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| Deborah J. Carter at the 2008 IAJE Conference The vocalist/arranger, Deborah J. Carter, one of Europe's favorite jazz-divas, will be performing at this year's IAJE Conference in Toronto, Canada. on Thursday, January 10th at the Imperial Ballroom-Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Deborah will give an hour concert with her Amsterdam-based trio. She will be featuring songs from her last 4 solo albums, and especially from her latest CD, “Daytripper” - a contemporary and latin-jazz tribute to the Beatles. This CD was recently reviewed by the Beatles Unlimited magazine as “...a gorgeous voice that is beyond dispute... a delightful treat for fans...and sheer pleasure for anyone's ears.” (Her fifth album is due to be released in 2008.) Two videos of Deborah performing two of her arrangements from her Beatles-tribute album with the world-renowned Metropole Orchestra are currently available to see at YouTube. Gregory Carroll, former Director of Education of the IAJE and current Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas, first heard vocalist Deborah J. Carter when they were both teaching and performing together at the Shih-Chien University in Taiwan during the 2006 Taipei International Summer Jazz Academy. Deborah was born in the US (Texas), but she has lived and flourished as a full-time jazz performer for the last two decades on European soul. During the last 10 years, Deborah J. Carter has firmly established herself as one of the top jazz vocalists in Europe and has toured extensively, performing in jazz festivals, jazz clubs, seminars, and radio and TV shows through Europe, Asia, and North Africa with her trio or as a guest with various formations from solo pianists to large orchestras. Educated at Berklee College of Music, Deborah has given clinics and workshops (many sponsored by the American Embassies) in many countries including the UK, Taiwan, Netherlands, Burma, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain, Azerbaijan and Malta. Frits Lagerwerff (VPRO Radio/TV, Netherlands) wrote: Her arrival in Europe raised a buzz in the jazz community. Here was an American singer who was performing with everybody, who could sing in all styles, with an impressive, seductive swing feel. Described by the Music Maker magazine as “absolutely top-class”, she is one of the most dynamic vocalists in the jazz scene. Since then Deborah has acquired considerable international fame. Connoisseurs and fans alike recognize her abilities as an improviser, as a recording artist, and as a live performer. Most impressive is the profound way in which she investigates and elaborates on songs. Drawing from the rich American tradition of gospel, blues, swing, bop, modern jazz and pop. A voice which, like good wine, ripens with time. As influences she not only mentions great classics like Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson, but also singers like Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Al Jarreau, as well as modernists like Jon Hendricks and Mark Murphy, scat singers with an edge, who dare to take risks. By listening to these influential vocalists, Deborah defined and developed her own concept. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |