Performer/Bandleader/Singer
Bookings Contact JJJazz for public or private performances. Choose an intimate duo with vocals accompanied by guitar or piano. Add bass, horn, or percussion for a trio or quartet. Maybe a larger ensemble will fit your occasion. I am happy to say Tucson can boast a wealth of outstanding instrumentalists I can draw on for virtually any size ensemble. JJJazz has performed in concerts, festivals, private parties and great restaurants.
Repertoire JJJazz performs a mix of songs connected to the heart of jazz – from Ellington, Mingus, and Monk to the Great American Songbook, and works of esteemed songwriters like Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Gershwin. Added to these are Latin/Brazilian music, and engaging originals from my collaborations with outstanding Jazz composers. (See Lyrics and Song and Discography for more on the original lyrics and arrangements. Her CD, “Blue Nights and SUnshower,” is available here. )
Background I’ve been performing in my own bands since college. I started producing concerts in undergraduate school, finding funding where I could for concerts and small series. As a professor, mixing my students with professionals, we produced concerts and small festivals. By my second year in Grand Valley State I was performing with my students in local venues. In Los Angeles, I formed a 5-voice jazz ensemble, Borrowed Time. Our book was primarily my arrangements and original lyrics. BT was a well-respected group that enjoyed the highest quality of instrumental support from LA’s best up and coming. Over the years we’ve seen our “side” musicians rise to great renown. I still marvel at the outrageously talented singers who joined me in Borrowed Time.
Please note: If you are interested in hiring me as a singer/bandleader please use the convenient Contact page. For booking talks, writing, music lessons, or workshops, please visit those respective pages for information. Many of my originals/collaborations mentioned above are available in the Shop.