CD Launches

Andrea Keller - solo piano

Jazz pianist and composer Andrea Keller has released five albums as leader, receiving four ARIA nominations, two Aria Awards and a Bell Award. This performance marks the launch of her debut solo piano CD ‘the Wayne Shorter Project' out on ABC Jazz.

Residing in Melbourne, Australia, Andrea has performed and recorded with many leading Australian jazz musicians. A prolific composer and band leader she has led projects such as ‘The Bartok Project', ‘The Andrea Keller Quintet', ‘The Andrea Keller Quartet' and is co-founder of ‘The Bennetts Lane Big Band' and ‘Keller/Murphy/Browne'.

Internationally Andrea has toured to Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Japan, Ireland and Scotland.She has been awarded the MCA/Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship, has received four ARIA nominations, winning two ARIA Awards for Best Jazz Album (2002 and 2003) was nominated for Jazz Performer of the Year at the 2003 Bell Awards and won the Bell Award for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album 2003.

Aside from composing material for her own ensembles, Andrea has received commissions from the Melbourne International Women's Jazz Festival, the Bennetts Lane Big Band Mike Nock's BigSmallBand and The Australian Art Orchestra.

This performance launches her debut solo piano recording ‘the Wayne Shorter Project' out on ABC Jazz.

www.andreakellerpiano.com
www.jazzhead.com/littleclaps

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Louise Denson Trio : Ingrid James and Adrian Cunningham (BRIS) CD Launch

Louise Denson and Ingrid James present the fruits of their song-writing partnership. Original European - flavoured contemporary jazz compositions have been fleshed out with lyrics that reflect the lives, passions and beliefs of these two women artists of the 21st century.

Louise Denson - piano
Adrian Cunningham - reeds
Ingrid James - vocals
Helen Russell - accoustic bass
Joe Marchisella - drums

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Louise Denson

Pianist, Composer, Educator

Canadian-born, Louise holds a Master's degree in Jazz Improvisation from the New England Conservatory in Boston. Chair of the jazz area at the Queensland Conservatorium, she is also active on the music scene in Brisbane and surrounds, playing both with her own group and on a free-lance basis. Clean Start, a CD of original compositions by the Louise Denson Group, was recognised by the Queensland Recording Association with the 2003 Sunnie Award for Best Jazz Recording. LDG has received good reviews and radio play, as well as appearing at the Melbourne International Women's Jazz Festival, Valley Jazz Festival and as part of the the Queensland Music Festival. LDG played at the Wangaratta International Festival of Jazz and Blues in Nov. 2005. A second CD of original material featuring Brisbane vocalist Ingrid James is scheduled for release in late 2006.

Other projects include musical directorship of the 7-piece Latin dance band Hot Mambo. Hot Mambo has performed at the Woodford Folk Festival, the River Festival, the Queensland Biennial, the Brisbane Festival, and the Kangaroo Point Festival of Jazz and Blues. Repertoire includes several Denson originals in various styles.

Prior to emigrating to Australia, Louise's career in North America included numerous appearances at the Montreal International Jazz Festival as well as a tour of the jazz festival circuit in Western Canada with Canada's premier salsa and merengue orchestra, Papo Ross y Orquesta Pambiche. She appears as player, composer and arranger on several CDs, as well as having done taped and live-to-air broadcasts for radio and TV.

Ingrid James - jazz singer

"Ingrid's journey has seen more than just the predictable stops along the way..." After 10 years of working in television production and as a director for ABC Television, where she was involved in many music projects including director of music clips (Lee Kernaghan, Gina Jeffreys, James Blundell, Keith Urban, Ted Egan, Melinda Schneider, Colin Buchanan...) and co-producer of original music scores with local musicians for award-winning docu/dramas,prepared Ingrid James for her true vocation as a Jazz singer and Teacher. Performing nationally and internationally including Sydney, Melbourne and London and privately studying with Jazz vocal masters such as Grammy nominated Tierney Sutton, Michele Weir in Los Angeles and Kerrie Biddell in Sydney - Ingrid's career has ranged from nationally televised performances as Soloist with the Queensland Orchestra to appearances at the 606 Club in London and the Blue Note in Monaco. Appearances for major corporate events are tempered with regular performances at Jazz festivals and recordings for the ABC and distributors such as Newmarket Music. In 2002, she completed post graduate studies in Vocal Pedagogy (Jazz Voice) at Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where she received an Academic Award for Excellence.

Performance highlights/Festivals attended:

Blue Note, Monaco-Performer
Le Castellet, France-Performer
City of Music, Marseilles-Performer
606 Club, London-Performer
Spice of Life, London-Performer
Vocal workshops @ Brisbane Jazz Club 2006
QUT Lecturer 2006 - Vocal Improv
Brisbane Powerhouse 2006 - Hot Nights/Cool Jazz Festival
The Judith Wright Centre - Valley Jazz Fest. fundraiser
Vocal Adjudicator for Brisbane Eisteddfods, July 2006
Vocal Masterclasses in Toulon and Marseilles 2005/6-Presenter
Bandol, France-Performer
2005 with Queensland Orchestra "Spirit of Christmas"-Performer
Performances with Qld Symphony Orchestra and Qld Philharmonic Orchestra
with Maestro Tommy Tycho in Cole Porter and Gershwin Tributes
Noosa Jazz Festival 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
(annointed Queen of Noosa Jazz Festival 2003)
Kingscliff Food and Jazz Festival 2005, 2006
4BC Samford Valley Jazz Food and Wine Festival 2005,2006
Gold Coast Jazz Festival 2004, 2005
Mackay Arts Festival 2004-Performer (Mackay Conservatorium Workshop)
Valley Jazz Festival 2004, 2005
Kiama Jazz Festival 2003, 2004
Bellingen Jazz Festival 2004
Ambiwerra Jazz Festival 2001, 2002, 2004
Wilson's Jazz and Seafood Festival, Manly 2005
Queensland Biennial Music Festival 2003, 2005(Spiegeltent)
Riverfestival and Seafood Festival 2002, 2003, 2004
Bayside Jazz Festival 2003, 2004
Kangaroo Point Jazz and Blues Festival 2001, 2002
Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival @ Bennetts Lane 2001
Regular performances @ The Brisbane Jazz Club, Gold Coast Jazz Club, The Lab,
Stones Corner Hotel, The Press Club, The Brisbane Powerhouse, Jupiters Casino...

About Ingrid James...

We all have to start somewhere...
Ingrid's passion for singing began as a child growing up in Brisbane, Australia. Listening to her mother perform at the City Hall in choirs and as a soloist, she was exposed to an eclectic musical mix: folk songs from her mother's native Finland, tangos and polkas, and Italian opera thrummed through their home.
Ingrid's first truly professional gig came when she was 19 years old. Every Sunday she'd take the trip up to the summit of Mt Coot-tha for a year, where Brisbane's television broadcast stations based themselves, to pre-record backing vocals for a Channel 9 children's program.
During the early stages of her musical career, Ingrid developed her tastes further to include soul, funk, RandB and jazz fusion. Ingrid toured Australia's east coast for a year with seven-piece line up Jamaica, fronting the group with another singer, Pia Farbach, daughter of celebrated jazz guitarist, the late Rick Farbach.
Like many young Australians, Ingrid caught the wanderlust, and headed off to Europe. Her travels led her to recording work in Sweden, as well as sitting in with bands in Berlin, London and Turkey while she was on the move.
After a year abroad, her philosophy of "east, west, home's best" brought her back to Australia. No sooner had her feet touched the tarmac and she was off once again. A family nudge to enter what was then Queensland's biggest talent contest Stairway to the Stars-a contest she won-sent her off to the United States for one month.
While in the US, Ingrid sang with the late Merrill Hoover, pianist and then head of San Fransciso University Jazz Department, at the legendary jazz venue Casablanca. Hoover encouraged her to sing jazz and generously gave Ingrid her first Real Book of Standards.
Ingrid felt an affinity with the jazz genre, but another artform had captured her heart, and ultimately the desire to pursue its expression together with her overwhelming desire to be home with family and friends prevailed. A tale of two passions Ingrid's second passion was film and television production, and a burgeoning career in this field acted to complement her musical interests. Initially starting out as a production assistant with ABC Television, Ingrid eventually made her way up to the become studio director for News and Current Affairs. During her time at the station, she directed music clips for included stars such as Lee Kernaghan, Keith Urban, James Blundell, Melinda Schneider, Gina Jeffreys, Ted Egan, Colin Buchanan and many local artists. Ingrid also co-produced award-winning soundtracks for programs such as Dragon's Tongue and Return to Singapore.

Post graduate studies at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS, Sydney) meant there was never enough time for her music to be more than part time, nevertheless it was during this period that Ingrid deepened her dedication to jazz-a devotion that endures to this day. Seeing Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson perform live inspired Ingrid and galvanised her relationship with the art form.

Editing pre-recorded music was the easy option at that time, but Ingrid's passion lay in working with original works and soundtracks being written by locals for documentaries. During her time with the ABC, Ingrid was instrumental in initiating and overseeing many successful links between local musicians and documentary producers/directors as a result.

Eventually, the call to return to singing grew too strong to resist. Bidding a sad farewell to television, Ingrid pursued her dream by joining a vocal ensemble which she remained part of for four years. The experience provided the perfect training ground for harmonies, blending and stage craft skills.

In 2002, Ingrid completed post graduate studies in Vocal Pedagogy (Jazz Voice) at Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium of Music where she also received an Academic Award for Excellence.

Ingrid teaches singing from her private studio and is heavily involved in the local jazz scene, both from a performance perspective and through involvement with a range of jazz associations. She is currently an advisory committee member of Jazz Queensland.
She performs extensively as a jazz singer throughout south east Queensland, Australia's east coast, Europe and the UK with groups predominantly ranging in size from duos to quintets.
Past and present recordings

After a few years of jingles and session singing, Ingrid's first full recording work was in the 1990's as a joint venture with musicians Paul Draper and Bill Walker. Recorded at ABC Radio in Queensland, Captured-Live at Middenbury was a juxtaposition between jazz standards, soul and originals.

Subsequent recordings were made with her former band Passionfruit.
Both Just Visiting and Lazy Afternoon, which was produced by Mal Stanley and recorded at the ABC's Southbank Studios in Melbourne for ABC-FM's Jazz Track, won SUNNIE Music Industry Awards for Best Jazz CDs in Queensland in 2001 and 2002 respectively.
Ingrid's most recent recording Essence has been distributed nationally in Australia by Newmarket Music in 2005. John Shand from the Sydney Morning Herald described Ingrid on her latest CD as a "fearless and gifted jazz singer for whom the songs are there to be teased, flirted with and then milked for all their improvisational potential", and goes on to describe the CD itself as "much more about life on the edge, about chances taken and pulled off with panache." Brisbane reviewer and journalist Noel Mengel called Essence "...an album which stretches the ballad form thanks to James's sensual voice and the interplay of four of the finest players in Australia." Of her previous recording Lazy Afternoon, Tony Backhouse, singer and vocal arranger for recordings by Renee Geyer, Neil Finn, says "Ingrid James floats and swings effortlessly through the changes with a tone of honey. As well as great technique, there's an engaging warmth to her delivery like a close friend smiling at you."
Beyond the music Ingrid's commitment to the world of jazz extends far beyond her own incandescent performances, extending generously to her involvement with the broader jazz community. She is a member of the Australian National Association of Teachers' of Singing (ANATS), the Australian Voice Association (AVA), the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), Queensland Wine Press Club and is on the Advisory Committee of Jazz Queensland.

One stellar performance after another
Ingrid performs regularly throughout south-east Queensland, Australia and overseas, including appearances in Sydney, melbourne, London, Marseilles and the Blue Note in Monte Carlo. In her own inimitable style, Ingrid balances her own performance career with private teaching, master classes and workshops, and mentoring up and coming new talent.

Concerts
Concert The Spirit of Christmas (2005) with the Simon Burke and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (broadcast by ABC TV)at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Concert Lush Lives-a toast to Ella, Anita and Sarah (2004), launched at The Brisbane Jazz Club with Katrina Alberts
Concert An Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong Tribute (2004), also at The Brisbane Jazz Club
Concert A Burt Bacharach Tribute (2004) performed at Brisbane City Hall.
Concert A Cole Porter Tribute (2001) with Donald Cant and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (Maestro Tommy Tycho) at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Concert "Smith Family - Fundraiser" (2000) at The Gold Coast Arts Centre with Queensland Symphony Orchestra (Maestro Tommy Tycho).
Concert A Gershwin Tribute (2000) with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (Maestro Tommy Tycho) at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Concert A Gershwin Tribute (2000) with The Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra (Conductor: Dobbs Franks) at The Tivoli Theatre.
Concert Schools Concert Series @ Chandler with The Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Jazz Singers' Jam Night
For the last three years, Ingrid has been producing the monthly jam nights with the support of Jazz Queensland.
The jam nights give students and professionals alike a safe space to work alongside one another, and with some of Brisbane's most talented jazz musicians. They give local musicians-both budding and veteran-the perfect forum for networking and experiencing the sense of a wider and growing jazz community.

Performance highlights
Among the highlights of her musical career to date, Ingrid numbers performances with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra and Queensland Orchestra as a soloist and with vocal ensemble Swing Diva paying tribute to the Gershwins and Cole Porter. During her early days, Ingrid also supported Osibisa at Twin Towns, and Marcia Hines at Jupiters Casino with Swing Diva. Ingrid has appeared with former lead for The Phantom of the Opera, Donald Cant, co-leading a Cole Porter tribute, as well as with Maestro Tommy Tycho at The Queensland Performing Arts and Gold Coast Arts Centres. Highlights from Ingrid's festival performances include supporting Renee Geyer at the Kangaroo Point Jazz and Blues Festival as well as Jenny Morris and Deborah Conway at Brisbane's River Festival. Most significant of all Ingrid's festival highlights would have to be her anointment as the Queen of the Noosa International Jazz Festival in 2003, where she has performed every year since 2001.

What's on the boil?
Ingrid's latest project is a joint venture with songwriter and jazz pianist, Louise Denson. The pair plan have just finished recording a CD of their original works in June 2006, including two works written by jazz guitarist, James Sherlock. Musicians for this project are: Ingrid James, vocals; Louise Denson, piano; Helen Russell, acoustic bass; Joe Marchisella, drums; Mark Spencer, flute and sax; Carl Harvoe, trumpet.
In the near future, Ingrid will be providing vocals on a Global Collective Recording Project with songwriters from the US-an exciting project that will involve songs in and out of the jazz genre.

CDs released
Essence (released 2005)
A selection of jazz standards recorded at Grevillea Studios, Brisbane, Australia. Distributed nationally by Newmarket Music 2005.
Vocals: Ingrid James; Piano: Matt Baker; Reeds: Adrian Cunningham; Bass: Owen Newcomb; Drums: John Parker.
Available through all major retail outlets such as HMV and JB HiFi, as well as www.cdbaby.com.

National Breast Cancer Foundation-Pink Swing Project (released 2005)
Contributions from jazz artists in Australia to raise money for the Foundation. Available in all David Jones stores from 1 October for $24.95.
Track listing in alphabetical order (at this stage):
Matt Baker, "All or Nothing at All"
Kate Ceberano, "At Last"
Danielle Gaha, "Taking a Chance on Love"
Ingrid James, "But Not For Me"
Vince Jones, "This is the Woman"
Java Quartet, "Lullaby For Deb"
James Morrison, "On the Edge"
Michelle Nicolle, "Smile"
Katie and Maggie Noonan, "Summertime"
Emma Pask, "This Madness Called Love"
Mark Rivett and the John Morrison Big Band, "Girl Talk"
Dan Quigley Quartet, "Mrs B"
Monica Trapaga and the Bachelor Pad, "Long as You're Living"
Anthony Warlow, "More"
Jazz Queensland/Merlo CD Compilation Volume 2 (released 2005)
Featuring songs from Queensland jazz artists and available through www.jazzqueensland.com.
Lazy Afternoon (released 2002)
Recorded at ABC Southbank Studios, Melbourne, Australia for ABC FM's JazzTrack. Produced and engineered by Mal Stanley 2002.
Vocals: Ingrid James; Piano: Nathan Seiler; Bass: Peter Walters; Drums: Dave Beck.
Just Visiting (released 2001)
Independent. Recorded at Grevillea Studios, Brisbane, Australia.
Vocals: Ingrid James; Piano: Nathan Seiler; Bass: Peter Walters.

Industry and academic awards
Winner Queensland's SUNNIE Award for Best Jazz CD in Queensland for Lazy Afternoon (2002)
Winner Queensland's SUNNIE Award for Best Jazz CD in Queensland for Just Visiting (2001)
Winner Queensland's SUNNIE Award for Best TV Soundtrack for Dragon's Tongue (1990) and Return to Singapore (1993).
Academic Award for Excellence in Music Studies (Vocal Pedagogy), Griffith University (2002)
Academic Award for Photography, QUT (1990)
Colorama Prize for Photography, QUT (1990)
Finalist ATOM (Australian Teachers' of Media) for directing docu-drama A Midsummer Night's Dream (1995)
Academic accomplishments
Graduate Cert. in Music Studies (Vocal Pedagogy), 2002, Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Graduate Diploma in Film and Television, [1990], Australian Film, TV and Radio School (AFTRS), Sydney.
And the reviews keep coming...
Wherever Ingrid performs, the reviewers never cease to tire of her genuine warmth and style that comes from having that "lived through it and survived" connection to the music she creates.
Reviews for Ingrid's CD Essence
"At a time when so many singers rely on clichéd embellishment, it comes almost as a shock to hear lyrics delivered with directness and clarity. Ingrid James brings the listener to the inner essence. It's déjà vu in reverse...Thoughtful, inventive and, above all, swinging, Ingrid squeezes every line for nuance and meaning. The impeccable phrasing and accurate intonation come almost as a bonus." David Bentley, Journalist, CD review "Essence"
"This turns out to be a recital by a fully integrated quintet of improvisatory travelers, not averse to eschewing main roads for cross country forays. Ms. James uses song materials for her own improvisatory ends, without surrendering the vital signs thereof. I'm pencilling this one in as an early probable for my 2005 ‘Best 10' list. It comes as a most challenging and welcome vocal surprise". Alan Bargebuhr, CD review "Essence", Cadence Magazine, New York
"[Ingrid James] is a fearless and gifted jazz singer for whom the songs are there to be teased, flirted with and milked for all their improvisational potential. [Her latest CD] is much more about life on the edge, about chances taken and pulled off with panache." John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald, CD Review "Essence"
"Australian singer, Ingrid James has a voice that reminds me of eating chocolate: rich, dark and smooth. This is a really different vocal album, recorded live in the studio with a lot of energy and spontaneity." Trudy Kerr, London "Essence"
"A very true singer who has a special affinity for Brazilian music. She sings Chega de Saudade with an unmistakably personal approach, with a sound that does not belong to anyone else. A swinging bossa nova singer, but she is also well equipped to bring out the full beauty of the lyrics." Joao da Penha, Brazilian journalist, author and music critic, CD review "Essence"
"Renditions of songs are common; however when a vocalist such as Ingrid can make the song sound completely new you sometimes forget what the original even sounded like." Aparna Datta, Music Journalist based in Los Angeles, CD review "Essence".
"Now and again we have the pleasure of experiencing something refreshing in the musical performance. For too long now we had to endure the irritatingly unmusical warblings by the legends in their own lunchtime (so called) singers, so it is a great delight to listen to Ingrid performing some good songs with enjoyable, intelligent musical style. Bravo Ingrid and more power to you...." Maestro Tommy Tycho, CD review "Lazy Afternoon"
Reviews of Ingrid's "live" performances
"Ingrid James' passionate vocals cut like musical light-sabres with each note-yet injected warmth and depth of meaning and pathos that only deep compassion can bring." Matthew Hutchinson, Special Music Consultant to the Noosa Jazz Festival-Live performance review
"Ingrid is a singer who can draw you inside the most touching standard and make you smile with an up-tempo tune and a scat chorus. [Her] infectious humour and her delightful interpretations of jazz classics made her a popular choice for best performer and ensured an invitation for the 2004 Festival." Peter O'Neill, Strategic Director of Kiama Jazz Festival
"Ingrid is a class act. The Mackay Festival of Arts was privileged to secure such a performer for the Festival. Her performance on the opening night still has people talking. Her presence on and off stage makes Ingrid the sensation she is." Louise Bezzina, Festival Coordinator, Mackay Festival of Arts (July 2004)
"The Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Club were very previleged to secure the talents of Ingrid James to appear in the inaugaural Gold Coast Jazz Festival held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre the weekend of March 26, 27 and 28th...Ingrid gave a stunning performance and was one of the stars of the whole event. Queensland is fortunate to have her as one of our leading jazz singers." Mary Oxenford, Festival Coordinator 2004.
"Look out Noosa, here comes an artist who can move gracefully between traditional jazz and soulful blues with a powerful, yet sultry vocal resonance." Noosa Jazz Festival 2002
"Ingrid James is one of those exception singers who takes her audience on a journey of joy and delight. Every set of hers filled the room. Her voice, her style and her stage presence charmed the Honda Jazz Festival audiences over and over again. Can I say that she's a winner!". Ray Bolwell, Chairman, Gold Coast Arts Centre and Gold Coast Jazz Festival Director, 26/27 February 2005.

Ingrid James with Matt Baker at the Noosa Jazz Festival September 2003
September 2003 review by Matthew Hutchinson, former broadcaster on Noosa Community Radio FM 101.3 and special musical consultant to the jazz festival.
There are moments that transport you-they are particular, special segments in time, in one's life, that allow one the opportunity to realise consciously what the journey is about; and permit a slow-motion type of cognisance to take place, wherein life-actions can be simultaneously viewed, participated in, and completely realised as integrated understanding, all at once.
Sitting at Fusion Café on the Noosa River on Sunday evening on the tail end of the Noosa Jazz 2003 Festival one such magical illumination took place.
Ingrid James' passionate vocals cut like musical light-sabres with each note-yet injected warmth and depth of meaning and pathos that only deep compassion can bring. Her work on "What a Difference a Day Made" was both incandescent yet heart opening. Just as riveting, yet in a totally credible, street-tough punchiness was the Oscar Brown Jr. blues "As long as you're living". The focus must shine equally on the dramatic piano work of Matt Baker. The evening's solos were the highpoint to this listener of decades of listening to great jazz-yet the particular extended solo played in "I've got just about everything" was the absolute zenith of the integration of pyrotechnical physical alibility, musical nous and sense of fitness, spiritual compassion and innate sense of beauty and elegance. Patrons and musicians alike were shaking their heads in disbelief at the music being generated.
The vortex of joy and upliftment created in that room by the four players was such that a transporting past the time/space continuum was produced. A healing on the hearts of humanity was taking place in that special moment. All present were involved - whether their intellect was cognisant or not. The interlocked simpatico of the two brothers, Pat and Joe Marchisella comprising the rhythm section set up the foundation and scaffolding for the two soloists (Ingrid and Matt) to build upon.
An environment wherein music became the vehicle to dismantle fear was in motion. Pure elation and interconnectedness to the hearts of all of humanity happened in that room-the players, through their years of dedication to their craft accessed the higher levels of Love and let it flow through them to repair all of those fortunate enough to put themselves in that place.
Bless them for their gifts. The immediacy of great jazz puts it right where it is-Truth resonates.

www.ingridjames.com