Cathy Segal-Garcia

Cathy Segal-Garcia

Musicians | Instrument: Vocals | Location: Los Angeles

Cathy Segal-Garcia’s style leans toward heavily melodic vehicles that show off her flowing, at-ease, rhythmic sense...A voice that’s soft and warm as cashmere.

—Zan Stewart, Los Angeles Times

Updated: November 26, 2023

Born: May 28, 1953

Boston-bred Cathy Segal-Garcia loved jazz since the age of 5 when she would hang around with her dad (sax player Mike Segal) while she listened to and copied Ella Fitzgerald. Her mother and sisters were also musical, and the family got her started on flute at the age of 10.

Cathy attended the Berklee School of Music from 1972 through 1975, where studied flute and Arranging and Composition . After college, she moved to San Francisco for a brief period, and then to Los Angeles in late 1975, where she still resides. One of the things that has impressed her many colleagues, fans and critics is that she has consistently performed and composed over the years. Performing and recording with literally hundreds of musicians, some of the more well known include: Pianist Russell Ferrante (The Yellowjackets) Drummer Tom Brechtlein (Robben Ford, Chick Corea) Bassist Marc Johnson (pianist Bill Evans, John Ambercrombie, John Scoffield) Bassist Gary Willis (Scott Henderson) Ledgendary guitarist Ted Greene Guitarist Jeff Richman Guitarist Mike Miller (Chick Corea) Saxophonist Bob Sheppard (Steeley Dan) Drummer Peter Erskine (Weather Report, Stan Kenton, Steeley Dan, and many modern jazz recording artists) Pianist Kei Akagi (Miles Davis) Drummer Joey Barron (Bill Frisell, John Scoffield) Studio pianist Mike Lang Singer/pianist Diana Krall Drummer John Robinson (Quincy Jones) Pianist David Benoit Pianist Billy Childs Drummer Joey Heredia (Scott Henderson, Tania Maria) Flautist Sam Most Pianist Carl Schroeder, head of the piano department at Musicians Institute in Hollywood (Sarah Vaughn) Trumpeter Bill Berry Saxophonist Don Menza Pianist extraordinare Dave Mackay Guitarist John Pisano ...and the list goes on. Their styles range from bebop to modern jazz.

Her singing and professionalism attracted much notice over the years and Cathy is presently in demand internationally for clinics, private teaching, jazz compositions, and live performances and studio recording. To date, Cathy has thirteen CDs under her own leadership: Point Of View, Song Of The Heart, Heart to Heart, Alone Together, Secret Life, Day By Day with Joe Diorio, Heart To Heart with Ross Tompkins, Bohemian with Yoonseung Cho. The Moment Live at the Blue Whale, Ted Greene - Never Forgotten, The Jazz Chamber (orchestra).

She's now working on three more projects with stellar musicians!


Tags

All About Jazz Articles

3
Album Review

Cathy Segal-Garcia: Social Anthems, Volume 1

Read "Social Anthems, Volume 1" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Proving there is still some life in the spirit of '60s activism—and even in the decades beyond it—vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia gives us six tracks which meld jazz, folk and pop idioms in a way which sounds both classic and contemporary. Drawing on the talents of a fine band and a couple of intriguing guest vocalists, Segal-Garcia delivers these tunes with confidence and a winsome disposition. Aside from the self-penned “What Are We Gonna Do," a zesty folk-based tune, ...

4
Multiple Reviews

Cathy Segal-Garcia: A Weaver Of Dreams

Read "Cathy Segal-Garcia: A Weaver Of Dreams" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Cathy Segal-Garcia's talents are vast, and her heart is warm and open. A significant presence on the Los Angeles scene, she can proudly wear many labels —"vocalist," “songwriter," “educator," and “scene maker and sustainer" among them. But when you boil Segal-Garcia down to her essence, she's simply a weaver of dreams, a starry- eyed wanderer and free spirit who, nevertheless, possesses strong artistic instincts and the organizational savvy to pull off one unique project after another. A look at a ...

2
Album Review

Cathy Segal-Garcia: The Jazz Chamber

Read "The Jazz Chamber" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


On this album, Cathy Segal-Garcia, a vocalist and educator on the Los Angeles jazz scene, comes up with something special, working with a chamber orchestra and a group of jazz musicians to produce a wide-ranging program that veers from lush romanticism to complex jazz-funk. On much of the disc, Segal-Garcia's thick, classically formal voice, combined with a full string section, presents a lilting hybrid of jazz and light classical music. On first hearing it sounds a bit too ...

1
Bailey's Bundles

Duos – Patrice Williamson/Jon Wheatley; Bill Brovold/Jamie Saft; Randy Ingram/Drew Gress; Eraldo Bernocchi/Prakash Sontakke; Cathy Segal-Garcia

Read "Duos – Patrice Williamson/Jon Wheatley; Bill Brovold/Jamie Saft; Randy Ingram/Drew Gress; Eraldo Bernocchi/Prakash Sontakke; Cathy Segal-Garcia" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


The duet performance format is pretty naked. There is little place to hide for the two instrumentalists taking part in the delicate discourse that is making music. The following are five approaches trying to make the cut of creativity. Patrice Williamson & Jon Wheatley Comes Love: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass Self Produced 2017 Ella Fitzgerald has been the object of recent homage attention in Jane Monheit's Songbook Sessions: Ella ...

64
Album Review

Cathy Segal-Garcia and Yoonseung Cho: Bohemian

Read "Bohemian" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


The classic vocal-piano format can present itself in a myriad of ways, ranging from a more common singer-with-accompanist experience, with one melodically active and the other harmonically supportive, to a more cerebral, highly energized interplay and exploration of musical ideas. Bohemian, featuring vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia and pianist Yoonseung Cho is an exquisite example of the latter. As the first collaboration between these two fine artists, this recording is a musical kaleidoscope of vocal sound textures, all swirling ...

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48

Recording

March 20: Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia Releases New CD Featuring Korean Piano Prodigy Yoonseung Cho

March 20: Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia Releases New CD Featuring Korean Piano Prodigy Yoonseung Cho

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

Bohemian (Dash Hoffman Records, March 20, 2012 Release) is the new CD by Los Angeles vocalist/educator Cathy Segal-Garcia. It's her first recorded collaboration with Korean jazz pianist Yoonseung Cho. “How did I meet Cho?" asks Cathy. “Well, I've hosted and created vocal workshops in L.A., every month, since around 1996. Several years ago, I hosted one with Gretchen Parlato, and she brought Cho to play piano as one of her accompanists. I was blown away by their wonderful musicianship! Later ...

191

Performance / Tour

West Meets East: Cathy Segal-Garcia & Rebecca Parris at Ryles Jazz Club on June 17

West Meets East:  Cathy Segal-Garcia & Rebecca Parris at Ryles Jazz Club on June 17

Source: Patricia Adams Ensembles

Two Special Jazz Vocalists Unite once again! Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:30pm to 12:00am

Cathy Segal-Garcia was born and bred in Newton, MA. Her father was Mike Segal, a sax player and band leader, and mother Natalie had been a big band singer. Cathy's twin sisters, Margy and Edie, joined her in their youth singing and performing.

Attending Berklee 72-75, Cathy then settled in Los Angeles, where she still resides. Performer, recording artist (six CDs presently), voice teacher, ...

145

Recording

New CD release..Alternative jazz...SECRET LIFE by Cathy Segal-Garcia

New CD release..Alternative jazz...SECRET LIFE by Cathy Segal-Garcia

Source: All About Jazz


“In Control: Jazz singer Cathy Segal-Garcia’s style leans toward heavily melodic vehicles that show off her flowing, at-ease, rhythmic sense...A voice that’s soft and warm as cashmere.” Zan Stewart ~~ Los Angeles Times

“If you closed your eyes you might think she was a highly evolved horn player...” Larry Koonse

“Even without seeing her, you know that this voice cannot be owned by a blonde...This is a deep, rich, ballsy voice, washed in browns, blues, and other earth tones.” Paul Anderson~~Jazzline

“A model of warm, exquisitely focused jazz vocalizing...sensuous voice and cool harmonies.” Don Heckman~~ Los Angeles Times

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Too many to mention! please see my website for my experience, past and present! Hours vary, depending on my availability, as do rates. Contact me!

Clinic/Workshop Information

I have several that i teach. Scatting...introducing it to all levels, making it easy to approach and understand. Scatting for experienced vocalists as well. Voice technique classes... about the physiology of the vocal instrument, how to problem solve, and how to get the most out of what you have! Business workshops...where to look for gigs, how to create them, hire the musicians for them, how to keep and PR the gig

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Artists who share similar musical characteristics to Cathy Segal-Garcia.

Miles Davis
trumpet
Nancy King
vocals
Bob Moses
drums
Weather Report
band / ensemble / orchestra
Sinne Eeg
vocals

Contact

Publicist

Mouthpiece Music

Music

I'm in the Mood for Love

From: Live in Japan
By Cathy Segal-Garcia

For What It's Worth

From: Social Anthems, Volume 1
By Cathy Segal-Garcia

Small Hotel

From: In2uition
By Cathy Segal-Garcia