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| Singers Over Manhattan Jazz at Lincoln Center continues the tradition in its second full season featuring great singers with the breathtaking view in The Allen Room with Singers Over Manhattan on October 20, 21, 22, 2005. Backed by the fine sounds of the Eric Reed Trio, Singers Over Manhattan presents some of the hottest jazz vocalists on the scene today. From seasoned veteran Carla Cook to red-hot Sachal Vasandani to up-and-comer Jennifer Sanon, expect an evening of romance and virtuosity in The Allen Room. With the exquisite backdrop of The Allen Room, the view is half the fun! Come see and hear what everybody’s talking about, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, 5th floor. Carla Cook says of The Allen Room, “It’s a wonderful place to perform…very classy and classic…and it has such a nice sound.” She continues that she looks forward to collaborating with pianist Eric Reed, “He’s a wonderful pianist, a very tasty player. I’ve admired his work with other singers, that’s why I’m thrilled to be working with him. He’s got a nice ear and touch for working with vocalists.” The Eric Reed Trio consists of Eric Reed (piano), David Wong (bass) and Willie Jones III (drums). Carla Cook Bio Carla Cook is daring. She is a jazz singer/songwriter who sings standards beautifully -- but she doesn't stop there. Cook is willing to put a jazz spin on songs not written by traditional jazz composers. Songs that, until you hear her sing them, you'd never imagine could be interpreted as jazz. This native Detroiter, who grew up in a musically rich and diverse environment, brings all her influences to bear within her repertoire. In her songbook you'll find elements of R&B, European classical, Motown, Blues and Gospel. Cook has always eschewed labels, and refuses to become a jazz purist or snob. That willingness to simply sing what she loves, bringing an earthy sophistication to every song, is what gives Cook her signature style. In her native Detroit, Cook started singing when she was a young child. Growing up, the Midwesterner sang in the Methodist Church. The secular music that she enjoyed ranged from R&B, rock, country and European classical.Though jazz has always been Cook's primary focus, she has been quoted as saying that her favorite artists range from Miles Davis to Chaka Khan to Johann Sebastian Bach. Sachal Vasandani Bio As a singer with this year’s Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra presentation of Don Quixote, Sachal Vasandani impressed his audience. As New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff wrote, “Sachal Vasandani was a total surprise: He looks like the leading man in a Bollywood musical but is a very traditional jazz crooner in the great tradition of Billy Eckstine and Ellington’s Eckstine equivalents, Herb Jeffries and Al Hibbler. He sang swingers and ballads, and he scatted with surprising ease.” Sachal Vasandani was born in Chicago, with his initial interest in jazz coming from his parent’s jazz records, which ranged from Duke Ellington to Keith Jarrett. Active in jazz band and choir, as well as other ensembles, Vasandani left for college at the University of Michigan. There, in 1998, he was the official representative of the International Association of Schools of Jazz. In 1999, he was voted Collegiate Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Down Beat magazine. In 2004, he was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk Institute Competition. Jennifer Sanon Bio Jennifer Sanon was awarded Outstanding Vocalist at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival and Competition in 2003. As a member of the Essentially Ellington All-Star Sextet, Ms. Sanon performed during our “Jammin' With Jazz” 2004 family benefit. In both 2003 and 2004, she was a member of the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles, an elite group of 24 student musicians nationwide chosen to perform in a series of concerts leading up to the Grammy Awards. She was also named the 2004 Grammy Foundation Honoree. A Miami native, Ms. Sanon has recently graduated from high school in Florida. Ms. Sanon performed last season with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra on the Chivalrous Misdemeanors concert. Eric Reed Bio Eric Reed was born June 21, 1970 in Philadelphia, PA and grew up playing gospel music in his father’s storefront Baptist church, starting at the age of five. “My father was a minister but he also used to sing with a Gospel group in Philly called the Bay State Singers. He was my earliest musical influence. I also was hit heavily by Edwin Hawkin’s music of the 1970s. Gospel music remains a large part of my playing today.” Later, young Reed was bitten by the jazz bug after hearing recordings of Art Blakey, Ramsey Lewis and Dave Brubeck. At age 18, pianist Reed toured briefly with Wynton Marsalis. A year later, Eric joined Marsalis’ Septet (1990-91; 1992-95). He spent two years with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (1996-98). Eric continues to perform and record with an assortment of masters. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |