Suzanne Grzanna

From New York – Paris – Japan – Russia – Los Angeles – Chicago, Suzanne Grzanna has made a prominent world-wide name for herself. She has performed at prestigious halls such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Preservation Hall, Cinegrill, and the Hollywood Bowl. Suzanne has had such sit-ins with players such as Frank Morgan, Dave Hazeltine, Bryan Lynch, Betty Carter, Ray Brown Jr., Charles McPherson, John Hurd, and Jeff Goldblum to name a few. Her unique talent of not only being a dazzling saxophonist but also a sultry vocalist…can make you melt in your seat. The sound of Grzanna Jazz is somewhat a hybrid of classic jazz, pop standards, original compositions, and funky tunes all clearly influenced by Suzanne’s unique and contemporary style. She has released six CD’s, with a new one coming out this next year. Her music has won rave reviews from both the critics and her fans. Says the Pasadena Weekly, “Her smoky voice and skillful sax set her apart from many other jazz performers, both those of her own age and beyond.” Suzanne Grzanna began her jazz career at age five when she studied piano. She grew up in a small suburb of Milwaukee, WI and flourished in music from the beginning. Her parents, Don and Maureen Grzanna, are notable musicians who taught her the discipline of the craft. As a very young girl, I would always see my father performing around the city

. I had aspirations of performing since that time. My mother taught me piano lessons and I competed in many piano competitions and won many awards in jazz and classical music. In fifth grade, I started the clarinet and in seventh grade I started playing the saxophone. I was in Band, Jazz Band, and Choir all throughout High School. Ms. Grzanna was also a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus starting at the age of eighteen. Suzanne attended Wisconsin Lutheran College for a few years and proceeded to graduate from Carroll University with a degree in Music. College was important for the aspiring musician, and after graduation proceeded to follow her dream of starting her own jazz quartet. In 1994, Suzanne Grzanna released her first album titiled “The Cat’s Meow.” This put her on the map and gave her the opportunities to perform around the United States. Her video, “The Cat’s Meow,” also got rave reviews on BET Jazz. This introduced her not only to the US, but also to the world. Soon afterward, Ms. Grzanna released her next album titled “Fly Me To The Moon.” This album got the attention of Billboard Magazine, which wrote a fabulous review. The offers of releasing an album overseas came from such countries as Japan, Brazil, and South East Asia to name a few. Not only did Suzanne get attention from record labels, the film community started to take notice. Suzanne was involved in various films with not only her music, but her persona. Carroll University even awarded Suzanne with the Graduate of the Decade Award in 2000. In December of 2003, “My Santa Baby” was released following with “Simply Sunday” in 2006. Suzanne released “Christmas Night” in 2010. Throughout the years she has shown her diversity in music recording of jazz, blues, classical, Christian, rock and contemporary music. Suzanne has won various awards from ASCAP, Shepherd Express, Carroll University, and Wisconsin Area Music Awards. She has also been featured in the 2007 book “Who’s Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment” by the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists. In 2016, Suzanne won Best Jazz Artist and Best Jazz Video from the Indie Music Channel Awards. She also won a Silver Medal in the Global Music Awards. Currently, Suzanne is a Semi-Finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest. Her new single Wedding Day was released in July of 2016. Daybreak, Suzanne Grzanna’s new jazz CD is just being released. Ms. Grzanna just won Indie Music Channel Radio Awards for Best Jazz Song - Simply Sunday, Best Jazz Producer - Fever, Best Female Jazz Artist - Daybreak, Best Contemporary Christian Producer - Wedding Day. Suzanne also won the Jazz Category at the Hollywood Music and Media Awards for her original song Simply Sunday. Her sizzling saxophone and sultry vocals will leave you spellbound. Check out her new Album titled Daybreak - Coming out soon!! Today, Suzanne also makes sure to incorporate music into the lives of her husband Christian and their two children, Audrey and Mason. Diva Records LLC P.O. Box 511735 Milwaukee, WI 53203-0291 (201) 591-JAZZ http://www.saxdiva.com  [email protected] Show less

Tags

Suzanne Grzanna saxophone, alto

Album Review

Fly Me to the Moon by Jack Bowers

August 21, 2007

Suzanne Grzanna Graces the Cover of Volume 6 of the World Who's Who in...

“Ms. Grzanna is one of the best female entertainers in the United States,” Maximillien de Lafayette, International bestselling author, historian and stage producer

“She’s a stunning saxophonist, with a flair for gorgeous, powerful solos and energy to drive her band into sweaty bop workouts,” Shepherd Express 2006, Milwaukee, WI

“A dazzling performer to behold, she’s always a crowd pleaser,” Eugene Weekly, Eugene, Oregon “Suzanne Grzanna’s about as close as you can get in this biz to a sure bet,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel It “swings comfortably with clever lyrics and the sax solos showcase Grzanna’s soulful sound and strong tone,” John Gilbert Jazz Critic

“The Grzanna Quartet soars on the crowd’s energy and produces inventive solos that make the diners put down their forks to applaud

“Ms. Grzanna is one of the best female entertainers in the United States,” Maximillien de Lafayette, International bestselling author, historian and stage producer

“She’s a stunning saxophonist, with a flair for gorgeous, powerful solos and energy to drive her band into sweaty bop workouts,” Shepherd Express 2006, Milwaukee, WI

“The Grzanna Quartet soars on the crowd’s energy and produces inventive solos that make the diners put down their forks to applaud. Grzanna’s performance is dazzling. She solo’s on sax and vocals, sometime brushing the ozone layer and other times delivering a slinky classic like Stormy Weather...” Muriel Hogan, Downtown

“She can soothe, soar or wail. Grzanna’s a talent who knows where she’s going and how to get there.” Gordan Spencer, Milwaukee Magazine “Her combination of fiery sax licks and smooth vocals is truly original. Once she steps on stage, you know who’s in control.” “If you are in the mood for some skillful sax work and smoking jazz tunes, check Suzanne and her band out some hot summer night.” Matt Michaelis, The UWM Post “While fans of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald will be attracted to her voice, musicians will be impressed by her rather#developed saxophone skills.” Her smokey voice stands out in “Stormy Weather” and “Snow City.” Tedd Lookatch, City Edition “Her smokey voice and skillful sax set her apart from many other jazz performers, both those of her own age and those beyond. The multi#talented, extremely stylish artist plays at the Baked Potato.” Pasadena Weekly “A double threat with sax and vocals to her credit, Suzanne’s disc harks back to the velvet lounge of yesteryear...” John Noyd, Sites and Sounds “Grzanna’s live performances have had the critics reaching for superlatives.” Steven Libowitz, Santa Barbara News Press “They say that her “torchy vocals at times leaves one with the impression that you’re wataching a radiant young lounge diva..” The Santa Barbara Independent “She picks up the sax to belt out more up#tempo jazz jaunts reminiscent of harder bop.” Ethan Machado and Amiee Rose, Ourtown, Portland, OR “Noteworthy Women...just plain ambitious and talented.” ... Suzanne Grzanna displays both melodic saxophone playing and a knack for making standards her own on “Fly me to the Moon” CD. Suzanne Grzanna debunks myths about female jazz musicians.” Steven Graybow, Billboard Magazine “Grzanna is a talented and attractive performer who has focused her talents in the jazz world. Grzanna has a very distinct sound, a very beautiful voice. She puts a lot of energy into her sax playing and puts on a very interesting set.” Bob Comden, L.A. Jazz Scene paper “Hottest Divas in the Business – Suzanne Grzanna.” Showbiz Time “Suzanne Grzanna is a quadruple threat! This amazing woman has a killer jazz voice, can set the room on fire with her smokin’ sax, writes her own music, produced the album, and is drop dead gorgeous.” “She effortlessly cruises through the most difficult passages.” “Suzanne Grzanna can do it all, and she does it all exceptionally well on othis superbly#crafted holiday CD.” Carol Swanson, Christmas Reviews

“I had such an enjoyable evening...largely on Suzanne’s melodic style...I was captivated by the event.” Bruce Ratzmann – Jazz Patron “Ms. Grzanna is a highly respected songwriter and traditional Jazz performer who combines the flair of a vanished era and the explosive tempo of contemporary entertainment.” “A talent who bends the glory and nostalgia of the past with contemporary and fresh breeze of today’s genre...in other words, an artist who brings to the table, solid traditional musical heritage and innovative modern style. Suzanne Grzanna fits the bill. She is so accomplished at so many levels; she is a composer, a singer, a saxophonist, a writer, a producer, and a pioneer. Carol Lexter, Editor of Who’s Who in the Media – New York, NY “She’s a stunning saxophonist, with a flair for gorgeous, powerful solos and the energy to drive her band into sweaty bop workouts.” Shepherd Express 2006 Milwaukee, WI

“A dazzling performer to behold, she’s always a crowd pleaser.” Eugene Weekly Eugene, Oregon

“Suzanne Grzanna’s about as close as you can get in this biz to a sure bet.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinal – Milwaukee, WI

It “swings comfortably with clever lyrics and the sax solos showcase Grzanna’s soulful sound and strong tone.” John Gilbert Jazz Critic

Show less