Thoughts, Conversations and To Do Lists Fiona Ross

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media Fiona Ross talks to the legendary Denise King

Artists aren’t made, they are born; born with an innate sense of wonder and a unique perspective of the
world. Denise King is no exception. Always having a love of music, it wasn’t until the age of thirteen that she was introduced to Jazz by an uncle, Herbert Tatum, who had an extensive collection of Jazz LPs. This love was further cultivated by family, when a cousin Cynthia, shared her passion for the stylings and energy of Nina Simone. Her "studies" involved hours of listening to the Jazz greats,
both vocalists and instrumentalists. Denise borrowed phrasing styles from Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra. She gained an appreciation for lyrics from Lil Jimmy Scott, Nancy Wilson, Carmen
McCrae and Nina Simone. Listening as intensely to Jazz as she did R&B or music of her era, she had no idea that her listening sessions were preparing her for a career in music.
She was "discovered" by a friend who heard her singing outside of her home in Philadelphia and introduced her to the world of Jazz performance. The early gigs were difficult in that she was painfully stage shy. But with the
help of Sam Reed, sax man and leader of the legendary Uptown Theater Orchestra she overcame her stage fright. Her early performance experiences involved sharing the stage with many legends, Butch Ballard, Arthur Harper, Sam Dougherty, Cecil Payne, Jymie Merritt, Bootsie Barnes, Lex Humphries,Phil Wright, Christian McBride, Dexter Wansel, Duane Eubanks, Lonnie Plaxico, Sid
Simmons, Dr. Guy Ramsey, Derrick Hodge, Chris Beck, Billy Paul, and many, many more. They taught her the importance of having something to say every time she
stepped up to the microphone and also stressed the importance of telling a story through the words and music and not just singing the song. Their instruction paid off. One night while performing at Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia, Denise met Dexter Wansel, writer,arranger, producer, and A&R director at Philadelphia International Records. That meeting would forge a work relationship that has spanned twenty years.
Denise King has sung at almost all of the top venues in Philadelphia, several in New York, Paris, Turkey, Brazil, Africa, Germany and Japan during the past 25 years. She
started her musical career in her thirties and has proclaimed herself a torch bearer. A keeper of the flame. She holds the preservation and presentation of the traditional style of Jazz singing close to her heart. No gimmicks, no pyrotechnics, just an intense focus on the melody and the lyrical content.
It is this philosophy that finds her in Paris, Milan, Israel and all points in between acting as the Ambassador-ess for the nostalgic sounds of Jazz. From her warm and welcoming presence on stage, the subtle nuance of a bygone days, and the recordings that speak to the natural elegance of an era that greatly influenced her life, Denise King is keeping the romance and nostalgia of all the great ladies of Jazz alive and well.

Denise King website

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media talks to pianist and composer Charu Suri

Pianist and composer Charu Suri treads fearlessly between genres, pulling global influences that range from the mood-anchoring Indian ragas, Sufi music, to the trio. Her ground-breaking albums, The Book of Ragas, and its sequel, The Book of Ragas vol. 2 have often elicited the response, "I've never heard this type of sound before."

One of the few female composers from India to perform work at
Carnegie Hall, Charu has lived in four continents, and writes music that reflect her journey as both a traveler and her training as a classical music piano prodigy. She has been playing the piano since the age of five, and performing since the age of nine, and one of her best memories is winning an international piano competition at the age of 15. What started purely as an experiment with her "Book of Ragas" has turned into a niche that she is now increasingly becoming known for. Her latest album is RAGAS & WALTZES, a first collaboration between her and Preservation Hall's jazz drummer, Joe Lastie. Recently she recorded her latest album, RAGS & RAGAS, with bassist John Patitucci, drummer Joe Lastie, drummer Steve Gadd, and pianist Kobi Arad.

Her last album, RAGAS & WALTZES has received a lot of praise
from critics. JAZZIZ Magazine has praised its classic reinvention of the European waltz, and All About Jazz said, "These are all Suri originals, with which she creates a mood that is a mix, tune-by-tune, of longing and solemnity, then of a lilting and uplifting beauty, segueing into tender reverence that shifts gear
into a segment of lively swing before drifting back to loving respect. And that swing is surely inspired by New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band's drummer, Joe Lastie, Jr., sitting in the recording session's drummer's chair." 

But she is no stranger to the art of the Songbook too (attribute
this to her listening to numerous records of Bill Evans and Billie Holiday as a kid).  "The New American Songbook" has garnered many awards, including a "Band Single of the Year" crystal trophy for her song, Bluesy, awarded by the International Singer-Songwriters Association (ISSA) in 2021.

Charu has performed at Lincoln Center and other prestigious
concert halls around the world, including St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She often performs with her band, and sometimes as a soloist. Her work will be performed by New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for the first time on May 13, 2024 at NJPAC. 

https://www.charusuri.com/

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media talks to Mr London himself, CEO of TalentBanq, Ray Jones.

Ray Jones is often described by colleagues and friends as “Mr London”. He is a passionate advocate for live music and theatre
which can be clearly seen by his career to date. First as Head Concierge in several top London hotels before founding Centre Stage.
In 1997 he sold the business and joined the Board at Superbreak - The UK’s leading short break operators. Once again breaking new ground, the company took cultural tourism to new levels, offering
transport, ticketing, accommodation and attractions in one simple transaction. During this period Ray served as Non Executive
Director at Visit London and as Executive Director of West End Theatre Bookings, a rapidly-growing theatre ticket agency acquired by Superbreak in 2007 and sold to Encore in June 2011. In 2012 Superbreak was sold to the travel giant Cox and Kings and Ray stepped down to join Time Out as Global Business Development Director.
As well as overseeing commercial relationships Ray developed Time Out Live and launched The Time Out Card, both offering
on-brand live experiences to readers and members. This included the hugely popular Rising Stars series discovering and presenting the best in unsigned talent at iconic London venues. Ray
stepped down from his role at Time Out in August 2017 to become founding director and CEO at Talentbanq.

He also sits on the Board at The Union Chapel – one of the coolest live music venues on the planet.

For TalentBanq website and to find events click here!

In the 2nd episode since being nominated for ‘Best Podcast’ by the World Entertainment Awards, Fiona talks to the inspirational singer/songwriter/producer and legend China Moses

Singer, songwriter and producer China Moses evolves her artistry in truth. Defiantly real, her music resists what so many labels and critics desire: category. She captivates listeners with her deep
pocket, sensitivity and wit, drawing inspiration from endless styles in the expansive lineage of Black American music.

Frank and fearless, China’s songs document fleeting emotional states and extended narratives, often leaning into self-reflection both in lyric and phrasing. Her voice is a satin ribbon wrapped around a crackling flame. Listeners fortunate to observe her in live performance know the depth of her song interpretation. In a moment she can revolve a world.

For more than a decade, the magnetic on-camera personality and consummate actor has appeared regularly on TV series, including national spots alongside Iggy Pop, Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Ciara, Nile Rodgers, Mariah Carey and Hugh Jackman. Provocative as her musical experiences, China’s broadcasting resumé currently features host-producer positions at celebrated radio shows “Made in China” on TSF Jazz (France) and “Late Night with China Moses” On Jazz FM (UK). She’s one of few
women of color to host multiple radio shows across European and UK airwaves.

The self-dubbed high school dropout has been an artist her entire life. Daughter of legendary activist and director Gilbert Moses III and internationally acclaimed musician Dee Dee Bridgewater, China understands the music and its surrounding culture from the inside out.


China Moses Website

In the first episode since being nominated for ‘Best Podcast’ by the World Entertainment Awards, Fiona talks to the inspirational singer/songwriter Ola Onabule

Ola Onabule’s last album, POINT LESS was listed on many international publications as one of the best albums of 2019 including Downbeat Magazine (US), All About Jazz (US) and Jazz in Europe (Europe) amongst them.  The project has now been performed with quartet, quintet, big band and now symphonic orchestras.
The British-Nigerian, singer-songwriter, has performed on the main stages of many of the international jazz festivals including main stages of Montreal, Vancouver, San Sebastian, Istanbul, Washington, and Umbria, as well as at concert halls and
Jazz clubs worldwide, building and consolidating a reputation with audiences globally.
Onabulé’s music combines elements of jazz, soul, funk and African music to create a unique and distinctive sound. Ola's lyrics often address social and political issues, such as the fight against oppression and injustice. He has received acclaim from
critics and fans alike for his ability to combine a powerful message with beautiful and moving music.
Onabulé has also collaborated with some of the world’s foremost Big Bands, including the Grammy Award-winning Big Bands from Cologne (The WDR Big Band), Stuttgart (The SWR Big Band) and Frankfurt (The HR Big Band), Denmark (Danish Radio Big Band) Big Band Jazz De Mexico (Mexico) Zurich Jazz Orchestra (Switzerland), UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (Finland), Oulu All Star Big Band (Finland) The Sicilian Jazz Orchestra (Sicily), Gotland Big Band (Sweden), Bohuslan Big Band (Sweden) Latvian Radio Big Band (Latvia), DIOC Big Band (Norway). New Wind Jazz Orchestra (Estonia) and his experience extends to symphony orchestras such as the Orquesta Liepāja Symphony (Latvia), The Symphonic Orchestra of San Luis Potosi, (Mexico), Västerås Sinfonietta (Sweden), Orchestra della Magna Grecia (Italy), The Babelsberg Film Orchestra Potsdam (Germany). Onabulé has new projects on the way with many other new ensembles including Bundeswehr Big Band (Germany), Algarve Jazz Orchestra (Portugal) amongst others which demonstrates Ola’s ability to adapt and collaborate with different artists and world class musicians.

Ola Onabule website click here

Fiona talks to composer, lyricist and theatre maker Colin Ross Waterson.

Colin has been writing music for fifteen years in the traditional music industry space.  He released three solo albums as WATERSON, but has now returned to the theatre—his first love. 
He started working professionally in the theatre at thirteen, performing on Broadway and the West End during his adult career—including a long stint with Matthew Bourne and his iconic Swan
Lake—and has amassed over 10 million streams as an independent recording artist.

Colin Ross Waterson and Ben Hartley wrote new, British musical A Second Chance during the lockdowns, on opposite sides of the Atlantic.  They have self-financed two readings, two workshops, and are crowdfunding the costs of a third and final workshop, which will take place in London next May.  The final leg of development will be performed in front of an industry audience and some of their amazing Crowdfunders.  The campaign is over 30% in a matter of weeks, with five more to go, and has seen support from celebrated actor, Alan Cumming; Emmerdale actor, Kevin Mathurin; and TONY-winning choreographer, Stephen Mear.

“…We had the idea to crowdfund because although we managed to raise finance privately for the bulk of the development—cash for the arts remains scarce—so we thought doing the last part this way would be a good way to both raise funds and start to get a community involved. We feel like its a great way to build an audience whilst funding your project…”

Colin created the music, lyrics, and orchestrations for the show—Ben Hartley, the book and choreography.  Acclaimed director (and artistic director at NCPA), Bruce Guthrie is at helm, being
instrumental in bringing the musical to life over the course of the development.  The whole endeavour is based on real-life events, with Ben being able to turn a series of vignettes from Colin’s life into a brilliantly full-bodied, gripping book.

“…A new British musical about an aspiring singer who faces extraordinary circumstances on the road to fame. Set in the streets of Glasgow, in the late 90’s, and in London twenty years later, this is a story about love, family, struggle, sacrifice, identity, and the search for self-acceptance…”

Crowdfunder link here