Melissa Stylianou from NYC (special Sunday Matinee Concert) “Women in Jazz Series” sponsored by DIVA International

When:
October 9, 2022 @ 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
2022-10-09T16:00:00-04:00
2022-10-09T18:30:00-04:00
Cost:
$20.00

Jazz vocalist, lyricist, and educator Melissa Stylianou, hailed by piano master Fred Hersch for her “gorgeous instrument, superb musicianship, and great taste,” returns to The Jazz Room to celebrate the release of her critically-acclaimed 6th album as a leader, “Dream Dancing” (Anzic Records), which features Ike Sturm – bass, and jazz legend, 86 year old guitarist Gene Bertoncini. Ike will travel from NYC for this concert, and Reg Schwager will play in place of Bertoncini (a hand-picked, Gene-approved sub!). The audience will hear jazz standards such as “It Might As Well Be Spring”, “Corcovado”, and “My One and Only Love” in an intimate setting emphasizing the contributions of each member of the trio. Melissa, Ike, and Reg will endeavour to tell the story of each song while taking every opportunity for playful interplay – and swing!

“This is Melissa’s 6th solo album and she takes the opportunity full on to deliver in a soft, cajoling voice – think Blossom or Astrud – what must surely be in the running for jazz vocal album of the year despite the strong competition on either side of the Atlantic.Bebop Spoken Here

From Downbeat Magazine, a  5 STAR REVIEW in the October 2022 issue:
“For her latest outing, Melissa leaned into the Great American Songbook for a collection of brilliant reinventions. She’s accompanied by Gene Bertoncini on acoustic guitar and stand-up bass player Ike Sturm, but they play together like a band, not a singer with backing musicians. Although this is their first formal collaboration, they met up 10 years ago. Sturm introduced Stylianou to Bertoncini, a man he considers a mentor. The first time they played together, something clicked. Since then, they’ve all collaborated on various projects, but this recording is their first as a trio.  Stylianou shows off her remarkable vocal and emotional chops here, trading equal time with Sturm and Bertoncini. They show off their chemistry on “For Chet”, the album’s one original, a tribute to Bertoncini’s former boss, Chet Baker. He opens the tune strumming a few bossa nova-like chords. Stylianou adds her scatting-like improvisations to the mix, harmonizing with Bertoncini’s melody. Sturm slips in, following Bertoncini’s lead, then Stylianou rejoins them to trade solos. She opens “Perdido” scatting along with Bertoncini and Sturm, stepping back to let them trade solos that playfully dance around the rhythm and melody. Stylianou sings “Corcovado” in Portuguese and English, with a yearning tone echoing Astrud Gilberto’s original, then lays out to let the rhythm section experiment with multiple variations of tempo. They all trade solo efforts on “It Might As Well Be Spring,” with Bertoncini’s guitar, Stylianou’s wistful vocal and Sturm’s bass interacting playfully to bring the set to a close.”

 

DOORS open at 3:00 PM

Personnel:

Melissa Stylianou-vocals

Ike Sturm-bass

Reg Schwager-guitar

Check out: “Perdido”       “EPK for Dream Dancing”       “For Chet”

This performance is sponsored by DIVA INTERNATIONAL, makers of the Diva Cup,  for the” Women in Jazz Series”