Laurie Antonioli

Laurie Antonioli (born March 9, 1958) is an American jazz singer, producer, lyricist, performing and recording artist. Formerly a professor at KUG University's Jazz Institute in Graz, Austria, inn 2014 she is the Chair of the Vocal Department at the California Jazz Conservatory.

Early life and education

Antonioli was born in Marin County, California.[1] At the age of sixteen Antonioli began playing guitar and performing primarily her own original music as well as that of the singer-songwriters of the era.[2] In 1975 she won the "American Songwriters Contest" held for high school students. Antonioli studied jazz for two years at Mt. Hood College in Gresham, Oregon.

Career

After graduation, Antonioli continued composing and performing. In 1980, she toured for eight months with New Orleans saxophonist Pony Poindexter. The tour was cut short in Europe when Poindexter suffered a stroke and Laurie returned with him to the United States.

Antonioli had a daughter in 1983, and for several years touring and performing at night were limited. In 1985 she signed with Catero Records. Antonioli's first recording was a "live to 2-track" album, Soul Eyes, with the title track composed by Mal Waldron. On this album she was accompanied by pianist George Cables; the album included jazz standards, original lyrics and also featured songs by Larry Gelb, and was produced by Bob Parlocha. [1]

After a number of years during which she was not involved professionally in music, Antonioli settled in Vienna from 2002 to 2006 and began recording again. Her project Foreign Affair,[3] released on Nabel Records, was a Balkan/Jazz hybrid, recorded in Slovenia, using musicians from Serbia, Albania, Germany and the U.S. The recording had was well received in Europe.[4] Her next release was The Duo Session, also on Nabel Records, with pianist Richie Beirach playing in duo, Antonioli writing lyrics to Beirach's compositions as well as lyrics to Miles Davis tunes and some free improvisational pieces. This recording was also well received, but like Foreign Affair was known primarily to European audiences.

Antonioli worked as the Professor of the Vocal Department at KUG University's Jazz Institute in Graz, Austria from 2002 to 2006.[5] and performing in Europe, Antonioli was offered a position at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California[6] as the school's director.[2]

Antonioli created an eight semester vocal performance curriculum[7] which was accredited by NASM in 2013. She also released her second American recording in 2010, American Dreams which received critical acclaim.[8]

In 2014 Antonioli released a tribute album to Joni Mitchell, "Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light" on Origin Records.[9][10]

Antoniolo has worked with a number of well-known jazz musicians, including Joe Henderson and Richie Beirach with whom she still performs, records and writes with as of 2014.

Discography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Laurie Antonioli: A Constellation In The West". All About Jazz. by C. MICHAEL BAILEY, July 6, 2010]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Berkeley sings, Jazzschool is hub that makes it happen". Berkleyside, April 12, 2012 by Andrew Gilbert
  3. ↑ "Laurie Antonioli: Foreign Affair (2004)". All About Jazz by STEPHEN LATESSA, April 11, 2005
  4. ↑ Matthias Weiller, Jazz Podium Magazine, Germany.
  5. ↑ "Laurie Antonioli American Dreams". by Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times, October 2010
  6. ↑ "Laurie Antonioli, Jazzschool's vocal director". SF Gate. by David Wiegand, October 10, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Singer Laurie Antonioli pays tribute to Joni Mitchell". Mercury News by Andrew Gilbert September 25 2014.
  8. ↑ "Laurie Antonioli: American Dreams (2010)". All About Jazz. by RAUL D'GAMA ROSE, August 21, 2010
  9. ↑ "Laurie Antonioli- Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light: The Music of Joni Mitchell (Origin)". Elmore Magazine, Album Reviews | September 5th, 2014
  10. ↑ "Laurie Antonioli Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light: The Music of Joni Mitchell". Jazz Times, by Christopher Loudon

External links