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April, a Florida native, has roots steeped in southern tradition,music and culture. Her deep roots in southern gospel and blues combine with urban soulfulness and sophistication, to create music that’s pure, gutsy, and unmistakably authentic.
April’s voice is an instrument of astonishing beauty and versatility,capable of ranging from the subtlest nuance to the most powerful soul-drenched belting with equal ease and mastery. But her focus is always on singing the song, in the tradition of classic singers like Joe Williams, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles and Tony Bennett.
In 1993 April graduated from Berklee College of Music, where she received the prestigious Louis Armstrong Performance Award. She has done projects for Atlantic Records under the direction of Arif Mardin and for the likes of Melissa Manchester, Bette Midler and Chaka Khan and appeared on stage with artists such as Al Jarreau, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius, Rosemary Clooney, Dinah Shore, and Livingston Taylor.For the past 12 years, she
has been recording and performing with New England's finest musicians, including Gray Sargent, Tim Ray, Marshall Wood, Kenny Hadley, Dino Govoni, Jon Damian, Less Harris Jr.,Bruce Gertz, Tom Hall, Bob Neiske, Jerry Bergonzi, John Lockwood, Marty Balue and New Orleans's Amadee Castenell, just to name a few.
Her graceful looks and powerful presence have captivated audiences at every conceivable venue, from night-clubs like The Regattabar and Scullers Jazz Club to the fine ballrooms of the Copley Plaza and Ritz Carlton, to the mansions of Newport, from intimate parties on the Vineyard to Boston's infamous Hatch Shell.
April is also an award winning songwriter, and her music has been featured on Boston's "Women in Music" series and on "The Coffeehouse” and featured on Boston’s Premier Jazz Show, “WGBH’s Eric in the Evening” and the nationally syndicated "Jazz After Hours"with PRI's Jim Wilke. In addition to her ongoing performances, Hall also continues to work with students across the country holding master classes in modern vocal techniques and on the subject of "Songwriting in a Free Society".
| POSTED BY: momof5pacs | POSTED ON: 22 Oct 2009 07:35 PM | ||
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“Fun Out of Life” is the most recent release from the fabulous and highly talented Jazz vocalist, April Hall. Hall's voice has the ability to not only be in constant key but also adds considerable spice to each variety of Jazz song she attempts; which range from soulful ballads, to bluesy renditions, to high energy pieces. In “Crazy He Calls Me,” April interacts with some well played Jazz piano and just a dash of drums to deliver a mellow tune that shows off how her voice can be warm and inviting. Another song, “Boogie Woogie Blues (I May Be Wrong)” Hall gets a little groovier with a toe tapping, more Bluesy beat accompanied by a dynamic singing style. Then the song, “The Face I Love” we find a more traditional Jazz piece that features a fluttering flute line that subtlety jumps around Hall’s velvety vocals. If you like Jazz for its pure musicianship or for how it can at times settle you down and take your mind back to another era, then you should acquaint yourself with April Hall and her singing prowess featured on the album, “Fun Out of Life.”
-Sean B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team |
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| POSTED BY: radioindy | POSTED ON: 18 Oct 2009 02:13 AM | ||
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April Hall: Fun Out of Life |
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