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Jody Sandhaus

Every now and again a singer comes along who so personally delivers a song that we are ourselves moved to feel more deeply--to appreciate life more fully, in all its joy and pain; and to see things as she sees them, as facets of the wonderful gift that is life. Jody Sandhaus is such a singer. John Williams, writing in HOT HOUSE NY Jazz Nightlife Guide, says, "Jody sings so gently and carefully about love that we are encouraged to imagine and define with clarity our arrival to love and our continuance in that dream."

Of course, the artist must have the craft to bring the art to life, and Jody began to develop her formidable skills as a child. Born in Houston to a musical family and moving to New York early on, she was exposed to the wonders of classical music and studied the piano with Dolores Soyer Gold. While taking her degree in Liberal Arts at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Jody continued her pursuit of music at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied piano and voice. As a singer, Jody had enjoyed singing the popular music of her youth, but it was while living in St. Maarten, in the West Indies, that she found a neglected record collection. It was then that she was introduced to the work of Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Maxine Sullivan, Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Sinatra and others--sounds that would shape her musical future.

Upon her return to New York, Jody began in earnest to study vocal production, working intensively with noted vocal coach Marie Traficante. Since the 1980s, Jody has been a fixture on the musical scene in New York and its environs, being heard there and around the world in such venues as New York Steinway Hall, The Charles Ives Performing Arts Center, Zinno Jazz Club, The Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome, etc.. Her first solo album, "Winter Moon", on Saranac Records, gave us the first opportunity to hear a collection of songs recorded as Jody came to feel them--personally, and without artifice. Reviewing "Winter Moon" in JazzTimes, Chuck Berg said that, "Jody Sandhaus is an evocative vocalist whose sultry after-hours delivery meshes perfectly with such exquisitely excruciating torch tales as 'Not in Love.' On medium paced gambols she flirts with breezy aplomb."

Berg also remarked that, "clearly, Sandhaus is a singer who's also a musician. She phrases like a horn and swings with uptown élan." The mother of three, Sandhaus is married to pianist Pete Malinverni, who, along with bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Leroy Williams, joins her on "Winter Moon." Malinverni, legendary bassist Michael Moore and Leroy Williams ply their significant talents in support of Jody on, "I Think of You" released in the Summer of 2001.

Jody Sandhaus: A Fine Spring Morning

Read "A Fine Spring Morning" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone

by Michael P. Gladstone
December 22, 2004

In the eternal search for new and exciting jazz vocalists, Jody Sandhaus is a good name to know, especially in light of the fact that this is her third album over the course of the past four years.

Sandhaus has a cool and detached delivery that evokes the deification of the 1950s femme jazz vocalist (eg. Chris Connor, June Christy). When she sings “There'll Be Another Spring," it is distinctly the same way that Peggy Lee performed it ...

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Album Review

Jody Sandhaus: A Fine Spring Morning

Read "A Fine Spring Morning" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
November 28, 2004

She can sing with a hint of angelic innocence ("A Fine Spring Morning") or lay down the lyrics like the devil's sitting on her shoulder ("Whatever Lola Wants"), with an instrument that makes achingly beautiful sounds--just listen to the ending of “Deed I Do," when she scats (she's got that angel thing going again here) into the string of one syllable words.Jody Sandhaus is the vocalist; One Fine Morning 's the CD, a lady singer in front of ...

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Album Review

Jody Sandhaus: I Think of You

Read "I Think of You" reviewed by Dave Nathan

by Dave Nathan
June 1, 2001

PWinter Moon predicted a bright future for this singer with the passionate delivery. Her Latest release does nothing to dim this prospect. The first album had a play list decidedly leaning toward the melancholy. While there is still some of this here, the program is peppered with bright tunes that highlight Sandhaus' fine sense of timing. You can hear this feel for the pace and for the beat on such cuts as “Too Close for Comfort" and “Please Be Kind". ...

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Album Review

Jody Sandhaus: Winter Moon

Read "Winter Moon" reviewed by Dave Nathan

by Dave Nathan
March 1, 2001

The mood set by the title of Jody Sandhaus' maiden album is expressed by many tunes found on the play list. Winter is cold and desolate, while the bright moon is a beacon of better things to come. This theme comes through especially on poet and lyricist Fran Landesman's “The Ballad of the Sad Young Men" which she wrote with constant collaborator, Tommy Wolf. This tune promises hope for young men who have been wandering through life without much purpose. ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Forum Arts presents singer Jody Sandhaus, July 7th in Sleepy Hollow, NY concert

Source: All About Jazz
June 12, 2005

Singer Jody Sandhaus will be performing on July 7th, 6:30 at a free, outdoor concert at Kingsland Point Park. The park is located in Westchester County, NY in Sleepy Hollow. Be sure to go to www.rainbowall.com/Kingslandpark.htm for directions.

If it rains...no concert! For more information, please call Jazz Forum Arts at 914-631-1000

Jazz Forum Arts, in association with The Village of Sleepy Hollow and the Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow Arts Council, is presenting eight free jazz concerts ...
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Performance / Tour

Singer Jody Sandhaus in NYC on June 22 St. Peter's Church-

Source: All About Jazz
June 12, 2005

Jody Sandhaus, who has recorded two of her three CDs on the Consolidated Artist Production (CAP)label, will be performing on Wednesday, June 22 at 1pm with pianist Pete Malinverni. She will be singing at St. Peter's Church's their at “Midtown Jazz At Midday" series. This historic venue and jazz series features artists in the Living Room of St. Peter’s. Bring your lunch and join us.

Saint Peter’s Church is located at 619 Lexington Avenue @ 54 ...
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