Home » Jazz Musicians » Sharon Bailey

Sharon Bailey

The combination of talented musicians cradling Sharon's well-pitched, cashmere sound is an aural treat. She currently lives in The Greater Philadelphia area, and brightens every room with her "smile and style."

Sharon Leilani Bailey was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, spending her formative years on the beautiful island of Terciera, Azores, Portugal. Her love for jazz stems from her youth. Her father, an Air Force pilot, traveled with his many jazz recordings and his cornet, providing a stimulating musical environment for Sharon while he played along with the recordings. Sharon did too, and her command performance debut was a trip to the elementary school principal's office, repeating "Darktown Strutters' Ball" instead of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," as instructed, on her song-flute. The family settled in the historic Oley Valley, (Berks County, PA), where she continued her piano and vocal music instruction....later adding the tuba in high school. She was accepted into West Chester University as what would have been their first female tuba major; however accepted a proposal of marriage--to her tuba instructor--and became a registered nurse.

Performing in many different musical venues since the age of four (both instrumentally and vocally), she continued performing in many local stage productions. Well, after a twenty five year hiatus, realizing her son was on his own on the west coast, successfully landing rovers on Mars (no kidding--he's one of the aero/astro engineers who made it happen) she began singing again with various big bands, recorded commercial jingles, and performed for the past two years during the Berks Jazz Fest. Sharon is currently working and evolving with her trio/quartet in Pennsylvania. She enjoys listening to the pure tones of Ella....the vocal stylings of Sarah Vaughn and Nancy Wilson...and is enthralled with the beautiful structure and flow of lyrics sung in other languages, such as by Susannah McCorkle and Jackie Ryan.

"None of what you hear on this disc could be possible without arrangements of Bob "Doc" Mulligan and Chris Heslop, as well as the bandstand arrangements created during our live studio recording sessions--all enveloped in the hands of the innately gifted recording engineer, Mr. John Vanore, of Acoustical Concepts, Inc. (Mr. Vanore's personal collection of vacuum tube and ribbon microphones was used for this recording.) Sharon's voice was captured with a Neumann M49.

Pictures of the recording sessions are included within the package. You will enjoy seeing these talented gentlemen, as well as hearing them. --Sharon

Tags

Music

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.