Hannah Bretz
—–VOCALIST—–
Archive for June, 2009
Do yourself a favor and buy this album, it is being released today!
Having studied jazz in Chicago, my musical character is heavily influenced by Kurt Elling and other exceptional Chicago vocalists. Elling is a methodical and intense musician, always delving further into the viscera of a tune than would many modern-day vocalists, myself included. Yet he also possesses a whimsical sense of humor that balances out the intensity of his musical genius.
I love Elling’s description of jazz singers’ various aesthetic approaches toward singing tunes:
“There’s a wide spectrum of possibilities in how to deliver a song,” notes Elling. “And with Johnny Hartman, who wasn’t a real improviser, it was a matter of finding the emotional content with his phrasing and his sound. All jazz singers deal with matters of greater complexity and greater simplification over the course of their careers. For me, I tend to want to shake things up, but sometimes – like Hartman – you have to have respect for the moment, and just sing the song.”
I must also enthusiastically recommend that you listen to Elling’s other incredible recordings, especially my favorites “Man in the Air” and “Nightmoves.”
I had the pleasure of performing on the Jon Anderson White Riverboat this past Saturday. Owner Michael Lavelle invited me and talented keyboardist Stan Dudley to perform jazz standards for the Des Moines Breakfast Club on what was the second voyage of the J.A. White Riverboat since it’s restoration.
Des Moines natives may recall the tragedy that befell the riverboat, formerly known as the Spirit of Des Moines, thirteen years ago when the boat was untethered and went over the falls. Mr. Lavelle purchased the wreckage from the insurance company for a whopping $1,000 and has since invested a great deal more, both financially and personally.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to sing on the J.A. White Riverboat, especially on its second trip back on the Des Moines River! For more information on the J.A. White Riverboat please visit www.port-of-desmoines.com. Public tours will soon become available!
I must also thank Stan Dudley for being such a talented and fun musician to work with, as well as the members of the Breakfast Club who were exceptionally accommodating and made a very enthusiastic audience.
