Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Laurie Antonioli was born on March 9, 1958 in Marin County. California. At the age of sixteen she began playing guitar and performing primarily her own original music as well as that of the singer-songwriters of the era. In 1975 she won the American Songwriters Contest for high school students, studied jazz at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon and Cal State Long Beach. She took private lessons from Mark Murphy and Joe Henderson.
After graduation, Laurie continued composing and performing. In 1980 she toured Europe for eight months with New Orleans saxophonist Pony Poindexter. When he suffered a stroke, a record date in Paris with pianist Kenny Drew was canceled and they were unable to finish out their tour. Laurie brought Pony back to California where she lived and led her own bands based out of San Francisco.
1985 saw Antonioli signing with Catero Records and her first album was the live two-track Soul Eyes, with the title song given to her by composer Mal Waldron. She was accompanied by pianist George Cables. After a hiatus from music, she settled in Vienna, Austria from 2002 to 2006 and began recording again.
Her Nabel Records album Foreign Affair was a Balkan jazz hybrid recorded in Slovenia with musicians from Serbia, Albania, Germany, and the U.S. It was well received in Europe. Her next album The Duo Session enlisted Richie Beirach where she wrote lyrics to his compositions. Laurie also wrote lyrics to some Miles Davis tunes and free improvisation pieces. This recording was also well-received but like Foreign Affair was known primarily to European audiences.
As an educator she held the position of Professor of the Vocal Department at KUG University’s Jazz Institute in Graz, Austria from 2002 to 2006 while living and performing in Europe. Antonioli was offered a position at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California as the school’s vocal program director and created an eight-semester vocal performance curriculum. Singer and record producer Laurie Antonioli, who between 1985 and 2018 she has recorded seven albums, continues to perform and record.
More Posts: educator,history,instrumental,jazz,lyricist,music,vocal
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Harry Charles Prime was born on March 5, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from St. Bridget’s Elementary and Roman Catholic High School. In the fall of 1944, he entered and won a singing contest at the 400 Club in Washington, D.C. and was offered a week’s engagement at the Club.
From there he proceeded to perform with big bands such as Randy Brooks, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Fina and Ralph Flanagan throughout the 1940’s and 50’s. Prime’s recording of the song Until with Tommy Dorsey sold a million records, but recording most of his hit songs with the Flanagan band.recording most of his hit songs with the latter.
In 1945, the Nations Disc Jockeys voted the Ralph Flanagan Band as the #1 band in the country and Prime was voted 20th best singer ahead of Dennis Day, Eddie Fisher and Dean Martin.
In the years following his tenure with the big bands, Prime never strayed far from the music business and worked as a disc jockey and radio host in various cities including WCAU in Philadelphia and WNPV in Lansdale.
His impeccable phrasing and vocal prowess led him to record Dear Hearts and Gentle People, Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, Nevertheless and Just One More Chance. He sits among the likes of Bob Eberle, Billy Eckstine, Dick Haymes, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como.
Prime recorded nearly 100 songs in the 1940s and 1950s, including Until, a million-seller with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The song peaked at number four in the US chart.
Big band vocalist Harry Prime died on June 15, 2017 in Chalfont, Pennsylvania at age 97.
More Posts: history,instrumental,jazz,music,vocal
EKEP NKWELLE BAND
A rising master of her craft, vocalist Ekep Nkwelle entrances audiences with her strong lyrical presence and an uncanny connection to phrasing that’s at once grounded and ethereal. High-level musicality informs her storytelling. To Dizzy’s Club she brings her tight ensemble of acclaimed artists. Expect an evening of imaginative arrangements and compelling treatment of standard tunes.
More Posts: adventure,bass,club,drums,genius,jazz,music,percussion,piano,preserving,travel,trombone,vocal
SHEILA JORDAN WITH RONI BEN-HUR & HARVIE S
An absolute treasure of the New York music scene, bebop torchbearer Sheila Jordan brings her improvisatory trio to Dizzy’s Club. At 95, the singer and inexhaustible band leader delivers sets that spotlight her undeniable skill and personal treatment of repertoire from Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Nichols, and other icons. Don’t miss an exhilarating one-night event that features her longtime collaborators, stylistic masters Roni Ben-Hur and Harvie S.
Sheila Jordan, vocals
Roni Ben-Hur, guitar
Harvie S, bass
More Posts: adventure,bass,club,genius,guitar,jazz,music,preserving,travel,vocal
PAULA WEST
Rarely does an artist possess the creative range close to that of Paula West. A spellbinding performer, the west coast singer and song interpreter has appeared at clubs and cabaret theaters from New York to San Francisco. Sharing her eclectic style and rich contralto voice with listeners of all ages, over three nights West delivers original arrangements of standard tunes as well as more recent classics from such iconic songwriters as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and David Bowie. Don’t miss a chance to fall in love with your favorite playlists all over again.
Paula West, vocals
Ed Cherry, guitar
John Chin, piano
Sean Conly, bass
Jerome Jennings, drums
More Posts: adventure,club,genius,jazz,music,preserving,travel,vocal