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| Sylvia Mims & Donn Trenner at The Metropolitian Room Fancy Miss Nancy: The Nancy Wilson Songbook Featuring vocalist and Nancy Wilson devotee Sylvia Mims, jazz pianist and Nancy Wilson's former musical director Donn Trenner, and Matt Dwonszyk on bass Sat., May 14th at The Metropolitian Room 7pm Don Trenner's Bio Donn Trenner is an Emmy Nominated musical director, conductor, arranger that came up in the ranks of early bebop pianists playing with the likes of Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Oscar Pettiford, Charles Mingus, and Ben Webster, appearing on over 100 jazz albums from 1950 onward. During the Big Band era he played with Ted Fio Rito, Buddy Morrow, Charlie Barnett and Tommy Dorsey. While with the Les Brown Orchestra, he worked with Bob Hope for seven years as his personal accompanist and occasional music director, participating in six of the Bob Hope International Christmas tours. As an accompanist, he has worked with such artists as Lena Horne, Anita O'Day, Vicki Carr, Dick Haymes, Jose Feliciano, Jack Jones, Frances Faye, Nelson Riddle, Paul Broadnax, Rita Moreno, Nancy Wilson, Ann-Margret, and Shirley MacLaine. A much sought after musical director, Donn Trenner appeared nightly on the famed "Steve Allen Show, " leading the Donn Trenner Orchestra. He was also Ann-Margret's musical director for 18 years. He worked extensively touring with Shirley MacLaine which led to an Emmy Award nomination for music direction, arranging and conducting the television special, "Gypsy In My soul, " and in 1977, a three-hour television special from the Kennedy Center on the eve of Jimmy Carter's Inauguration. As musical director for Nancy Wilson he conducted many International orchestras and performed in television specials for Swedish Broadcasting, German broadcasting and the BBC, and in 1978, again at the Kennedy Center, he was the musical director for the "Happy Birthday Bob" show honoring Hope's 75th birthday. In 1996, he moved back to the East Coast where he now makes his home in Guilford, Connecticut. Weekly you can hear him leading The Hartford Jazz Orchestra, a role he took on in 2000 upon the death of acclaimed arranger and bandleader Chic Cicchetti. Sylvia Mims' Bio Sylvia Mims is a rare talent, seamlessly blending a deeply rooted jazz sensibility with classical training. Sylvia's alluring voice was perhaps best described by renowned jazz pianist Les McCann, who lauded it for its beauty, effortless range, and the rare gift of storytelling through song. Sylvia's timbre is like a signature: unique and making each song personal and each story genuinely lived; her extraordinary vocal range is matched by that of her favorite genres: the Great American Song Book, early and contemporary Jazz, Bossa Nova, Broadway, and R & B. Originally from Los Angeles, Sylvia was extremely active in southern California, being the featured vocalist at the Swing Jazz City Orchestra, and performing at prominent jazz hot spots such as Chadney's, Ca'del Sole, Frankie's, Lunaria's, Micelli's, Hotel Del Coronado, and The Loews Hotel, among others. Notable accompanying musicians include Tamir Hendelman, Billy Higgins, Earl Palmer, Bobby Rodriguez, Kendall Kay, Jamie Findlay, Dave Koonse, and Gene Bertoncini. In addition to live appearances, she has recorded with Karen Hammack, Putter Smith, and Roy McCurdy. In the Tri-State area, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, as a winner in the American Fine Arts Festival's Golden Voices of America competition, and numerous venues in CT and NY. Sylvia released her debut CD titled Where Lovers Live in November 2014 with legendary jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and musical director Donn Trenner. In his review of the CD jazz journalist, Scott Yanow, says, "She has a beautiful voice, a wide range, and a powerful delivery, hitting the center of every note. She puts a lot of feeling into the lyrics of each song, has attractive jazz phrasing, and swings at every tempo". Sylvia's warm, breathtaking vocals are a conduit to a uniquely appealing and engaging live experience. She is equally compelling singing jazz legend Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream" as she is performing "Your Daddy's Son" from the musical Ragtime. Each of her performances has a full range of emotional shades that captivate and enthrall listeners, and her adeptness at singing diverse styles appeals to a broad audience; indeed, to anyone who loves music and wants to be moved. write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |