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| Debbie Duncan at the Artists Quarter by Andrea Canter,Jazz Police Minnesota’s “First Lady of Song” and perhaps the best known diva of the Twin Cities, Debbie Duncan "is blessed with a large, full, yet feathery voice and stylistic subtlety ranging from gospel to jazz and pop” (Jazziz). With a background rich in jazz, gospel and Motown, Duncan can pack a house to the rafters, which is exactly what you can expect at the Artists Quarter in downtown St. Paul this weekend (January 13-14). Detroit native Debbie Duncan grew up with jazz, gospel, folks, and classical music, and studied classical voice for 14 years, including 4 years at Wayne State University. After recording back-up vocals for Mitch Ryder and Bob Segar, she spent ten years on the club circuit in LA. Her performance resume includes opening for Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Stephane Grapelli, and appearing with Bob Seger, Bobby Watson (Horizon), Mark Murphy, Von Freeman, Marlena Shaw, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Henderson, Jimmy McGriff, and John Hendricks. Moving to Minneapolis, Debbie sang with Rupert’s Orchestra, then formed a quartet with Don Stille, Gary Raynor and Phil Hey. She soon became known as the “Working-est Singer” in the Twin Cities, winning many Minnesota Music Awards as well as the MMA’s first award as “Perpetually Outstanding Performer.” Duncan’s recording credits include work with Oleta Adams, Jimmy McGriff, pop bands Iffy and B-3, and numerous local bands including Fat Kids Wednesday. She has released four of her own recordings, Nice One for Boo, Live at the Dakota, It Must Be Christmas, Travelin’ at the Speed of Love, all on the Igmod label, and her latest, I Thought About You (FS Music, 2005), all featuring casts of first-call area musicians. Local gigs include frequent appearances at the AQ, Times, and Dakota; popular performances with “The Girls” and the Phil Aaron Trio; opening for Al Green at the Guthrie last spring; and handling the vocals for the Adi Yeshaya Big Band. She performs with varying combinations of area artists, lately in the company of Michael O'Brien (bass), Nathan Norman (drums) and Mary Louise Knutson (piano). And, while Debbie Duncan is often on stage, she still manages to find time to teach at the McNally Smith College of Music (formerly MusicTech), which has established the Debbie Duncan Award for Excellence in Voice, and to serve as an instructor at the Twin Cities Youth Jazz Camp. Debbie Duncan doesn’t just stand up there and sing, she interacts with the audience, jokes, and above all is a story teller and comedienne. If she didn’t sing, her shows would still be pure entertainment. But of course she sings like no one else. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |