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Karen Shane has recently
emerged into the world of jazz where she is finally "at
home." Her debut CD entitled It's Anybody's Spring
combines a great blend of the old and the new, with a mix from
swing to ballad to Bossa Nova.
Born
in Cleveland, Ohio, Shane comes from a very musical family. Her
father was a performer in musical theater and sang in barbershop
quartets. It was through his love of harmony singing that Shane
developed her keen sense of music. Her Aunt was an opera singer
and toured with the Robert Shaw Chorale; her grandmother, a mandolin
player of 40 years, taught Shane foundations of rhythm; and her
cousin, Ruth
Wallis, the well-known
risqué singer from the 50's and 60's, passed down to Shane
that style and professionalism which has become so synonymous with
Shane's performance.
In addition to her family,
Ms. Shane also attributes her jazz singing influences to Carmen
McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney and Mel Tormé,
as well as the music of Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones, just
to name a few.
Ms.
Shane's professional musical background began in high school
when she sang in a rock 'n roll band alongside singer/songwriter
Eric
Carmen. This
led her to Los Angeles and New York where she worked as a studio
singer and also as a second engineer at A&M Studios.
From 1983 to 1987, Ms.
Shane toured with American Ballet Theatre, performing in such
places as The Metropolitan Opera House, The Kennedy Center and
theaters in Japan. She also gained significant recognition performing
principal roles in musicals such as "Pirates of Penzance"
and "Grand Night for Singing," but her real
passion has always been to sing jazz.
It's Anybody's Spring has already received significant
acclaim in the music industry.
Alan Paul of The
Manhattan Transfer
has this to say: "Karen Shane has been blessed with a vocal
richness that many vocalists have to study years to attain. She
interprets a song with style, depth and heart. It's Anybody's
Spring is a great debut."
The CD
also contains one of Shane's original songs, "Be True To Your
Heart." Backed by an all-star group, featuring Rick DellaRatta on piano, Harvie Swartz on bass, Victor
Jones on drums,
and Billy Ross
on tenor sax and flute, provides a rich background to this wonderful
collection of songs.
With the release of, It's
Anybody's Spring, Karen Shane is now devoting her time to
doing what she does best, singing. In jazz clubs and concert
halls in the US and abroad, Karen Shane is making her mark as
one of the brightest new voices in vocal jazz.
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