for Songwriters, and teaching full time in the bachelor’s department at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Gina Saputo, originally broadcast on April 13, 2020. Click here to visit Gina’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Karrin Allyson, air date Feb. 17, 2020

On By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Piano, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the Feb. 17, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined in conversation with American jazz singer and pianist, Karrin Allyson.

Karrin has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and has received positive reviews from several prominent sources, including the New York Times, which has called her a “singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation.”

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Karrin Allyson, originally broadcast on Feb. 17, 2020. Click here to visit Karrin’s personal website.