The Grammy's, Vitello's & Cathy Segal Garcia's Workshop -

 Bill Cunliffe receiving his Grammy!

I'm just coolin' my heels back home in Jersey recovering from a whirlwind five days in LA.  The infamous "Grammys" were sunday afternoon and night. There's always a conversation about the live broadcast and of course,  'who won' .  In my category, Kurt Elling finally won a Grammy for his Coltrane/Hartman Tribute. This was Kurt's ninth nomination, so it's nice that he finally got one of these coveted prizes for all of his hard work.  Bill Cunliffe, who played piano on my gig at Vitello's on Friday night (Jan.28th) won a Grammy also for a medley that he wrote on "West Side Story".  Major congratulations for Bill.  This was our first gig and it was really great to work with him.                                            

   Tom Warrington played bass at Vitello's.  Tom and I played together on my first gigs in New York in 1978.  It was cool to play with him again and dig how much he's progressed and appreciate his level of professionalism.  Tom printed up his music, listened to the mp3's of the new Randy Newman charts and was ready to go.  Man, did I appreciate that!  Paul Kreibech was on drums and he was very swinging and a quick study.  Steve Cardenas is teaching at Cal Arts this semester and was able to join us on guitar and he is an amazing musician - what a smokin' band I had for my first gig.  Thanks guys.

I'm waiting for pictures from Cathy Segal Garcia of my workshop on sunday afternoon in Granada Hills.  I'll post about that when Cathy sends the photos.  It was a great workshop with eight wonderful singers.

January 29th - LA Gig - Vitello's and Jan. 31st. Workshop

January 29th - Friday - http://www.vitellosrestaurant.com (check out the site for directions)
Sets 8 & 10 pm.

I am headed to Los Angeles for a rare visit, gig and workshop.  Once I realized that the Grammy's were this week, I thought I would snoop around and see if I might find a place to sing and Judy Wexler was a mensch in her recommendations!  Thank you Judy.  I will be singing with the fine Bill Cunliffe on piano, Tom Warrington on bass, Paul Kreibech on drums and Steve Cardenas on guitar.  This is a great Band!  Please join me for this rare appearance on the West Coast.    

L.A. Singers - Roseanna Vitro will present a workshop next sunday: January 31st. 12 noon til 3 pm. The Elements of Jazz Singing; singing with conviction and swing, improvising with lyrics, technique exercises for tone and safe blues singing, scatting 101 -http://www.cathysegalgarcia.com/teach_workshops.html
Come and jo...in me-Gaea Shell pianist will play with us. Location: Cathy Segal Garcias. http://www.RoseannaVitro.com

Singers check out my new site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JVOICE-Jazz-Vocalists-Offering-Instructional-Curriculum-for-Education/106379385885

January 23rd. - Recording the second half of the Randy Newman Tribute

I'm excited to report that 'The Randy Newman' Project had great shows for APAP Weekend!  Thanks to
Mark Soskin, Sara Caswell, (Curtis Stewart for subbing for Sara at the Hilton Show), Tim Horner taking the drum chair (great job), Dean Johnson (everyone needs a Dean Johnson on bass) and Steve Cardenas on guitar, has been very cool to know musically - great job at the Bitter End show guys.
   We are coming down the home stretch with this amazing music.  Mark and Sara worked on the string parts thursday afternoon and I'm practicing hard and I can't wait for the finish this coming saturday.
Stay Tuned.

The Randy Newman Project will have it's first presentation January 9th / 10th -NYC - APAP Convention Headquarters and WinterJazzFest

The Randy Newman Project is almost all recorded and we are delighted to present our group for the first time at the WinterJazzFest.com which presents the hippest jazz groups in New York City - we are thrilled to close the show at the BitterEnd Jan.9th.
http://www.winterjazzfest.com/ on January 9th -the closing show at 1:45 am.  that's right! am. The BitterEnd, 145 Bleeker St. 212-673 7030.
The group will feature:  Roseanna Vitro, Mark Soskin, Sara Caswell, Dean Johnson, Steve Cardenas, and Tim Horner.
&
The APAP Presenters Convention - January 10th -Sunday afternoon - 1 set @ 3:30 pm. The Harlem Suite, 4th Floor, Americas Hall 1, New York Hilton, 1334 Avenue of the Americas-212 586-7000.
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(Fantastic Poster - by Sarah Wickliffe)

Stay Tuned for updates - We finish recording on January 23rd. and then I head to Los Angeles for Grammy Week with a workshop on January 31st. for Cathy Segal Garcia and January 29th at Vitello's.

Tribute to Randy Newman Project is Shinin' -

Jamey Haddad, Ro, Mark Soskin

I completed one half of my Randy Newman tribute in October.  The music is sterling!...in hindsight, we are now adding guitar, by way of the great Steve Cardenas.  We have recorded:  Sail Away, Last Night I Had a Dream, In Germany Before the War, Feels Like Home and Baltimore.  I am loving our new relationship with violinist extraordinaire, Sara Caswell and the addition of Jamey Haddad - who is family for us.  I wish he lived closer, but his percussion magic is special.  More Soon!!!

Sara Caswell

 Mark Soskin and Dean Johnson

November 9th - Our first recording date! Kenny & Ro Recording

We started the day at Charlestown Rd. studios at 1 pm.  I came with my Tahini Chicken dish, freshly made at midnight the night before with Sarah Wickliffe's help - Thank you..Kenny loves this dish.  Paul Wickliffe, my chief engineer and husband had the piano tuner on hold for the entire afternoon.  I had ten songs in tow and was very excited about our musical prospects for this date.  My manager and best friend,  Jeff Levenson also made the date.  Jeff is very supportive and encouraging, so it's always great to have him at a session.  We started our session with a 1961 hit song that Vince Guiraldi composed: Cast Your Fate to the Wind.  I was playing thru this tune by chance at my piano last week and fell in love with the melody and the message.  We may call this new cd. "Cast Your Fate to the Wind."  I think we got a lovely take of this song.  Then on to Clare Fischer's amazing compostion: Pensativa.  Clare also wrote the lyrics and they are about a Pensive lady.  I've wanted to sing this amazing melody for years and it's not easy, but absolutely beautiful.  Other tunes that we recorded are : Feelin' Good, Upside Down (Flor de lis),  Remember,  Old Devil Moon,  Kiss (a David Budway composition), A Day in the Life of a Fool, Laughing at Life and Soul Eyes.  That's all I can remember right now, but it was a beautiful day of music.  We're planning one more session on December 4th and I can't wait to finish this little project with my old friend. 

New Project baking - Kenny Werner & Roseanna Vitro Duo Recording

Fall in New York is so beautiful.  The air is cool and crisp and the leaves are starting to turn from green to red and gold.  Kenny Werner and I have recorded six fine cds together and have actually played together since 1979 ! wow...a life of learning and growing, changing and evolving with love for each others familys and a dedication to creative music.  Kenny and I will embark on an intimate duo recording October 2009.  I have some very special music planned.  Stay tuned!