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Teraesa Vinson

Some musicians take the road less traveled on their creative journey, and vocalist Teraesa Vinson has a unique perspective on following one’s bliss. The St. Louis native actually completed a B.A. in Psychology at Spelman College and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Florida before deciding to pursue her musical aspirations. After a time teaching other students to follow their dreams, she decided maybe it was time she heeded her own advice. Since landing in New York in 2003, Vinson has embraced every opportunity to improve her craft.

After a relatively short stint in the city, Vinson got the chance to record for the first time in 2004. That debut, Opportunity Please Knock, was an occasion to record with some outstanding musicians: Ron Blake, Tom Dempsey, Carlton Holmes, Nicki Parrott, and Dion Parson. The combination of well-loved standards, less recorded gems (Moon Ray) and a pop favorite (I Can’t Make You Love Me) attracted both traditional jazz enthusiasts and a more mainstream audience. Moreover, the album was critically well-received and earned airplay on radio stations across the globe.

Yet another great opportunity came Vinson’s way in 2005. That January, Vinson became the resident vocalist at Langans in Times Square. Singing alongside the phenomenal young drummer Quincy Davis and his trio, Vinson continues to perform at Langans weekly in addition to other venues around the city.

2007 promises to be an exciting year, as Vinson plans to record her follow-up project in Spring. Aiming for a more intimate feel, the recording will be a duet album with good friend and stellar guitarist Tom Dempsey. The two have collaborated since Vinson’s first performances, and Dempsey was also featured on her debut recording. The easy chemistry between the two, which frequently enchants their audiences, should lead itself to a notable sophomoric effort.

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Teraesa Vinson

Read "Take Five With Teraesa Vinson" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Teraesa Vinson: Some musicians take the road less traveled on their creative journey, and vocalist Teraesa Vinson has a unique perspective on following one's bliss. The St. Louis native actually completed a B.A. in Psychology at Spelman College and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Florida before deciding to pursue her musical aspirations. After a time teaching other students to follow their dreams, she decided maybe it was time she heeded her own advice.After ...

235
Album Review

Teraesa Vinson: Next to You

Read "Next to You" reviewed by Bridget A. Arnwine


Vocalist Teraesa Vinson (PhD) may have left the world of academia behind when she moved to New York City in 2003 to pursue a new career as a singer but, as evidenced on Vinson's sophomore release Next to You, the trained psychologist still has the ability to connect the emotional with the physical. Not only does Vinson work to connect with the music, but there is also an implied emotional and physical connection in the CD's title, cover photo and ...

242
Album Review

Teraesa Vinson: Next to You

Read "Next to You" reviewed by Jim Santella


Teraesa Vinson sings her program from the heart with a genuine air. She convinces. As an experienced storyteller, she puts you right in the lap of each experience. “Being Green, for example, carries a wider meaning than what you hear on the surface. In Vinson's care, its lyrics stretch out to cover it all. The same is true for her sensual ballads and up-tempo swingers.

Working in a duo format with guitarist Tom Dempsey for this, her second ...

161
Album Review

Teraesa Vinson: Opportunity Please Knock

Read "Opportunity Please Knock" reviewed by Jeff Hedberg


Vocalist Teraesa Vinson's debut album, Opportunity Please Knock , opens with a deceivingly innocent interpretation of “What A Difference a Day Made." She begins with an uncomplicated duet with bassist Nicki Parrot, which develops into a refined quartet. The track blossoms into a raucous swing that proves Vinson and her group mean business. Theraesa Vinson's sass and personality radiate throughout this album, yet never in excess.

Vinson possesses a keen ear in respect to harmonic choices when she strays from ...

170
Album Review

Teraesa Vinson: Opportunity Please Knock

Read "Opportunity Please Knock" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Opportunity is the debut recording by vocalist Teraesa Vinson (perhaps “Dr. Vinson" is more appropriate, as she earned a Ph.D in psychology at the University of Florida before pursuing a career in music), and she seems to have a lot going for her. For example, she has a good set of pipes, adequate range, sings on-key, knows how to swing, and is blessed with a keen ear for a lovely but overlooked melody (hence the inclusion of “The Night Has ...

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"Teraesa Vinson and partner Tom Dempsey succeed in capturing the emotions and passion that the composers of these songs intended to convey, with only a single guitar and the charming voice of an angel." --eJazzNews

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Next to You

Amplified Records
2007

buy

Opportunity Please...

Amplified Records
2004

buy

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