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A BIT ABOUT ME
I love singing songs from the Great American Songbook, jazz standards, show tunes as well as contemporary popular song. With the help of my arranger, John Simon, I update these great tunes by sliding them into new jazz arrangements. Then, I weave these gems into a show of song and story centered around a certain theme, like how to liberate one's self-expression. Insomnia. Love and Lunacy.
As a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific, I was educated in classical music. I was going to be an opera singer until my first year at college when I discovered how ugly the opera world can be. But the training was invaluable. It taught me how to be a musician, not
just a singer.
Once I graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, I stopped singing. Completely. Eighteen years later, at age 39, and not having sung anything more than a commercial jingle along with the car radio, I had a wild notion. Why not start singing again, and then give a concert on my fortieth birthday and make all my friends come
and listen?
If I had been smart, I would have invited ten friends to come to my house to listen to a few songs in my living room. But no! I had to rent a theater and invite 150 of my closest friends to come to an hour long show! This show, called "In My Own Voice," was the beginning of my career. Once I started singing again, I couldn't stop.
I fell in love with the art of cabaret because it is the only performance art form I know of that allows the artist so much creative freedom. Anything goes. I can incorporate songs from any genre, pop, classical, jazz, rock, whatever works, A show can be funny, meaningful, inspirational, dramatic or just plain silly! It all has a place in cabaret.
And I adore the intimacy and connection you can have with an audience. Cabaret is a co-creation. You create it with your audience. They are an essential ingredient. That's why every show has an energy and vibe that is unique and fresh, even if the songs and stories stay the same.
When I'm not creating and producing my own shows, like "In Your Wildest Dreams," "Insomnia," "Love and Lunacy," "Lovin' The Spin I'm In" and "In My Own Voice,” I perform on demand at fund raising events, special musical showcases, and at some pretty nice clubs and cabarets throughout the San Francisco Bay area.
I live with my more adorable husband, John, and the most lovey-dovey cat in the whole world, Ceci Smudge McGuire, aka Squeezie, in our home in Sebastopol , CA.
Place to go to hear good live music:
Upper Fourth
http://www.upperfourth.com/
96 Old Courthouse Square, 2nd Fl.
Santa Rosa, CA
707-573-0522
Yoshi's
http://www.yoshis.com/
510 Embarcadero West
Oakland , CA 94607
(510) 238-9200
Octavia Lounge
http://www.octavialounge.com/
1772 Market St.
San Francisco, CA
415-863-3516
Jazz at Pearl's
http://www.jazzatpearls.com/
256 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco , CA 94133
415-291-8255
Singers & Other Musicians I Adore
My Favorite Singers Who Also Happen to be Famous:
Wesla Whitfield
http://www.weslawhitfield.com/
Dianne Reeves
http://www.diannereeves.com/
Tony Bennett
http://www.tonybennett.net/
Tierney Sutton
http://www.tierneysutton.com/
Superb Singers Who Should Be Famous
Terese Genecco
http://www.teresegenecco.com
Shaynee Rainbolt
http://www.shayneerainbolt.com
Wanda Stafford
http://www.wandastafford.com
Kate McGarry
http://www.katemcgarry.com/
Musicians I Love
John Simon, pianist, composer
http://www.thefourthstream.com/
Jason Martineau, pianist, composer
http://www.jasonmartineau.com/
Michael Bluestein, pianist
http://www.michaelbluestein.com/
Mike Greensill, pianist, extraordinary arranger
http://www.mikegreensill.com/
Barry Lloyd, pianist, singer, arranger
Barry doesn't have a website, but you can call him at
(415) 885-1802
Tom Shader, the greatest bass player in the world
(707) 5423-1467
Tom Hayashi
http://www.unconservatory.org/ufo/hayashibio.html
(707) 539-0616
Recording Studios I Can't Live Without
Banquet Sound Studios
http://www.banquetstudios.com/
J Dog Studios
http://www.thefourthstream.com/
Special Event Experts
Park Avenue Catering
http://www.parkavecater.com/ |
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