Born: November 4 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Vocalist, trombonist, and songwriter elizabeth! is a fun and interactive performer and educator who connects with audiences through the thrill of improvisation and personal, accessible musical stories. Like Nat “King” Cole and Ella Fitzgerald before her, she’s a playful storyteller with a twinkle in her eye that comes through in her music. In her jazzy pop tunes inspired by travels around the world, elizabeth! also harnesses the power of pregnant moments, carefully phrasing her vocals to give each word its own special place.
Her latest album, Brainchildren (released November 2011 on Canopy Jazz), tells stories real and imagined, outlining the similarities found in our experiences no matter where we reside. “Three” tells the story of a couple deciding to have a child, “Bicycle” reminds a child to enjoy his innocence while it lasts, and “Melting Snow” describes the feeling of rebirth after tragedy. Several songs relate tales of love gained or lost, and the album is rounded out with instrumentals inspired by insomnia, tacos, and a skipping stroll in Memphis. Recorded in Brooklyn with her working band in a single day, Brainchildren features Jason Domnarski on piano, Rob Jost (Saturday Night Live, Bjork) on bass and Robert Di Pietro (Norah Jones, Josh Rouse) on drums. Special guests include Kiku Collins (Beyonce), Jon Natchez (Beirut), and Mark Erelli (Josh Ritter).
Honing her craft since the age of seven, elizabeth! has studied piano, trombone, and voice as well as arranging and composition. She played in the jazz band while studying neuroscience at Harvard, and has a Master’s Degree in jazz from New York City’s Queens College, but her initial love of music came from her parents in rural Vermont. “My dad is a musician, so I grew up listening to live jazz ��” going backstage, lugging gear, learning the ins and outs,” she said. “And my mom had great taste, playing Motown and folk music at home.” This combination of musical genres can be heard in the music elizabeth! plays today, and in the way she approaches performance: lyrical like a pop song, but with a background twist of jazz. Counting Sheila Jordan and Phil Wilson as influential teachers, elizabeth! also admits to loving Whitney Houston.
elizabeth! has toured with pop stars like Michael Bolton, jazz musicians like Matt Wilson, and indie rockers like St. Vincent, and performed across the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe. Notable venues include: Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Chicago Theater, Sasquatch Music Festival, Good Morning America, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Today Show, PBS’s Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize broadcast honoring Tina Fey, Bowery Ballroom, Jazz Standard, and Switzerland’s Willisau Jazz Festival. She recently sang at the Yaroslavl Jazz Festival in Russia, and last year spent time teaching trombone in Quito, Ecuador. elizabeth! is an endorsing artist for Getzen 3508R Custom trombones, and a member of the all-female horn section The Sugarhorns, and wears sequins as much as possible!
Also a dynamic teacher and clinician, elizabeth! believes everyone can be musical. Using improvisation as a guiding tool, she works with students of all ages, building confidence and developing imagination. She teaches in various situations, from one-on-one performance coaching, to workshops for fifth graders on improvisation in daily life, to lecturing 800 rowdy inner city high school students. She also directs the summer Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts.
Following up on her 2008 release hot & silver ��” of which The Palo Alto Daily News said “her silky, sultry, elegant vocals enliven standards” ��” elizabeth! tours the East and West Coast in support of Brainchildren.
“an enjoyable confection” - The Sun Chronicle
Brainchildren
2011
Tracks: 11 all-original jazzy pop songs
Personnel: elizabeth! - voice & trombone, Jason Domnarksi - piano, Rob Jost - bass, Robert Di Pietro - drums, and several special guests!
hot & silver
2008
Tracks: L-O-V-E, Night & Day, Bewitched, Time After Time.
Personnel: elizabeth! - voice & trombone, Dan Schlessinger - saxophones, Paul Sanwald - guitars, Apostolos Sideris - bass, Kyle Struve - drums.
Selected Discography As A Side Musician
Young Amelia
Hans York
Hazzazar Records
2008
Trombone, Voice
The Scenic Route
Matt Wilson
Palmetto
2007
Voice
A Brighter Day
Kevin So
Wingbone Records
2007
Trombone
Sadly, The Orchestra Has Refused
The Silent League
File 13 Records
2004
Trombone
Have Mercy
The Mooney Suzuki
Elixia Records
2007
Trombone
Traveling Mercies
Chris Potter
Verve
2002
Voice
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Primary Instrument:
Vocal
Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Master's Degree, Queens College 2006
Clinician, Kupferberg Center
Private lessons (voice & trombone)
“…an Artist and Teacher of the highest Quality…
knowledgeable, helpful and easy to talk with.”
“…a warm, humorous, and patient teacher.”
“Elizabeth’s natural rapport with my students was instant and
warm, and she was able to keep every single student in the
packed room completely engaged. Her visit to our class was
one of the highlights of the year, no question!”
Clinic/Workshop Information:
TOPICS
FOR MUSICIANS
Having a conversation: how to improvise
Learning the blues: telling a story
Ensemble playing: repertoire development and refinement
Sectional playing: technique and blend (specializing in brass,
choirs)
Put it in your body: singing and dancing
Why practicing isn’t enough: practical music business tips for
making a living
Individual coaching in singing, brass playing, improvising, and
performance
FOR MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS
How to listen to music
Jazz history in 4 songs
FOR NON-MUSICIANS
Anyone can sing the blues!
What does it mean to improvise? Or… how to have more fun
at your job!
Performance coaching for upcoming events (speeches,
presentations, etc.)
More information here: http://www.elizabethjazz.com/teaching
