Beside well known artists who access the front lights because of both luck and talent, there are many underground, very talented individuals who work hard and thrive to express their genius and hope to meet the magic producer that will offer them this contract that would open the road to success.

Miami based Jazz vocalist Jennifer Louis is a perfect illustration of such phenomenon. A few weeks ago, I received in my office at work a young lady, seeking help with and administrative issue. After an hour of discussion to search for a solution to her problem, a very genuine curiosity brought the magic question to my lips.

Since she told me she was a singer and showed some interest in the music that was playing in my computer (Abbey Lincoln), I asked her about the type of music she sings and the answer I hoped to hear came out. As many freelance artists she sings for a living but jazz resonates the most with her inner sense of artistry. I was so pleased to discover that I was talking probably to an accomplished jazz singer and suggested that she should send me some tracks. Then, we talked about Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Cassandra Wilson (she loves her), Billie Holiday, Ginou Oriol, Pauline Jean, Cecile Mc-Lorin Salvant, Gretchen Parlato, Jennifer Sanon and so on…

These two tracks, "Some Other Time" and "Sweet Lorraine" recorded live at the Guzman Theater in Miami, will take the listener into Jenny's world of sounds. As I anticipated, she is a real diva with a golden vocal instrument. There is "a kind of fragility" in her voice that makes it exceptional and surprisingly beautiful.

Listen to "Some Other Time" Recorded LIVE!		Listen to "Sweet Lorraine" Recorded LIVE!

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ABOUT JENNIFER - Jennifer Louis is a Miami based vocalist whose performance experience can be best described as nothing short of eclectic. A graduate of the prestigious Studio Jazz program at the University of Miami, Jennifer has had the privilege of studying under Dr. Rachel Lebon, Dr. Julie Silvera-Jensen, and jazz artist Kevin Mahogony. Considering the diverse forms of music she was exposed to as a child, it's no wonder she feels at home on stage whether it's as a member of the Jubilate Arts Jazz Vocal Ensemble recording with such artists as Gloria Estefan, Collaborating with Miami hip hop artist GoMarvelous, as cast member of the Florida Grand Opera's 2006 production of Verdi's "Aida", or as a supporting vocalist for latin music star Ricardo Montaner in his "Las Mejores Canciones del Mundo I&II" tour (2007-2008). Of all the genres that she has the pleasure to perform, it is the freedom of the jazz genre that resonates with her the most.

THE QUARTET: Jennifer Louis: Vocal, Joe Davidian: piano, Aaron Mitter: Bass, Thor Thorvaldson: Drums

Alphonse Piard, Jr.
For Karijazz
Friday, June 17, 2011

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