Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Erkki Vilhelm Aho was born December 10, 1918 in Helsinki, Finland. He led the Rytmi orchestra which was formed in 1938. In the orchestra, Olavi Virta and Raija Valtonen acted as soloists, the pianist was Toivo Kärki and another famous member was Pauli Granfelt.
Aho’s orchestra was one of the top Finnish orchestras. During the Continuation War, his orchestra consisted of 14 men before it was taken over in 1945 by drummer Osmo “Ossi” Aalto. In the spring of 1944, the orchestra recorded American evergreens arranged by Kärjen Syväri.
Trombonist, trumpeter and conductor Erkki Aho died on August 19, 2002.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Isabel Hernandez-Cata was born on December 9 and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She completed undergraduate studies in music at University of Rochester, a Masters degree in Music Education from Boston University and Jazz Studies – Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas.
She founded the Isabel Hernandez-Cata quintet featuring a fluid lineup with guitarist Greg Loman. They met while working at a community theatre. They have performed with numerous DC jazz musicians Ricky Loza, Eric Byrd, Alison Miller, and Marcus Johnson.
A classical contralto, Isabel has sung in choirs, among them the National Philharmonic Chorale and Singers. Her diverse musical interests always return her to a love of the jazz art form to perform standards and jazz treatments of tunes from other modern music genres.
As an educator she teaches vocal music and piano in Montgomery County Public Schools. She has also served as vocal director, pit conductor keyboardist, and choreographer for dozens of school and community musical productions. She has been a choral director, combo leader, and teacher of Piano & AP Music Theory in Maryland Public Schools since 2001.
Hernandez-Cata composes, arranges, and performs as a jazz vocalist and bandleader. Her choirs have performed for US Presidents fifty times and she has had backing vocal stints for Al Green and Lionel Richie.
Vocalist Isabel Hernandez-Cata continues to perform, compose, conduct and educate.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Fabrizio Mocata was born on December 8, 1977 in Sicily, Italy. He established himself as a maestro in the music business thanks to his knowledge of the primary jazz genre and proficiency in the subgenre of smooth jazz.
His music seamlessly combines the rich traditions of jazz, classical music with smooth jazz. His creativity is distinguished by his combining complex melodies and harmonies.
Mocata is a well-known talent in the jazz world and has had an enduring impression on the jazz community.
Pianist, arranger and composer Fabrizio Mocata continues to create and perform.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Rosemary Squires was born Joan Rosemary Yarrow on December 7, 1928 in Bristol, England. She took singing, guitar and piano lessons while at school at St Edmund’s Girls’ School in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Initially she entertained troops by singing on nearby UK and US Army bases around Salisbury. While maintaining a job in an antique book shop and office work, she sang with various groups and a Polish military band
Becaming a professional singer in 1940 Rosemary’s introduction was on the BBC Home Service’s Children’s Hour. She performed with the big bands of Ted Heath, Geraldo and Cyril Stapleton. She sang with the smaller jazz bands of Max Harris, Kenny Baker and the Alan Clare band. Moving from Salisbury to London in 1948 when she was twenty, by the 1950s and Sixties, she became a regular on the BBC Light Programme such as Melody Time and Workers’ Playtime.
She worked in the United States with Danny Kaye and Sammy Davis Jr., as well as appearing on the Johnny Carson Show. She would go on to perform for Prince Edward, and toured twice countrywide during the 2012 Royal Diamond Jubilee.
Jazz, big band, cabaret and concert singer and recording artist Rosemary Squires, who was president of the Studio Theatre is Salisbury and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, died on August 8, 2023 at the age of 94.
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TAMMY MCCANN
Merry Christmas Baby
Celebrate the season with Chicago’s own Tammy McCann, as the powerhouse vocalist and bandleader returns to Dizzy’s Club for a soulful, hard-swinging holiday set. Known for her rich storytelling and unforgettable voice, McCann brings fresh spirit to seasonal favorites in a performance full of warmth, joy, and timeless swing. It’s a festive night that welcomes every listener.
The Band:
Tammy McCann,~ vocals
Arcoiris Sandoval ~ piano
John Sutton ~ bass
Corey Rawls ~ drums
Tickets: Sold Out
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