The Heights – May – An Xperience Column

The Heights – May – An Xperience Column – by Joe Barna.

Well folks, it’s now May 2024, and Jazz Appreciation Month has once again come and gone. We were treated to a spectacular collection of live performances across the entire region and beyond. However, the best is yet to come. In my world, jazz appreciation is a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year phenomenon that never ceases. America’s art form has a heartbeat no matter the time of year or calendar day. Let’s get into this month’s offering.

So … what shall we talk about today?

Originally, I was going to construct an article discussing the art of improvisation and its importance regarding the evolution of jazz. But after pondering long and hard, I decided to present a piece that would draw attention to one of my favorite genres of the style, vocal jazz. I don’t think the importance of vocal jazz gets its proper spotlight in today’s modern era. With such an emphasis on instrumental prowess and harmonic gymnastics, sometimes the simple task of performing a timeless melody finds itself in the background. Hopefully, this small article will help to jumpstart the interest in jazz vocalists in those who may not have a relationship with the genre.

Jazz developed from many different situations and circumstances. The rhythms are shaped from the drum themes of African history. Lyrics written about the struggles of field workers, poverty, celebration, and more were added. By the late 1800s when these two worlds collided, a new sound found its home in the southern region of the United States. Moving into the 1900s, we have names rising to prominence the likes of Buddy Bolden, Louis Armstrong, Nick LaRocca, Charles Prince, Fletcher Henderson, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, and too many others to list. These bands were the first to record, have residencies, and provide music at ballrooms for those who wished to dance. But, let us not forget one very important piece of this puzzle—the singers.

When record labels such as Decca, CBS, Columbia, Commodore, Blue Note, and others began documenting the efforts of some of early jazz music’s greatest bands, one thing they often included were the young vocal talents of the era. Some of the names you might recall are Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, June Christy, Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Joe Williams, and many others. The art of the jazz vocal has evolved since its early beginnings. Now we hear names such as Kurt Elling, Norah Jones, Bobby McFerrin, Diana Krall, Madeleine Peyroux, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Samara Joy and other greats in their own right. As you can see from the two lists mentioned, the art form has grown and matured. The rhythms, lyrics, time signatures, tones, shapes, and colors are now a fusion of influences from many nations and backgrounds.

We are fortunate to have access to all of these colorful voices. Through tools like the internet and cell phones, we are now able to hear our favorite singers at the touch of a button. This helps to find new talent we wish to support and whose careers we may follow for years to come.
So, why am I spending time writing about vocal jazz?

Since moving back from Manhattan in 2016 I have rarely come across a venue in the Capital Region that is both ideal for singers and offers a sound that even the lightest of dynamics could be captured within the integrity of a performance. We now have such a venue in Alias Coffee in Troy, NY. The tone, space, setup, controlled environment, intimacy, and allure stands among the best I’ve heard in my 30 years as a professional musician. It gives the vocalist a stage to present dramatic concerts facilitating the use of extreme dynamics. It might be a happy accident to have stumbled into this cozy home-away-from-home, but boy am I glad I did.

Personally, I love playing with singers, especially in great venues. It allows me to play more as a traditional accompanist, bringing out specific colors that sometimes get lost in an all-instrumental, highly improvisational arena. There is an art form all unto itself in backing up a jazz vocalist. You have to be supremely conscious of when they are bringing the energy up or down, when they require more space, when they might need a slight push, or when they choose to loosen up the beat allowing for a more open-flowing vibe. It is the obligation of the rhythm section to afford the vocalist their best chance to sound great.

Because of my love of female vocalists, I have launched a series at Alias Coffee highlighting some of my favorite singers and friends from both the Capital Region and NYC/NJ. We have already presented the engaging voices of Jeanine Ouderkirk, Jody Shayne Brooks, and Shannon Rafferty. All brought something special to the bandstand and offered the listener a unique experience to cherish.

Coming up in May we will have the privilege of welcoming two more singers to the Alias Stage.

On Thursday, May 2, Troy will be treated to the stylings of Capital Region newcomer Donna Trunzo. Following on Thursday, May 16, will be one of my good friends out of NYC and a young lion on the vocal jazz scene, Kristina Koller. Both shows will be exciting, engaging, and musically satisfying. The rhythm sections for each singer feature some of New York State’s top players and soloists.

The art of singing in jazz has been around for as long as anyone can remember. It first rose to notoriety in the late 1800s and by the 1940s it was off and running as one of the most respected genres of jazz. By the 1970s and 1980s, the genre saw a mix of pop, funk, rock, classical, and other styles start to melt into the fabric of the music. Vocalists were experimenting with other sounds, rhythms, and song forms. Now in the year 2024, I see many singers returning to the roots of the music, singing timeless classics and resurrecting many lyrics not seen or heard from in what seems like forever. It’s inspiring to witness this music come full circle.

There exists for all of us a jazz vocalist that reaches deep inside our souls, pulling out many emotions that may be lying dormant. Some prefer the older versions of classic repertoire sung by the likes of Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, and others. Many find their happy place in listening to newer artists like Michael Buble, Melody Gardot, Josh Groban, Samara Joy, Cyrille Aimee, and more. Whatever your fancy, it’s important to remember the history and relevance of singers in jazz. They have forged a path throughout the vast history of music that is deserving of respect and acknowledgment. Without someone to sing the lyrics composed by many of this music’s greatest minds, we would not hear these words again. I, for one, am thankful for the vocalist and look forward to presenting many more concerts for the Capital Region to feel a sense of pride to have attended.

The Alias Coffee Female Jazz Vocal Series

219 Fourth Street
Troy, NY 12180

Thursday, May 2nd
Donna Trunzo Quartet
7:30-9pm
$20 at the door

Thursday, May 16th
Kristina Koller Quartet w/ opening band Joe Barna Trio
7-9:30pm
$30 on Eventbrite (includes dinner)
$35 at the door

Things are heating up for the jazz scene in Troy, NY

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