Hoosier Steve Quinn Debuts at the LaSalle as a Jazz Vocalist
Saturday, November 21, 2015, 8-10 pm
Steve Quinn performs widely, including sports events like the opening National Anthem for the Colts, corporate events, weddings--venues where a singer is not typically asked to sing jazz. At the LaSalle he makes his Fort Wayne debut as as jazz vocalist. As a singer his credentials are undisputed. A jazz singer sings from the heart, not simply for the terms of a contract. Fort Wayne Jazz Cabaret is regional and international in its roster of well-known jazz vocalists. Last month Artistic Director Brenda Williams selected our first true Fort Wayne jazz singer, Jamie Wise, and everyone agreed she made no mistake. It was jazz, not just jazzy. For November she has selected Steve. A cabaret singer sings in creative self-expression, not for an organizational mission or as a backup for jazz-unrelated event. A jazz singing is the most creative form of song, a expression of the unique individual. A true jazz singer artist immerses hier- or himself in the vocal tradition since Louis Armstrong, and then becomes a new original in that tradition of originals.www.lasallebb.com
Among types of jazz singers, Steve is a crooner. Crooners often sing from the Great Amercian Song Book, but sometimes do contemporary songs that help bring the young to cabaret. Frank Sinatra is probably the most celebrated jazz crooner. But as Steve will show this tradition still lives, He is not an imitation of Sinatra comparable to certain lookalike Elvis. As a part of jazz, he belongs to what is America's internationally recognized greatest contribution to the world history of music.
Steve Quinn performed at Fort Wayne Jazz Cabaret on November 21. He has opened for the Colts with the National Anthem, and is a vocalist based in Indianapolis. As a full time singer he is versatile. He sings by the terms of the contract for corporate events and weddings, not always jazz. At jazz cabaret he sings from his heart. He started singing jazz by growing up entranced by people like Nat King Cole and Francis (Frank) Sinatra and then found his own voice. He got into the habit of singing for himself, and at twenty-eight years old others heard him and led him to think of making a career of it. He captivated the audience both as a singer and entertainer.
ReplyDeleteCraig Hicks returned on the piano. He excels in the demanding art of jazz piano accompaniment. His performing degree is from the Indiana University School of Music, where he learned playing classical as a basis for jazz, He was a student of David Baker at Indiana University. He recounts that he happened to meet Baker on a street in Indianapolis a few years ago. Baker, a nationally recognized jazz educator, mainly wanted to know if Craig was still keeping up with his practice of classical piano playing.