Mentorship, collaboration and love!
I had a wonderful evening of music Tuesday, sharing with some truly beautiful, talented individuals with whom I have performed. The brilliant Bob Levy, trumpeter, composer, Professor Emeritus at Lawrence University, and founder of the Big Band Reunion, returned to Wisconsin from his new home on Long Island to astound us with his virtuosity at the 25th anniversary of the BBR. I met Bob in 2012 when he "raised me up" by including me as a feature vocalist for the BBR. Since then, he played on my 2014 release "Falling," and worked with me on several gigs before moving "back East." So lucky I was to work alongside this jazz icon!
And these hooligans... :). John "Giovanni" Contratto, founder and producer of the annual "Musicale," an opera-based musical extravaganza. John asked me to sing at the very first "Musicale" nine years ago, and that night, in a total shift of genre, we created the jazz duo "Rhapsody" that began my solo career! So much has transpired since then! Sergio Heredia and Marlene Fiera are two of the very first musicians I worked with as well, Marlene a pianist and sweet accompanist, and Serge a fantastic Latin-blooded, guitar strumming duet partner- "Besame Mucho!"
How fun to reach back, while reaching ahead. How amazing to continue to make music with those who have helped to plant the seeds and nurture them. And how incredible these truly old-school "gentlepeople" are: kind, thoughtful, respectful, PATIENT- haha- I need that! And I am so grateful! GRAZIE!