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Jane Stuart

For Jane Stuart, dance in general ��" and tap in particular ��" gave that rhythmic sensibility that would allow her to take liberties in the music, and always be spot on. That's why she was so drawn to jazz. The music is so unencumbered ��" like a blank slate - affording her the freedom she always felt. And the lyrics she sought out served as a catharsis ��" a way to work through life's many complexities and difficulties at a young age. For an artist who modeled, acted, sang and danced professionally since age 5, hung out (and played hooky) with classmate friends Bernadette Peters, Greg Hines and Bonnie Bedelia, and portrayed Joan Baez in Richard Farina’s Long Time Comin’ A Long Time Gone alongside co-stars Richard Gere, Vicki Sue Robinson and Jessica Harper, "jazz singer" might not be what one would expect to see on this list. But since her vast music and arts background exposed her to a wide world of genres, she had such a rich palette from which to draw, and jazz just felt right.

As a first-call studio & jingle singer, you've most likely heard her voice in numerous high-profile ad campaigns both solo, as well as in ensemble with Valerie Simpson, Patti Austin, Shawn Colvin and many others, but her 2006 release, Beginning To See The Light, finally gave jazz audiences an 'extended play' of Jane's jazzier side. This long-awaited disc was enthusiastically received by media and audiences alike, and earned her IAJE’s Best Jazz Vocals accolades for that year. Her latest effort, Don't Look Back, is certain to broaden her fan base exponentially.

Jane's affinity for arranging emerged early on. “My father died when I was 13. My mother, a legal secretary, worked long, hard hours and my brother was away at school. I spent a lot of time alone. I would make up arrangements of old standards and sing them in my head while doing a tap routine on my fingers. I remember so many of those songs now, when I am looking for material to sing.”

A musician's singer, her sure sense of swing, impeccable time and keen storytelling ability has made her a favorite of A-List players. After hearing her at The Improv, Thad Jones was so impressed with her talent that he presented Jane with The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Quintet at the club. Besides its illustrious leaders, the all-star band featured Roland Hanna, Jon Faddis and George Mraz. She also appeared in Joe Papp’s N.Y. Shakespeare Festival Summer Jazz Theatre with Woody Shaw, Harold Vic and Freddie Waites.

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5
Album Review

Bill Warfield and the Hell's Kitchen Funk Orchestra: Smile

Read "Smile" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Having no idea what to expect from an ensemble labeled the Hell's Kitchen Funk Orchestra, the game plan must be to advance with caution, as any orchestra with trumpeter Bill Warfield at the helm can't be all bad. After listening, it becomes clear that the game plan was sound and the premise accurate: Smile, the HKFO's second recording, isn't all bad. The question is: did Warfield and the orchestra have its own game plan? If snatching every ingredient within reach ...

177
Album Review

Jane Stuart: Don't Look Back

Read "Don't Look Back" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


From the opening bars of “I Just Found Out About Love," Jane Stuart takes control of this sophisticated collection of tunes with a voice that oozes style, confidence and emotional strength. Don't Look Back brings Stuart together with an empathic group of musicians, the arrangements are always interesting and at times inspired, and the conclusion is clear: this is a great vocal jazz album. Stuart has a long history as a dancer, actor and singer--she was performing ...

197
Album Review

Jane Stuart: Don't Look Back

Read "Don't Look Back" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Jane Stuart is as complete a jazz singer as they come. With the timing of a tap dancer, the emotive responsiveness of a stage performer, a voice for the ages, and the experience to put it all together into one unified whole, Stuart deserves more exposure than she currently gets. To her credit, Stuart is able to bring all of these different elements into her performances due, in large part, to her vast experience in every one of these areas. ...

154
Album Review

Jane Stuart: Beginning to See The Light

Read "Beginning to See The Light" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Jazz vocalist Jane Stuart's debut, Beginning to See the Light, could be a big success for unexpected reasons. The thirteen tracks are presented in a bright manner by a singer who knows how to swing them properly. This album could potentially attract a non-jazz audience: about half of the material consists of fairly well-known standards from the Great American Songbook like the title tune by Ellington and Strayhorn, Mercer/Arlen's “Out of this World," Rodgers/Hammerstein's “Getting to Know You," and the ...

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Performance / Tour

Jane Stuart CD Release Event March 14 at Sesame Restaurant

Jane Stuart CD Release Event March 14 at Sesame Restaurant

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Jane Stuart Beginning To See The Light CD Release Event

Wednesday March 14th Sesame Restaurant 400 Bloomfield Ave Monclair, New Jersey 2 sets 8pm and 9:30pm dinner and $6 music charge 973-746-2553 (reservations necessary) The best, freshest Chinese food you've ever had!

with Rave Tesar - keyboards Sue Williams - bass

Jazz vocalist Jane Stuart's debut, Beginning to See the ...

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Performance / Tour

Jane Stuart "Beginning to See the Light" CD Release Events Trumpets 3/4 & Sesame Restaurant 3/14

Jane Stuart "Beginning to See the Light" CD Release Events Trumpets 3/4 & Sesame Restaurant 3/14

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Jane Stuart “Beginning To See The Light" CD Release Events Sunday March 4th at TRUMPETS Jazz Club 4-7pm 4 Depot Sq. Montclair 973-744-2600 It's Women In Jazz month in March at Trumpets Rave Tesar - Keyboards Sue Williams - Bass Kermit Driscoll - Bass Rick De Kovessey - Drums and surprise guests Wednesday March 14th at Sesame Restaurant 2 sets 8pm and ...

All About Jazz ��" Dan Bilawsky: Jane Stuart is as complete a jazz singer as they come. With the timing of a tap dancer, the emotive responsiveness of a stage performer, a voice for the ages, and the experience to put it all together into one unified whole. While Stuart provides plenty of room for her soloists to take off, she still remains the star of her own show: delivering solid swing on “I Just Found Out About Love”; showing she crafts tender melodies with the utmost care (”You Are There”) and adds just the right amount of steam to the oft-tackled “Summertime.” With an album like Don't Look Back under her belt, vocalist Jane Stuart can surely look forward to more, well-deserved attention in the future.

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Smile

Planet Arts Records
2020

buy

Don't Look Back

Self Produced
2011

buy

Don´t Look Back

Point of Departure, WMPG-FM
2011

buy

Smile

From: Smile
By Jane Stuart

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