LADIES WHO SING JAZZ & BLUES

RAY CHARLES SONGS ALONG WITH ORIGINAL SONG SHADES OF RAY WRITTEN BY CYNTHIA SCOTT AND NICHOLAS MORRISON FEATURING DAVID FATHEAD NEWMAN, JOHN D MARTINO, HOWARD JOHNSON, YORON ISRAEL, JOHN MENEGON ALONG WITH SOUTH ARKANSAS SYMPHONY DIRECTED BY KERMIT POLING

Cynthia Scott, was born in Arkansas, and began singing at the age of four. She is the 10th child of 12 children in a musical family. She developed her craft singing gospel music in her father's church who was married to her mother for 70 years. Talk about commitment.

Music is her life, her passion, her committment and to be able to make a living doing what you love, is truly a blessing.

When Lincoln Center was looking for a voice to test the new ROSE ROOM under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, Cynthia was chosen to be the first voice to sing in the new room. Sherman Irby was on Saxophone and featured John Hicks on piano, Gerald Cannon on bass and Willie Jones on drums. This was a historical and musical event. So, whenever you are in that room, or playing trivia pursuit, remember that the first voice ever heard in the ROSE ROOM at Lincoln Center was that of CYNTHIA SCOTT. Todd Barkin the entertainment director for DIZZY'S ROOM in the new Lincoln Center proclaimed Cynthia MVP (most valuable player) for her performance in the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival. Featured were many other wonderful and different performers, such as Ann Hampton Callaway, Nnenna Freelon, Claudia Acuna, Marian McPartland, Barbara Carrol, Joanne Brackeen, Hiromi, Helen Merrill, Lynne Arriale, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Karrin Allyson, Tessa Souter.

After high school, Cynthia moved to Dallas, Texas and became an airline stewardess while learning to sing on the Dallas local club scene. Gracing the stage with musicians like James Clay, Claude Johnson, Roger Boykin, Onzy Matthew, Red Garland, Joe Johnson and so many more. Dallas was the place to learn the music back then. You talk about jam sessions. I questions what they call jam sessions now. She then became a 'RAELETTE' with the RAY CHARLES organization, recording and touring with him which also included some of the Dallas musicians. Ray loved the Texas musicians and there was a reason. On one European tour with Ray Charles, which was promoted by the late, great NORMAN GRANZ featured also, THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA and OSCAR PETERSON.

Cynthia's latest adventures, doing tributes to Brother Ray Charles at the Jazz festivals. Performing with her are some of the greatest like David Fathead Newman, Marcus Belgrave, Hank Crawford, Leroy Cooper, Johnny O'Neal, Henry Johnson, John Hicks, Yoran Israel, Howard Johnson, John Menegan and many more. Most of these guys were part of Ray's band back in the 60's and 70's. She says, I felt like I knew Ray's spirit because when you work with someone as closely as I did with Ray, you learn so much. He was a great teacher to so many and his music will live on. She is so glad to have the opportunity to pay homage to her old boss. The performance at the Chicago Jazz Festival received a review from the CHICAGO TRIBUNE by Howard Reich that praised Cynthia's performance as a mesmerizing vocalist. That she clearly learned a great deal from the master - his timing, his pacing, his often coy way with a phrase and handled with considerable aplomb and sass. DOWNBEAT magazine December 2005 featured Cynthia with picture and review of this tribute. She even wore a dress that she wore when she worked with Ray. I was only three when I joined him, she states. Just kidding.

Representing her country as Jazz Ambassador 2004, Cynthia was the first singer selected to travel abroad as a cultural exchange on the life of a Jazz singer. She performed concerts for many diverse groups, taught classes and workshops in 5 countries in West Africa and France. This was established in conjunction with The Kennedy Center and the US State Department. She continues to teach at performing arts' schools.

Returning to Dallas, after working with RAY, Cynthia established a very wide following. She has toured abroad tomany countries, such as, France, Russia and China. While in China she performed for dignitaries with the aid of an interpreter. Many trips to Russia and even performed for the president of Kazakhstan.

Coming to New York after receiving a call from the owner of a popular club to perform, she then hired, as yet undiscovered, HARRY CONNICK, JR., as one of her pianist. They met again at a DAVID LETTERMAN Christmas Party some years later and he introduced her as 'one of the greatest jazz singers.' She still laughs at what she paid him while they had worked together and wishes he was still available for that price. A four week engagement turned into a three year stretch, so Cynthia decided to call New York City home.

Cynthia has performed at many clubs in New York City from the old and new Lincoln Jazz Centers, Bluenote to Birdland. Before the September 11th disaster, for the past ten years she was the featured vocalist at the Supper Club with the 17 piece Supper Club Big Band which featured musicians down thru the years like Doug Lawrence, Irvin Stokes and so many others. She could be seen and heard there every week when not doing other concerts or private events. She said it was wonderful to have a steady singing engagement in New York and still have the freedom to perform other engagements. At one private function, she sang for the former VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE at The Supper Club, where she introduced him. If you go by the Supper Club on 47th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave they still have two pictures of Cynthia's painted on the muriel wall.

She performed in the musical jazz tours of MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, a tribute featuring the music of JOHNNY MERCER, based on the best selling novel by JOHN BERENDT. The SYRACUSE HERALD praised Cynthia's delivery of Johnny Mercer's music as ...'performed with haunting artistry and superb talent...singing 'Satin Doll' and 'Moon River' into suave musical monologues.' THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE said, 'Cynthia sang with a remarkable smooth intonation that stood out for its quiet intensity and, as often as 'Midnight Sun' and 'Moon River' has been associated with Audrey Hepburn, Cynthia made the tunes her own. THE WASHINGTON POST said, 'Ms. Scott skillfully illustrated the reflective and sensuous sides of Mercer's songcraft during a performance at the Kennedy Center,' and, lastly, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE featured Ms. Scott's picture on the front page of the Sunday Style section and wrote, 'Scott's jazz phrasing and timbre conjures up Sarah Vaughan & Ella Fitzgerald as she sang sensational versions of Mercer music.' Sharing the stage during the concerts was the legendary MARGARET WHITING, along with KEVIN MAHOGANY, JOHN PITZARELLI, CLAIBORNE CARY, MUNDELL LOWE, WARREN VACHE, JESSIE DAVIS, JULIUS LAROSA and, two of the real characters featured in the book and movie, LADY CLABLIS and the late EMMA KELLY. Cynthia loved performing these concerts and considers them part of an important musical history.

Voted a finalist in THE 1998 INTERNATIONAL THELONIUS MONK JAZZ VOCAL COMPETITION, where JAZZ TIMES MAGAZINE was quoted as saying, 'Ms. Scott gave an exceptional performance.' GRADY TATE, legendary drummer said: 'Cynthia's singing caresses one's heart,' and praised her first CD recording 'I JUST WANT TO KNOW,' which also showcases her as a producer. The late TERRI THORNTON, famous jazz vocalist and Verve artist, a very close friend of Cynthia's, said 'the recording should become a favorite among all those who like good vocalists.' Three more CD's have been released and all with a different flavor. So to listen to Ms. Scott, you can purchase her four CD's, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, LIVE AT BIRDLAND A LA CARTE, BOOM BOOM, LIVE IN JAPAN WITH THE NORMAN SIMMONS TRIO and the latest one is STORYTELLING LIVE AT BIRDLAND which were all GRAMMY CONTENDERS. Her songwring talents have caught the attention of the International Songwriting Competition and she was a finalist. One of the judges was Sonny Rolllins, she wished she had played saxaphone.

Cynthia toured with CAB CALLOWAY as well. She made such an impression, that she was booked for another tour before Cab's illness. With fond memories of CAB calling her up on to the stage during a Joe Williams concert and introducing her as his 'new discovery' as they sang 'Stormy Weather' together. While Legendary NORMAN SIMMONS played piano. Cab, as usual completely took over singer extradionaire Joe Williams' show but Joe knew that he would and waited until he was finished with his show to introduce Cab to the audience. Cab proceeded to the stage and started another performance. Smart move Joe....

She has also had the opportunity to perform, tour or share the stage with many other Jazz luminaries at countless venues. Some of these include: THE HARPER BROTHERS, DAVID SANDBORN, JOE WILLIAMS, LOU DONALDSON, CYRUS CHESTNUT, THE BESSIE SMITH REVUE, THE 1ST ARUBA JAZZ FESTIVAL and many appearances in JAPAN during the Christmas holiday season. Her BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC debut, featured late Jazz pianist BROSS TOWNSEND. Her performance at the NEW YORK TOWN HALL with THE MABEL MERCER CABARET CONVENTION, was described as 'strikingly sultry' by CHIP DEFFA of The New York Post. At her FLUSHING HALL debut she opened for RANDY WESTON. Her performance with legendary WYNTON MARSALIS at LINCOLN CENTER featured the music of DUKE ELLINGTON. She was also the featured vocalist with LIONEL HAMPTON.

Earning a MASTER'S and BACHELOR'S DEGREE in MUSIC from MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC she teaches at a performing art school, privately and vocal workshops. She is also on the roster list of The New School and City College and teaches master classes and vocal students privately. She has taught private and group vocal lessons at the Brooklyn Conservatory. She studied acting under the late UTA HAGEN and ROBERT CREST.

Cynthia finished a live recording at BIRDLAND called 'a la carte' which has been released on her label called TTOCS RECORDS which was her first GRAMMY contender. World famous singer, JON LUCIEN proclaimed Cynthia, in his opinion, as one of the best female singers in the business today. She's a real performer, a fantastic voice and complete musician. He urges that you listen to Cynthia and this CD to hear for yourself.

After returning from her latest tour in Japan with the late Joe Williams trio, her efforts to document this event produced a live recording called BOOM BOOM, Live In Japan and it is still receiving rave reviews and airplay. The CD featured THE NORMAN SIMMONS TRIO with LISLE ATKINSON on bass and PAUL HUMPHREY on drums. Jazz guitarist, RUSSELL MALONE heard this recording and personally called Cynthia up to say girl, normally musicians have to swing the singer but you swung the blank blank out of that band (you can fill in the blank blank). His quote on her CD is 'great vocal instrument, great choice of material and great soul and swing.' Jazz singer MARK MURPHY also heard the CD and offered the quote 'Cynthia swings her socks off and then continues to serenade us with her jazzy so-intune contralto that goes in and out of so many wonderful old chestnut songs...sort of like she is really singing with COUNT BASIE.' NORMAN SIMMONS did the linear notes for this CD, that you can read under current news at WWW.CYNTHIASCOTT.COM. His comment on this CD, 'There are very few jazz singers left made of the real thing and she is definitely one of them.' Two live CD's released at the same time. DO I DARE? Yes, she did, all of her CD's are available for purchase thru her website, WWW.CYNTHIASCOTT.COM Jazzworld.Com or CD Baby.Com as well as selected stores.

Her latest recorded Live at Birdland CD called Storytelling is now also available and again was also in the running as a GRAMMY contender. I hope you didn't forget to vote for Cynthia. It was also a surprise recording and was just too special not to release. Thanks for dropping by and keep checking in for future updates.