jazz vocalist Archives - Cliff Bell's

Ramona Collins

admin — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 02:30:00 +0000

Premier entertainer Ramona Collins is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, educator, actress, emcee and radio host who grew up in Lansing MI. Now based out of Toledo, Ohio, her shows have made her an audience favorite at clubs, concerts and festivals wherever she goes. She covers all the flavors from honey to hot sauce, whether she is half of a duo or fronting an orchestra.

She has a commanding stage presence and a soulful voice. “The penetrating appeal of Ramona’s performance derives in large measure of course, from her rich, nimble and evocative voice, but there’s more. Her interpretations of familiar tunes convey wisdom, humor an almost ethereal goodwill that combines to create the impression of, not just a great singer, but a remarkable person sharing music and something more.”
Fritz Beyer, WGTE 91.3, Jazz Spectrum

Ramona is in demand as a guest vocalist and leader in the Michigan area, has hosted jam sessions and performed @ Baker’s Keyboard Lounge and Bert’s jazz club; performed at The Dirty Dog, Music Hall, London Chop House, Steinway Gallery, and Nikola’s to name a few, and been been honored for her contributions to the arts. She was nominated in the female jazz vocalist category for the Detroit Black Music Awards in 2011, is a Detroit Motown Ambassador through Duane Parham’s Education Society, and recently had the honor of opening for legends Jennifer Holliday and Gladys Knight.

She has recorded two independent albums, “Everything Old Is New Again” and “Live & Lovin’ It”, sung background vocals for bluesman Bobby G’s new album “Phd In The Blues”. Ramona’s recordings are available for download on cdbaby.com and she is currently working on original material for her next recording project.

Her trio of musicians for the gig will consist of Cliff Monear (piano), Jeff Pedraz (bass), & Jesse Kramer (drums).

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Dave Vessella Quartet

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 01:00:00 +0000

Trumpet player, vocalist, composer, and arranger, Dave Vessella’s unique sound is reminiscent of traditional New Orleans music and west coast jazz a la Chet Baker. Vessella has played at the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Panama Jazz Festival with Wayne State University and Danilo Perez, Walter White’s Big Band at the Michigan Jazz Festival, The Detroit Pistons house band and many more within Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles. This heavy influence of Louis Armstrong lead to Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and more, which has anchored him deep in the tradition of jazz and blues. Dave holds a M.M. from Wayne State University and a B.A. in Jazz Studies from Columbia College Chicago. You can catch him every 2nd and 4th Thursday at Marge’s Bar in Grosse Pointe at one of the longest running continuous traditional jazz gigs in the country.

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Nicole New

admin — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 01:00:00 +0000

The 28 year old Detroiter is a passionate and provocative singer alluring crowds with her sensitivity and soulfulness as one of Detroit’s premier band leaders. Nicole’s eclectic style of singing, drawing from her early influences of performing Jazz, Pop, Opera and musical theatre has transformed into a sound all her own. The Nicole New Group is making a lasting impression at performance venues all over Michigan and beyond. Wowing fans with her rich tone and rhythmic phrasing, venues such as The Jazz Cafe at Music Hall, Cliff Bells, London Chop House, Steinway Jazz Cafe and most recently the Midland Symphony have become a regular stop for this energetic performer.

“I like music that moves me, taking songs we all know and love..giving them new life and perhaps new meaning.”

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