THE SHOWROOM SESSIONS: Streaming LIVE from Piedmont Piano Company
Kim Nalley Band
Somewhere Over the Rainbow: variations on The Wizard of Oz and the Wiz
Kim Nalley exudes the aura of a diva from a by-gone era, with pipes to burn, packing a 3 1/2 octave range that can go from operatic to gritty blues on a dime, projection that can whisper a ballad yet is capable of filling a room with no microphone, and the ability to scat blistering solos without ever losing the crowd's interest or the intense swing. She will be joined by Tammy L. Hall on piano, Michael Zisman on bass, and Deszon Claiborne on drums.
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Donations/tips accepted via paypalme/kimnalley
Awarded "Most Influential African American in the Bay Area" in 2005 and "Best Jazz Group" in 2013, vocalist Kim Nalley is already being called "legendary" and "San Francisco institution. Kim Nalley has discovered by Michael Tilson Thomas singing to packed audiences live with no amplification. MTT recorded her singing live with no amplification and invited her to sing with the San Francisco Symphony. Subsequently she became a Rounder Records recording artist and went on a worldwide tour gracing concert halls from Moscow to Lincoln Center and festivals from Umbria Jazz to Monterey Jazz garnering effusive international press, awards and ranking high on the Jazz charts and Gavin Report for her many albums. Nalley had a solid background in classical music before switching to Jazz for the freedom it provided. A true Renaissance woman, Kim Nalley has been a featured writer for JazzWest and SF Chronicle's City Brights, shortlisted for a Grammy nomination, a produced playwright, and the former jazz club owner of Jazz at Pearl’s. She is a Ph.D. candidate in history at UC Berkeley, and an avid Lindy Hop & blues dancer. She was shortlisted by Downbeat Critics Poll in 2017 as a "Rising Star" (Deserving Wider Recognition). Nalley's many philanthropic endeavors include founding the Kim Nalley Black Youth Jazz Scholarship. kimnalley.com
Tammy L Hall began playing the piano at age 4 and at age 5 decided to become a good working Musician, traveling the world, sharing Music with all who would listen. Of course now that intention is a bit more refined... and she remains devoted to the piano, Music and it’s calling. Hall’s career now spans almost four decades, with no end in sight. Tammy continues to expand her musical experience not just through jazz, but through ALL Music. Good Music. In pursuit of the creation and development and performance of Good Music, Tammy has worked with and accompanied numerous vocalists and instrumentalists, including: Etta Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Melba Moore, Darlene Love, and many more. tammyhall.com
For more than 30 years, bassist Michael Zisman has performed internationally with jazz stars such as Cecil Payne, George Coleman, David "Fathead" Newman, Harold Mabern, Ernestine Anderson, James Williams, Kim Nalley, Eric Alexander, Dena DeRose, and many others. He has previously served as the Artistic and Education Director of the Stanford Jazz Workshop and Festival, and is the creator of “The Real Easy Book” as well as co-author of “ Walking Bassics”, all published by Sher Music. Michael is currently an adjunct faculty member teaching Jazz courses at SFSU since 2007.
A native of the Bay Area, Deszon Claiborne began his musical career at the early age of ten. Virtually self taught in the beginning, he went on to study with world-renowned drummers such as Richard Peterson, Rick Quintinel ( Chuck Brown school of Drumming ), James Levi , Billy Cobham and Kenneth Nash , an experience which provided him with a strong foundation in jazz, rhythm & blues and world music. He has had the pleasure to perform or record with the following artists: Peter Apfelbaum, Don Cherry, Charles brown, Angela Bofill, Les McCann, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Robin Ford, Boz Scaggs, Greg Howe, Henry Butler, Giovani Hildalgo, Kai Eckhardt, John Handy, Taj Mahal, Donald Harrison, Rodney Franklin, and may others. In addition to his performing and recording credits, Deszon is also an educator. He has taught both private and group lessons to students of all ages and levels, youth to adult, and beginning to advanced. Deszon has also participated in music education programs in the Bay Area over the last 20 years, including Berkeley Jazz School, Jazz Camp West, Stanford Jazz Camp, Lafayette Summer Music camp, Moody’s Jazz Camp, Just Say Jazz, and Adventures in Music.