Home » Jazz Musicians » Renee Manning

Renee Manning

Born and bred in Brooklyn, N.Y., Renee Manning stands out from the crowd. Her robust voice, rich tones and impeccable time make her truly a musicians vocalist.

Her debut in the jazz world as the singer with the Mel Lewis Orchestra (from 1983-1989) was the longest tenure of any vocalist associated with that organization . By chance, Mr. Lewis heard Renée performing at Mikells . He invited her to sit in with his band at the Village Vanguard and after a standing ovation hired her as his vocalist on the spot. Since then she has proven to be an incredibly versatile singer. Many, however associate her with big bands and the blues. Her big band associations and collaborations have included the Chico OFarrill Afro Cuban Orchestra, The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, Dukes Men as well as a large ensemble project with Lester Bowie and Earl McIntyre. Recently she appeared with the Mingus Big Band at the Fez and the Iridium.

Testimony to her skills comes in the form of the number of musicians who have asked her to sit in at various engagements. These include Jon Faddis, Sir Roland Hanna, Mark Murphy, Howard Johnson and Joe Williams. Ms. Manning appeared as a guest soloist in the concert presentation of the George Gruntz opera "Cosmopolitan Greetings", a production done with the Cologne Radio Orchestra. Here she teamed up with Don Cherry, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Howard Johnson and Ray Anderson.

In 2001, Renee toured China with the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band as the featured vocalist. She recently appeared at the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland in the premiere of The Magic of The Flute a jazz opera based on the Magic Flute story Mozart made famous..

She also performed as a featured artist at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Lester BowiesFantasia concert and with the MOBI Big Band. At Town Hall, Ms. Manning was the vocalist for Earl McIntyres Sketches For Dunbar a piece written for 40 piece orchestra and Oliver Lake, Lester Bowie, John Stubblefield and David Langston Smyrl. She also performed in two of the Century Of Change concerts singing early blues, ragtime and spirituals from 1899-1909 and 1909-1919.

Renee has toured Europe and received rave reviews (particularly at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland)as well as appearing on TV and radio across the continent. In October 84, Renée appeared at several concerts in Spain with Carmen McRae, in 86 appeared on a televised outdoor jam session with McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders, Louis Hayes and Avery Sharpe in Lugano, Switzerland and in 87 appeared with Dizzy Gillespie in Amsterdams Concertebowe on live TV.

Read more

Tags

5
Take Five With...

Take Five With Renée Manning

Read "Take Five With Renée Manning" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Renée Manning Widely celebrated vocalist/composer, Renée Manning, has been educating students ages 2 to 100 years for the past 35 years. During her 10 years as instructor and Vocal Chair at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, she has been awarded several grants including Met Life grants for her choral work with Prospect Hill Senior Center, Brooklyn. World renowned, Renée has toured, performed and recorded with the likes of Taj Mahal, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie, David “Fathead" Newman, Nat Adderley, ...

Read more articles
206

Event

Renee Manning Kicks Off Womens History Month Celebration at Drom, March 6th, Live Interview with WBGO's Michael Bourne March 2nd

Renee Manning Kicks Off Womens History Month Celebration at Drom, March 6th, Live Interview with WBGO's Michael Bourne March 2nd

Source: Michael Ricci

New York, NY (Musaic Mgmt. Group) Renee Manning will kick off her Womens History month celebration and perform selections from her most anticipated CD, All Grown Up (Neelicious Music/ LegendFactory Records). Reconnects in a live interview with WBGOs Michael Bourne during Afternoon Jazz.

Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Renee Manning is known for her robust voice, rich tones and impeccable time making her truly a musicians vocalist. Her new release, All Grown UP, showcases those attributes in a soothing, quieter set ...

180

Recording

Renee Manning Releases "All Grown Up"

Renee Manning Releases "All Grown Up"

Source: Michael Ricci

Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Renee Manning is known for her robust voice, rich tones and impeccable time making her truly a musician's vocalist. Her new release, All Grown Up, showcases those attributes in a soothing, quieter set parallel to the powerful big band selections she's known for. Her debut in the jazz world as a singer with the Mel Lewis Orchestra (from 1983-1989) was the longest tenure of any vocalist associated with the organization. By chance, Mr. Lewis heard Renee ...

103

Recording

Rene Manning Releases New CD, "All Grown Up"; CD Celebration on October 29th

Rene Manning Releases New CD, "All Grown Up"; CD Celebration on October 29th

Source: Michael Ricci

Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Renee Manning is known for her robust voice, rich tones and impeccable time making her truly a musicians vocalist. Her new release, All Grown Up, showcases those attributes in a soothing, quieter set parallel to the powerful big band selections shes known for. Her debut in the jazz world as a singer with the Mel Lewis Orchestra (from 1983-1989) was the longest tenure of any vocalist associated with the organization. By chance, Mr. Lewis heard Rene ...

She Rocks The House! —Stanley Crouch

Robust, Refreshingly unpretentious, Blues! —Ira Gilter-Jazz Times

Capable of bawdy bluesy-ness or kittenish mewling...... —Gene Kalbacher-Hot House

AS TASTY AS BARBECUED RIBS..!!! —Wayne Wilson- Jazziz

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Private Teacher, co-founder of Excelsior Music Studio. Inquire within for rates or contact Excelsior Music Studio: http://excelsiormusicstudio.com/

Clinic/Workshop Information

Vocal clinics available from Kindergarten to Master Class.

Photos

Music

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

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