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Jazz has always been the biggest adventure in my life. Hearing
Ella Fitzgerald sing and improvise on “How High the
Moon” the way she did was a breath of fresh air. Especially
at the awkward age of thirteen. Ella’s infectious sense
of freedom and the sheer pleasure she got out of singing opened
my ears and created a spark that never went away.
I found that to be able to take liberties within a song,
is such a hard won freedom.
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My musical
training was built in rough patches, usually after my
daytime life was over. After highschool, after college
hours, after work, after my children where asleep. And,
yes, after a few broken hearts too. Taking private piano
lessons, going to countless sessions, doing commercial
and non-commercial work, I built a repertoire of jazz
standards and learned the musical landscape. I was fortunate
to take improvisation lessons with internationally acclaimed
jazz vocalist Deborah Carter (Amsterdam). Now I’m
working with classical voice teacher Ronald Klekamp.
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I’m greatly inspired by the unique voices of Sarah Vaughan,
Shirley Horn, Ernestine Anderson, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson,
Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Stevie Wonder, Dinah Washington,
Keith Jarret, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans,
Thelonious Monk and Kurt Elling.
Currently I’m writing new material for a recording.
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