The New Generation of Jazz Celebrates by Richard D. Meadows, Jr.
Sharon Bailey
is a Buffalo, NY based canary whose
amazing natural talent is equally matched with her beauty. She is a jazz old sckool sound in a new millennium, bringing back the past, hardcore into the future. Sharon is the premier female jazz and R&B vocalist in Buffalo and has been honored with The Buffalo Music Award for 'Top R&B Female Vocalist" in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005. She is a new sound for a whole new generation of jazz lovers. Sharon has also performed with numerous jazz and blues musicians throughout Canada, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Some of the venues and performances in her résumé include The Ellicottville Jazz Festival, The Pine Grill Reunion, The Hamilton Jazz Festival, The Buffalo Blues Festival, Nick Veltri's R&B Review, The Colored Musician's Club, The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok and The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Buffalo News Reviewer Toni Ruberto deemed her "Rhythm Queen" and wrote, "Sharon Bailey knows how to shake up a classic. The vivacious songstress takes the works of Irving Berlin, Gus Kahn and Richard Rogers and with a vocal inflection or a beat, gives well-loved and well-worn standards a contemporary feel. It's a sound honed through her love of rhythm, a curiosity leading to experimentation, and an intolerance for monotony." Sharon Bailey is the Executive Producer of her freshman project "Live on 7" recorded live at The New Tralf, Buffalo, NY. http://www.myspace.com/sharonbailey
& I was there! Yes, at the debut event in Maryland, when Kirk, now my friend (and a whole lot of other folks, too) treated a select crowd to an interactive session of gospel jazz. Not only did Kirk, play solo live, brother got a Word from the Lord too. He was a one man, hand clapping, foot stomping, and tongue talking church by himself. Of course we joined in, and patted our “foots” and shouted for joy. However what is amazing to the soul is when he joins the “Dukie Stick” himself, George Duke, virtuoso on Because You Loved Me. I only warn you to get you tissue in your hands. Enjoy! I’ll give you this for free, check it out. For lovers of the Word http://blog.kirkwhalum.com/biye/
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