Ms. Giles, with a vocal style and stage presence that has been compared to both Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, has been reviewed as a singer to watch. She has performed and mentored with jazz pianists Harry Whitaker, David Durrah and Harold Mabern, vocalists Marion Cowlings and Andy Bey, and trumpet and flugelhorn artist Joe Magnarelli. Most recently she has been featured in Trenton N.J.'s first Women In Jazz Festival (May 2007) as well as a panel discussion on the impact of women in jazz sponsored by the Brooklyn Jazz Consortium. Her concert performances have included venues such as the Trenton War Memorial; Salt Creek Grille Restaurant; Cafe Ole; New York's Blue Note; Iridium; Smoke; Detour; Showman's; Grasso's Restaurant; the Williamsburgh Caf and Arturo's Restaurant; and she has performed an ongoing series of children's concerts at various branches of the Brooklyn Public Library since 2005.
This concert marks her first appearance at the CSH Arts Center, although she has worked as a featured performer at neighboring Grasso's Restaurant steadily for the past three years. “Working at Grasso's has been a joy and a gift for me musically; every performance, every setting, and each musician inspires me to bring something new to the table. I took three years after the With Love From Sue CD release to just sing. These days I'm using something similar to 'the force' in music; something instinctual, to take risks into the unknown, and create a new experience with the trio on every song - be it a standard or original - on the spot, and I worked to develop that at Grasso's. Even when I moved from New York to central New Jersey, I'd still make the three-hour journey to perform at Grasso's in Long Island, because this is where the magic is. So when music coordinator Ernie (Byrd) suggested I step out of the restaurant setting and perform in concert, I knew it was time for a live recording."
Her trio for this live concert performance features fellow Grasso's regulars Art Hirahara (piano), Pat O'Leary (bass), (drums), and special guest Joe Magnarelli (tp/flugelhorn); and will also serve to debut new songs by Ms. Giles specifically written for the concert. Her previous CD, With Love From Sue, will be available for purchase at the show and are also available online at cdbaby.com and www.sugiles.com.
Admission for this concert is $20.00. For show information, tickets and reservations please contact the Cold Spring Harbor Arts Center at (631) 367-7062.
“Her voice ... may remind you of young Sassy, throwing low curves and high inside pitches over the Bebop plate, making it sound as though she's not going to show her fastball until and unless the night gets profoundly deeper"--Alan Barghebhur, Cadence Magazine
For more information contact All About Jazz.
