The impressive young vocalist Gemma Sherry will be hosting CD launch parties in New York and her native Australia singing her favorite repertoire of jazz classics
On her debut album Sherry’s luscious voice is joined by pianist Billy Woodman and bassist Mike Waite with a guest appearance by saxophonist Patsy Gamble. The album presents 13 standards from the Great American Songbook in a storytelling style reminiscent of Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae and Blossom Dearie.
Such songs as “Some Other Time,” “I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Spring Can Really Hang You The Most,” “When Sunny Gets Blue,” and “Save Your Love For Me” are uplifted and given warm interpretations that do full justice to the melodies and the lyrics. Gemma’s tasteful treatments, which are full of subtle creativity, along with the very complementary accompaniment of Woodman and Waite, make the timeless material sound fresh and new while being true to the songs.
Starting her Songs I Love tour with dates at Sotto in Washington DC, Paris Bistro & Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and The Shrine in New York, she will begin the Australian leg of her tour at the Paris Cat Jazz Club in Melbourne on Friday May 8 where she will be joined by pianist Brett Rosenberg, guitarist Joseph Zreikat and bassist Adam Spiegl. She will also be headlining the Castlemaine Jazz Festival on Friday June 5 and Sunday June 7 where she will be accompanied by Brett Rosenberg, Adam Spiegl and guitarist Jack Pantazis.
Gemma Sherry was born and raised in Castlemaine, an idyllic little gold rush town north of Melbourne. There she learned to play alto and sopranino saxophone, loving the music of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Art Pepper and Cannonball Adderley and performing at gigs with her brother, a bass guitarist. It was in Castlemaine after hearing a Carmen McRae album, she switched her direction and became a jazz singer. Eight years ago she moved to New York to pursue her music career, studying jazz improvisation at the New School. She expanded her scope, developing a love for house and disco music, working with top producers in London, Italy and Greece, and recording five singles of house music that became hugely successful, particularly in Europe. Her single “Work That,” was recognized as one of the top tracks of the summer of 2017 on MTV and was on the top 100 chart on Beatport.
Her success in recording with modern producers in studio settings has only strengthened her love for singing live jazz. “I love a good melody which probably comes from having played the saxophone. The lyrics and melodies of the standards are unbeatable and I connect with those songs as does my audience. When I sing live, there is an immediate and tangible connection with my audience that I don’t get to experience in a studio setting.”
On her debut album Sherry’s luscious voice is joined by pianist Billy Woodman and bassist Mike Waite with a guest appearance by saxophonist Patsy Gamble. The album presents 13 standards from the Great American Songbook in a storytelling style reminiscent of Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae and Blossom Dearie.
Such songs as “Some Other Time,” “I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Spring Can Really Hang You The Most,” “When Sunny Gets Blue,” and “Save Your Love For Me” are uplifted and given warm interpretations that do full justice to the melodies and the lyrics. Gemma’s tasteful treatments, which are full of subtle creativity, along with the very complementary accompaniment of Woodman and Waite, make the timeless material sound fresh and new while being true to the songs.
Starting her Songs I Love tour with dates at Sotto in Washington DC, Paris Bistro & Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and The Shrine in New York, she will begin the Australian leg of her tour at the Paris Cat Jazz Club in Melbourne on Friday May 8 where she will be joined by pianist Brett Rosenberg, guitarist Joseph Zreikat and bassist Adam Spiegl. She will also be headlining the Castlemaine Jazz Festival on Friday June 5 and Sunday June 7 where she will be accompanied by Brett Rosenberg, Adam Spiegl and guitarist Jack Pantazis.
Gemma Sherry was born and raised in Castlemaine, an idyllic little gold rush town north of Melbourne. There she learned to play alto and sopranino saxophone, loving the music of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Art Pepper and Cannonball Adderley and performing at gigs with her brother, a bass guitarist. It was in Castlemaine after hearing a Carmen McRae album, she switched her direction and became a jazz singer. Eight years ago she moved to New York to pursue her music career, studying jazz improvisation at the New School. She expanded her scope, developing a love for house and disco music, working with top producers in London, Italy and Greece, and recording five singles of house music that became hugely successful, particularly in Europe. Her single “Work That,” was recognized as one of the top tracks of the summer of 2017 on MTV and was on the top 100 chart on Beatport.
Her success in recording with modern producers in studio settings has only strengthened her love for singing live jazz. “I love a good melody which probably comes from having played the saxophone. The lyrics and melodies of the standards are unbeatable and I connect with those songs as does my audience. When I sing live, there is an immediate and tangible connection with my audience that I don’t get to experience in a studio setting.”
For more information contact All About Jazz.
