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Paula Lammers

In a sea of talented vocalists on the Twin Cities Jazz Scene, Paula Lammers is a distinctive artist, “a solid soprano voice who shares each song’s story with heartfelt conviction, clear diction and a sweet (but not too-sweet) tone, swing where it needs to swing, energy where it needs to pop, wistful musing or upbeat sunshine as the story merits (Andrea Canter, Jazz Police.com). A native of St. Peter, MN, Paula recalls her first public performance of “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” at age four and wearing out the needles on her parents’ record player listening to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, the Serendipity Singers and the Ray Coniff Singers. And although her family moved several times, “music always anchored me into a new community, through choir and church.” She majored in music at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, then continued her studies at the University of Minnesota where she earned a Master of Music in Vocal Performance.

Classically trained, Paula found a new direction when she took an opera improvisation class during her graduate studies, and discovered an untapped talent to hear chord progressions. In 2001, despite 12 years of performing and teaching on the Twin Cities classical scene, she took an unexpected detour –a seven-year tenure singing 40s tunes with a vocal quartet aboard the Minnesota Zephyr. Soon Paula was singing with area big bands and formed her own nine-piece ensemble, Cloud Nine, performing throughout the Twin Cities from 2006-2010. In 2012 she began a 3-year stint with the Phil Mattson Singers as lead soprano. Long involved in music education, she was Adjunct Professor of Contemporary Singing Styles Concordia University (St. Paul), 2010-2015.

Today, Paula is actively sought as a soloist for corporate and community events, including eight years performing at the Eagan Art Festival, nine years on the Como Lakeside Pavilion stage, and two years at the Eagan Art House. Creative projects include collaborations with pianist Mary Louise Knutson, guitarist David Martin, cellist Greg Byers, accordionist Denny Malmberg, and singer Reeves Cary. As a guest artist, she has recently appeared with the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra, Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, on the Pipestone Performing Arts Series and the Top Hat Series (Ulen, MN). She has been a member of the Stillwater Victorian Holiday Carolers for eight years. With the Phil Mattson Singers, she performed at the Jazz Educators Network convention in San Diego (2015). Home in the Twin Cities, Paula’s recent gigs have included a concert at Antonello Hall at the MacPhail Center for Music, Crooners Lounge, Jazz Central Studios, Jazz at St. Barney’s, Parma, Parley Lake Winery, and the Cannon River Winery. Still involved in music education, Paula currently teaches at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and Apple Valley and at Cadenza Music in St. Paul.

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239
Album Review

Paula Lammers: A Blanket of Blue

Read "A Blanket of Blue" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Vocalist Paula Lammers, a music major at Gustavus Adolphus College and holder of a Masters degree in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota, almost gave up performing to devote her energies to teaching. Then the Minnesota Zephyr, a dinner excursion train, clanged into town. She got a job there, riding the rails and singing songs from the forties. A performer was reborn.Lammers' debut, A Blanket of Blue, digs into the Great American Songbook with style. “I Thought ...

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126

Festival

Paula Lammers at Harvest Festival, Lakeville, Minnesota, 9/21

Paula Lammers at Harvest Festival, Lakeville, Minnesota, 9/21

Source: All About Jazz

PAULA LAMMERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September, 2005

*Premier Minnesota Jazz Vocalist, Paula Lammers Blankets You with Seduction*

GOING FOR ARTIST PREVIEW/CD REVIEW

Paula Lammers, currently embarked on a National press campaign to bring awareness to her debut release “Blanket of Blue.” Lammers is a classically trained vocalist that found her niche in jazz. Her blend of precision and beauty takes vocal jazz to new heights. A resident of Minnesota she comes from a lineage of strong performers. In the National ...

101

Festival

Paula Lammers Appears at the Harvest Festival in Lakeville, Minnesota

Paula Lammers Appears at the Harvest Festival in Lakeville, Minnesota

Source: All About Jazz

PAULA LAMMERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September, 2005

*Premier Minnesota Jazz Vocalist, Paula Lammers Blankets You with Seduction*

GOING FOR ARTIST PREVIEW/CD REVIEW

Paula Lammers, currently embarked on a National press campaign to bring awareness to her debut release “Blanket of Blue.” Lammers is a classically trained vocalist that found her niche in jazz. Her blend of precision and beauty takes vocal jazz to new heights. A resident of Minnesota she comes from a lineage of strong performers. In ...

139

Performance / Tour

Paula Lammers will Blanket You with her interpretations of the Classic Standards

Paula Lammers will Blanket You with her interpretations of the Classic Standards

Source: All About Jazz

Kari-On Productions Kari Gaffney, Publicist P.O. Box 436 Evans, GA. 30809 706.294.9996 [email protected] Immediate Release ”A Blanket of Blue” We would like to cordially invite You!! The Artists’ Quarter Presents Paula Lammers and her Quintet CD Release Party – Full Press Kit Available Upon Request Performing: Paula Lammers, (vocals), Peter Schimke, (piano), Clay Moore, (guitar), Gary Berg, (sax and harmonica), Tom Lewis, (bass), Kenny Horst, (drums). Paula Lammers: www.paulalammers.com Date: Sunday, August 7th, 2005 Time: 7pm, NO COVER!! Location: Artists ...

Deep Purple Dreams (2011)

I keep coming back to this one on the iPod – a second release for Paula Lammers, whose last outing was more than five years ago. I liked it then, promising that I’d look forward to the next release.

And here it is. It’s been too long.

It’s a change of pace, because while Ms. Lammers continues to develop a fine sense of swing, and a bell-clear tone, she’s never far away from her classical/opera training. So it’s easy to make a comparison to some of the pop music performances by soprano Renée Fleming; but frankly, I think Ms. Lammers has the upper hand in that swing thing, helped along by Mary Louise Knutson on piano, Vincent Rose on guitar, Billy Peterson and Chris Bates on bass, and Jay Epstein on drums.

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Minneapolis

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

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