Primary Instrument: Vocal
April Hall combines her deep roots in southern gospel and blues with an urban soulfulness and sophistication. Her voice, described as “Glorious” by the Boston Globe, is an instrument of astonishing beauty and versatility, capable of ranging from the purest whisper to the most powerful soul-drenched delivery. But her masterful performances are always centered on bringing every song to life through emotional interpretation, playful phrasing, and rock solid rhythm. “The exquisite, soulful vocals of April Hall deliver every lyric with emotion and conviction.” - Jazz Times Magazine
April graduated from Berklee College of Music, where she received the prestigious Louis Armstrong Performance Award. She has done projects for Atlantic Records under the direction of Arif Mardin, for the likes of Chaka Khan, Melissa Manchester, and Bette Midler and has performed with artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Al Jarreau, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius and Dinah Shore.
She regularly performs and records with New England’s finest musicians, including Gray Sargent, Tim Ray, Marshall Wood, Kenny Hadley, Les Harris Jr., Tom Hall, Joe “Sonny” Barbato, Jerry Bergonzi, John Lockwood, Marty Ballou and New Orleans's Amadee Castenell, and is currently Executive Producer for ImprovLive 365, a daily webseries dedicated to exploring spontaneous creativity and improvisation.
April is also an award winning songwriter. Her music has been featured on Boston's “Women in Music” series, on “The Coffeehouse”, WGBH’s “Eric in the Evening” and the nationally syndicated “Jazz After Hours” with PRI's Jim Wilke. In addition to her ongoing performances, Hall also continues to work with students across the country holding master classes in modern vocal techniques and on the subject of “Songwriting in a Free Society”.
Awards:
Louie Armstrong Performance Award, 1993Berklee College of Music American Songwriter Magazine, 2003, Winner Song Contest, "Red Dirt Summer"
“The effulgent Hall has a rich commanding voice and the stage pressence of an old soul of jazz.” --Boston Globe
”...features Hall in achingly beautiful voice” --All About Jazz
”... her instrument is a pleasingly clear and expressive” -- Cadence Magazine
”...Hall has a sultry edge to her singing, but the overall atmosphere is an easy one, a warm wind wafting across softly.” --All About Jazz
“Hall's vocals soar...her range of vocal ability goes from soft and understated to powerful an heartfelt. ” --Jazz Reviews.com
”...Her voice is supple and she uses phrasing to bring out the emotional strength of the lyrics... Hall makes the lyric jump and sit up with her vocal acrobatics.” --All About Jazz
Bee Boy Records, Boston, MA
Fun Out of Life-2009
Bee Boy Records, Boston, MA
Hall Sings Hines-2005
Spice Rack Records
Riding the Bull-2004
AFI Productions
Twilight-2003
Spice Rack Records
Something Like That-2000
Bee Boy Records, Boston, MA
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Primary Instrument:
Vocal
Location:
Boston, MA
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
April Hall teaches modern vocal techniques throughout the U.S. as well as
Master classes on "Songwriting in a Free Society".
