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"The first thing you notice about Gretchen Parlato is that she's a singer with a deep, almost magical connection to the music," says jazz legend Herbie Hancock. "She takes a lot of chances with her understated style, and it works. Every note is expressive, powerful, and pretty. And most important, her heart is in the right place." Gretchen's petite bearing and vocal enchantments evoked another famed spell-casting pixie for one reviewer, who called Gretchen's 2003 performance with Herbie in Paris "a fairy-tale like show. . . in the universe of Bjork." This recording mixes elements of Jazz, Brazilian and African music. She is joined by a superb and complimentary rhythm section of Lionel Loueke (guitar and voice), Aaron Parks (piano), Massimo Biolcati (bass), and Cafe (percussion), each musician beautifully allowing the nuances of her soft and sensual voice to shine. With this shrewd, emotive, and subtle approach, Gretchen has quickly created a buzz around New York. She moved from Los Angeles two years ago, after completing the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, where she was the first vocalist ever to be selected by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Terence Blanchard. She charmed and awed judges by taking first prize in the 2004 Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocals Competition. She recently performed as part of "A Celebration of Jobim" at the Hollywood Bowl with Oscar Castro-Neves, Gal Costa, Ivan Lins, Dianne Reeves among other legendary artists. She has sung with Roy Hargrove's Big Band, as well as at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. "I think in an inconspicuous way, Gretchen Parlato knows how to play the same instrument that Frank Sinatra played." comments jazz legend, Wayne Shorter. "Theres no one out there like Gretchen." "Parlato's sense of subtle rhythmic interplay and understated theatrical nuance takes the ache of Frank and implicates it throughout an improvisational-based esthetic that rests, most often, on Brazilian master-class moments... As simple and restive as she sounds in print, her voice-scatting, cooing, leaning back then soaring-can leap through complex tempo and rhythmic shifts as if riding rapids." -A.D. Amorosi, New York Press "She enters the music, becoming part of the band, improvising in melody and rhythm, prying open sweet spots in the songs... it's evident that she's an extraordinary singer." -Ben Ratliff, New York Times Upcoming performances include: fri july 7 @ 55bar, nyc mon july 24 @ la lanterna, nyc wed july 26 -john scofield presents gp @ katonah museum, ny mon july 31 @ zinc bar, nyc fri aug 4 @ 55bar, nyc mon aug 7 @ dizzys jazz at lincoln center, nyc mon aug 14 @ jazz standard, nyc - duets with lionel loueke fri aug 18 @ villa celimontana jazz festival, roma italy wed aug 23 @ rocella jazz festival, italy fri sept 16 @ williamsburg jazz festival - rose cafe fri sept 29 @ LACMA, los angeles, ca sun oct 1 @ dizzy's, san diego ca - duets w/ lionel loueke Visit www.gretchenparlato.com for more info & performance dates. Check out the artist's website: http://www.gretchenparlato.com Track List: 1. Skylark 2. Flor De Lis 3. Come to Me 4. Nonvignon 5. Ela E Carioca 6. Chega De Saudade 7. Benny's Tune 8. Juju/footprints Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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