Greta Mattassa Puts On A Master Class In Jazz Vocals at Pete Carlson's

Pre-Show Preparations At Pete Carlson's

Greta Mattassa, Andy Fraga Jr.,  Larry Holloway and Doug McDonald

 

If you are a fan of Jazz vocals and were not at Pete Carlson's Jazz For Jazz Lovers Series last Friday January 26, you missed a spectacular performance by Jazz Vocalist, Greta Matassa.  Greta has been voted best Jazz Vocalist in the Pacific North West four times and has recorded 10 highly successful CDs.  Greta's influences include the best American vocalists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and Anita O'Day.  You can also hear the influences of Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, June Christy and Diane Schuur.  It's one thing to have all these vocal giants as your musical heroes but then to perform using everything you have learned from these heroes is a talent that only a few musicians can accomplish.  It is clear to everyone in the standing- room-audience tonight that Greta Matassa has more than proved she can join this illustrious group of vocalists.   Greta's voice can move from sad to joyous, from delicate to strong and her phrasing is fresh and powerful!

Greta also teaches in Jazz camps, festivals, master classes and give clinics and workshops for aspiring singers.  Tonight's performance was a clinic for the audience of what Jazz Vocals are all about.

Supporting Greta tonight was a group of three of the top musicians from the Coachella Valley area.   Larry Holloway on Bass, Andy Fraga Jr on Drums and Doug McDonald on Guitar.  Doug was called in at the last minute because the Guitar player that was scheduled, Bruce Forman came down with the flu.  Doug's performance was outstanding especially considering he never performed with Greta before and he never had time to even review her charts.  Doug is such a Pro, no one could even detect that Doug was not Greta's regular Guitar player! 

I found a "YouTube" of Greta Matassa singing "The Song Is You" that will give you a good sample of Greta's vocal skills.  She is joined by musicians Darin Clendenin on Piano, Clipper Anderson on Bass and Steve Dornes on Drums.

CD Review: Trish Hatley "I Remember- 2nd Set"

Trish Hatley has just released her 8th Cd, "I Remember-2nd Set" and its outstanding!  Trish tours and divides her time between Seattle, Washington and Palm Springs, Ca.  Trish is an accomplished and polished singer with a golden voice.  She also has a wonderful stage presence.  For new CD continues her personal exploration of great songs out of the "Great American Songbook" and we get to hear the wonderful results.  There are 16 cuts on this CD including one that Trish wrote, "I Don't Want To Hurt You".  Trish covers songs from the greatest American composers including George & Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Harold Arlen and Duke Ellington.  These great songs are perfectly fitted to Trish's style and her understanding and mastery of lyrics.  She sings songs that were written year ago but her approach breaths new life and sparkle into all of them.

All the arrangements were done by Darin Clendenin who has as long musical history with Trish.  His arrangements are perfect for Trish and bring out the best in her performances.  Cut#5 was arranged by  John Anderson and Cut#6 was arranged by the Desert's great Bass player, Larry Holloway.  The excellent supporting musicians playing on this CD are:

Vocals & (whistling): Trish Hatley
Piano: Darin Clendenin
Bass: Larry Holloway
Drums: Ken French
Saxes: John Anderson
Flugelhorn: Paul Mazzio
Trombone: Dan Marcus
Vibes: Susan Pascal
Guitar: Dave Peterson
Rhythm Guitar: Rebecca Killgore
Percussion: Jeff Busch

          Playlist:
1. "It Don't Mean A Thing"                            2. "Lover Man"
3. "Shadow Waltz"                                         4. "I Don't Want To Hurt You"
5. "Four Brothers                                            6. "Robbins Nest"
7. "I'm Glad There Is You"                             8. "A Sleeping Bee"
9. "Why Don't You Do Right"                        10. "Midnight Sun"
11. "'S Wonderful"                                          12. "AN Occasional Man"
13. "Smile"                                                     14. "Beyond The Sea"
15. "Thou Swell"                                            16. "That's All"

I attached a "YouTube of Trish Hatley singing her stunning interpretation of, "Where Do You Start".  Listen to this and there will be no further need to tell you that she is a super-star singer!

Trish Hatley Sings Up A Storm At Woody's

Jeff Olson, Trish Hatley, Larry Holloway and Darin Clendenin

Larry Holloway

Darin Clendenin

Jeff Olson

There was music magic at Woody's on Tuesday night, March 12 where Trish Hatley joined her sensational singing style with keyboard player Darin Clendenin and Valley favorites, Larry Holloway and Jeff Olson.  Trish Hatley has a great singing style that is all her own.  She loves standards from the "Great American Songbook" and approaches them in her own unique Jazz style. Her voice is very rich and clear as a bell and her phrasing is near perfect. Trish is simply a wonderfully-talented singer that I could hear again and again! I understand that Trish did a lot of singing with Larry Holloway when they were both living in Seattle and I believe Larry helped set up some gigs for Trish in the Valley. As a result, we got to hear some super Jazz sounds tonight.

Darin Clendenin has been accompanying Trish on piano for the last several years and it shows. In addition to providing great piano support behind Trish, Darin also provided outstanding arrangements for Trish's performance. Darin is a super talented musician and I hope we get to hear more from him in the future.

This was only the second time this group has played together but you would never know it from the music they made tonight.  What stood out to me was the way Larry Holloway knew every vocal move that Trish made and there were plenty of them.  Larry has always been one of my favorite bass players but tonight he was on fire. I have never heard Larry play better .

If I were a singer, I would want to have Jeff Olson playing drums in my group. I have seen Jeff play with Jazz instrumental groups and with Jazz singers, and he has the softest hands in the Valley.  He is always focused and keeps the perfect balance of sound for both uptempo and torch songs.

I understand that Trish may be doing some other dates in the area in the near future, and I strongly recommend that you try to see her, she is really good!