Seattle-Area Jazz Singer Eugenie Jones
Prepares to Release
"Come Out Swingin'"
May 12
Follow-Up to Her 2013 Debut
"Black Lace Blue Tears,"
Features Original Material by Jones
& Instrumental Support from Top Seattle Players
Bill Anschell, Clipper Anderson,
Michael Powers, Jay Thomas,
D'Vonne Lewis, Ernesto Pediangco
CD Release Show at
The Royal Room, Seattle, June 19
April 23, 2015
"This CD was a
deliberate attempt to continue to grow and progress," states Jones. "I
set that desire for improvement as a bull's-eye to shoot for and kept
that focus through each step of this project."
Jones did keep her core Black Lace band together for this high-energy date: consummately supportive pianist/arranger Bill Anschell, veteran bassist Clipper Anderson, and versatile guitarist Michael Powers. They are joined by Seattle hornman Jay Thomas; drummer D'Vonne Lewis, a rising force on the local scene; and distinguished percussionist Ernesto Pediangco. As on her previous disc, Eugenie penned most of the selections and had a hand in nearly all the arrangements.
"Black Lace was a look into my personality, and begins a story," she says. "Come Out Swingin'
continues that story. And of course the more you tell a story, the
deeper you go. That's what's happening here in terms of lyrics and
songs."
Surprisingly, Jones
had never planned for a career in singing. Growing up in Morgantown,
West Virginia, Eugenie (pronounced "u-gee-nee") sang with the Baptist
church choir directed by her father, but at home she left the singing to
her mother, the late Tommie Parker (to whose memory Come Out Swingin' is dedicated).
Jones attended open mics and workshops and gradually honed her skills, gained confidence, and landed several regular gigs. "As
a fledgling performer the most important thing to do is perform," she
says. At her Amici Bistro gig in Mulkiteo, an affluent community on the
shore of Puget Sound, "the owner was very kind and encouraging. I got to
interact with an audience and really develop my repertoire."
Since making her
professional debut as a jazz singer a mere four years ago, Jones has
drawn a devoted following to her unique musical artistry at venues
throughout the Seattle area and as far south as Portland. She's made two
appearances at Twins Jazz in Washington, DC and has been invited back
for a third. Come Out Swingin' is but the
latest expression of Eugenie Jones's remarkable drive, poise, and above
all unstoppable talent -- a combination that is serving her, and the
jazz audience, very well indeed.
Eugenie Jones CD Release Shows:
5/17 Capitol Cider, Seattle
(Peter Adams, p; Derick Polk, b)
(Peter Adams, p; Derick Polk, b)
5/30 B Sharp Coffee, Tacoma
(Peter Adams, p; Derick Polk, b; Jamael Nance, d)
6/11 North West Cellars, Kirkland
(Bill Anschell, p)
6/19 The Royal Room, Seattle
Jay Thomas, ts, tpt; Bill Anschell, p; Clipper Anderson, b;
D'Vonne Lewis, d; Ernesto Pediangco, perc)
6/20 Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton
(Eric Verlinde, p; Derick Polk, b; D'Vonne Lewis, d)
7/4 Heathman Hotel, Portland
(Marcus Reynolds, p; Ken Anoe, b)
7/24-25 Jazz in the Valley Festival, Ellensburg
(Peter Adams, p; Derick Polk, b; Jamael Nance, d)
8/13 Twins Jazz Lounge, Washington, DC
(Russel Carter, ts; Pete Frassrund, p; Thomas View, b; Art Cobb, d)
Photography: Tuffer Stills & Motion, Seattle
Web Sites: reverbnation.com/eugeniejones, eugeniejones.com
Terri Hintehudba@sbcglobal.net
510/234-8781