A vocalista canadense de jazz Melissa Stylianou, nasceu em Toronto, Ontário, no 30 de setembro de 1976 e mora no bairro do Brooklyn em Nova York, onde bebe da inesgotável fonte musical do local, consequentemente, se firmando como um talento formidável.
Nos ultimos anos angariou grande numero de admiradores no Canadá, se apresentando em diversos clubes de jazz e festivais. Seu idioma jazzistico é largamente influenciado por cantoras do passado e da atualidade como Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn Carmen MacRae e a brasileira Luciana Souza.
A musicalidade de Melissa se notabiliza pela manutenção da tradição jazzistica, sem no entanto, abandonar as suas proprias caracteristicas pessoais.
A audição do CD "Sliding Down", registro apurado da leitura de belas canções em estilo jazzistico, algumas compostas por ela mesma, é a minha sugestão para o despertar de novos apreciadores para o talento singular de Melissa Stylianou.
Melissa sings "On the Street Where You Live" at Jazz Standard in New York City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gGD-1hLJCs
Jazz vocalist Melissa Stylianou was born on September 30,1976 in Toronto, Ontario, and is currently based in the Brooklyn, New York City, immersing herself in its rich music scene and establishing herself as a formidable talent.
Over the past 8 years, she has developed a loyal fan base in Canada playing regularly in that country's major jazz clubs and festivals. Influenced by a range of classic and contemporary singers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Luciana Souza. Melissa’s sound is rooted in the tradition of jazz singing, while remaining entirely her own.
This is evident on her third album, "Sliding Down" (Sleepin' Bee Music 2006.), the much-anticipated follow up to 2001’s critically acclaimed “bachelorette*”. "Sliding Down" is a sublime collection of original songs, contemporary tunes and jazz standards bound to thrill both long-time fans and newcomers to Melissa’s singular style.
It is a textured and nuanced album that features original lyrics and compositions alongside more familiar jazz and pop repertoire. “Them There Eyes”, “All of You”, the Beatles' “Blackbird” are re-imagined by a stellar ensemble with Melissa's warm and inviting voice at the forefront.
Much of the repertoire on the album was developed and honed during the Melissa Stylianou Trio’s five year residency every Friday evening at Toronto’s venerable Rex Hotel. Trio mates Kim Ratcliffe (guitar) and Artie Roth (bass) are featured prominently on this record in their multi-faceted roles as performers, arrangers and composers (Kim and Melissa collaborated on 3 of the 5 original songs), while a selection of Toronto’s finest jazz musicians fill out the mix.
Drummer Ted Warren and percussionist Alan Hetherington join the trio on the lilting “Mary’s in the Tub” and the hypnotic “Three Little Girls” (both co-written by Melissa and Kim) and guitarist extraordinaire Kevin Breit lends his distinctive voice to both of these songs as well as the spirited version of “Them There Eyes” and “L’Amitie”, a French pop song that made its way into Melissa’s repertoire during a 2005 concert tour of Quebec.
Drummer Ted Warren and percussionist Alan Hetherington join the trio on the lilting “Mary’s in the Tub” and the hypnotic “Three Little Girls” (both co-written by Melissa and Kim) and guitarist extraordinaire Kevin Breit lends his distinctive voice to both of these songs as well as the spirited version of “Them There Eyes” and “L’Amitie”, a French pop song that made its way into Melissa’s repertoire during a 2005 concert tour of Quebec.
Guitarist Rob Piltch, drummer Davide DiRenzo and bassist Jon Maharaj create a solid but playful environment for Melissa’s loving interpretations of the jazz classics “All of You”, “East of the Sun” and “That Ole Devil Called Love.” With “Lohengrin” (an original song whose lyric is loosely inspired by the opera of the same name) and “Sliding Down”, Melissa treats the listener to a different instrumentation and approach, inviting cellist Kevin Fox to join Kevin Breit (guitars,mandolin), Alan Hetherington (percussion, drums) and pianist Jamie Reynolds in some nuanced ensemble playing and sparkling interplay. The title track “Sliding Down” (composed by virtuoso bassist Edgar Meyer and with lyrics by Melissa) lends itself especially well to the group’s dynamic and the album concludes on a wistful yet upbeat note.
In New York, Melissa is gaining recognition and building a following with regular gigs at Perch Cafe in Brooklyn (where she also curates the weekly jazz series), Night and Day Restaurant in Brooklyn and at Bar Next Door and Cornelia St. Cafe in Manhattan. Her bandmates include Jamie Reynolds (piano), Steve Cardenas (guitar), Chris Lightcap on bass, and Matt Wilson on drums.
Press Quote
"She’s the sort of warm, open and secure singer for whom “style” is a means not an end.” (Mark Miller, jazz critic, Globe and Mail)
Press Quote
"She’s the sort of warm, open and secure singer for whom “style” is a means not an end.” (Mark Miller, jazz critic, Globe and Mail)
Reference - All Jaaz Music
Tradução - Humberto Amorim
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