Happy New Year - a new Decade - 2011 -

A New Year , a new decade - an age for serious life work. Every note must count now.
2011 - friends , family, music - - -

Thank you - Ruby, Paul, Sarah, Deb, Karen, Jeff, Barbara, Mary and my treasured friends for your love and support.

This will be a beautiful Year .

NJCU Jazz Singers Record at Charlestown Road Studio -Great Job!

Today four fine jazz singers recorded at Charlestown Rd. Studios. Paul Wickliffe is the chief engineer. Paul gave a fine tutorial to start the class, discussing mic techniques and issues such as 'not stopping' the band if a singer makes a mistake, just waiting and fixing it in an overdub. I was very proud of these singers today. They are a true inspiration to me; writing wonderful arrangements, taking charge of the music and the band with creativity, heart and soul.
Kristen Dziuba, Kari Vanderkloot, Moi', Rafaela Gurtler and Kyo Kim
Also pictured is my right hand pianist/partner; Jason Teborek, (behind me) , Pete McCullough bassist and Jon Difiore drummer.

November 13th & 14th - The Seattle Trip - Nich Anderson's World

Nich Anderson - is nourishing and preserving the art of Jazz Singing in Seattle by creating 'House Concerts' - http://www.jazzvox.com (check out his series!) Thank you Nich!

The Carr's pictured in this photo
also offer up their gorgeous home
in Camano Island for concerts and delicious food. Thank you Patty and Andrew.
Roseanna Vitro and Mark Soskin - Duo!
Mark and I had a blast. We presented an afternoon workshop at Cornish College of Music and then headed to Camano Island to play for a lovely crowd at Patty's gorgeous house.

Saturday we had a workshop with the beauty's in the picture up top and that evening a full house at Nich's. A good time was had by all. You have to hit Nich's hang...

November 9th -Ark.Jazz Hall of Fame Show- Amina Claudine Meyers and Jerry Atkins Inducted 2010

This was a wonderful event produced by Cece Rich and Dave Rodgers and James Thomson of the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame group in Little Rock, Arkansas. I nominated Jerry Atkins, who passed away last year. Jerry was a great 'jazz head', tenor player, jazz journalist and jazz dj in Texarkana, my home town. Amina Claudine Meyers was also inducted into the Hall of Fame for her talent. Anita hails from Blackwell, Arkansas and she sings like Roberta Flack with a little edge to her music. I liked her talent and personality very much and it was fantastic to hang out with her. I consider her a 'sister in the cause' of good music. We performed on November 9th with Joe Vick on bass, Tom Cox piano, Byron Atkins guitar (Jerry's son) and Dave Rodgers on drums and Barry McVinney on tenor. Shirley Chauvin also drove over from Hot Springs and sang a couple of songs (she was fantastic) and in the front of this picture is Bonnie Atkins, Jerry's wife. She was always by his side. Also in attendance was Scott Atkins and his wife Angie. I thank everyone who made this happen (Gloria and Albert too) Thanks to Dwayne Walden for making the drive to attend too. I can rest at peace now, knowing that my dear friend Jerry Atkins received some respect for the service he gave to the music that we love; jazz.

Listen! WBGO - Live with Michael Bourne November 21st 12 noon til 2 pm.

Celebrating 25 Years on WBGO - Live Performances -...88.3 fm...join us on your radio!

November 21st. – WBGO Radio 88.3 fm-tune in 12 noon til 2 pm.- 25 years with Michael Bourne Show ‘Live Performances with Allen Farnham on piano, Roseanna Vitro, Bob Dorough, Carolyn Leonhart, Wayne Escoffery, Tom Lellis & Carol Fredette.

Heading to Seattle ! Concerts & Masterclasses -November 12th & 13th

I am excited to announce two concerts and two masterclasses November 12th & 13th in the Seattle area. The great Mark Soskin and I will be performing as a duo in Nich Anderson's concert series. Nich is a great singer himself and supporter of vocal jazz artists around the world. To buy tickets and get information - please go to Nich's website:

http://www.jazzvox.com/ November 12th and 13th in the evening!

We will also be presenting two Masterclasses in the afternoons.
The first Workshop will be for Students of Cornish College of Music: November 12th (friday) at 12 noon in Poncho Concert Hall at: http://www.cornish.edu/

November 13th is open! Special Masterclass at Nich Anderson's condo- http://www.jazzvox.com/vitroworkshop/ This class will include a cd and work packet for each student to take home and practice with! All participants must email me to tell me what they want to work on and accomplish in this clinic. Please check the link for all information regarding this workshop. Looking forward!

Ro

Whirlwind Weekend; Jazz at Newport, Or. to the Monk Vocal Finals

I performed October 1st. & 2nd. in a sweet festival in Newport, Oregon. Holly Hofmann sheperds this festival bringing in the smart choices of John Clayton, Bruce Foreman, Bennie Green, Houston Person, Todd Strait, Alvester Garnett, Bill Cunliffe, Mary Ann McSweeney, Randy Porter and Holly performs too. What a great cast of musicians performing in various groups and also giving panels and workshops. The concert is held in the Performing Arts Center and the audience are jazz fans from all over the country who fly in to hang out for three days in this beautiful spot.
Thank you Holly!

Then I headed to the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal finals. I had been a preliminary judge along with Peter Eldridge and Alan Harris. We listened to 237 singers and chose 12 amazing singers from all over the world. Sunday at the American Indian Museum, I had the opportunity to finally see the people whose voices were merely a number when we first heard them. They were all fantastic! What an inspiring time it is for jazz singers. I'll write a full report, but for now you can go to:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2010/10/05/130344927/cecile-mclorin-salvant-vocalist-wins-thelonious-monk-jazz-competition

It's nice to be back in my bed.