LANDING IN CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY LANDING IN CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY
2025-2026 2025-2026
The Story
Billie Holiday, Anita O’Day, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and others... They started their careers as “canaries” young women singing with the greatest big bands on the scene in the 1930s-1950s.
But these women were birds of a feather in more ways than one. They also went on to develop their own sounds and styles and build solo careers.
Now Jazz at the Ballroom shares the music of these trailblazing women-- working with today’s most talented jazz vocalists in a revue of the music made famous by jazz canaries once they spread their wings.
What’s Been Said
Winner of “Favorite Memorable International Jazz Performance” in 2024 JazzBuffalo Poll
“There were too many lovely moments to count”
Broadway World (Rebecca Kaplan)
“ … it’s impossible to be bored by Fulton’s singing.”
NY’s NiteLife Exchange
“...audiences can feel like as if they are taking part in something timeless, one-of-a-kind, and memorable”
Voice Magazine (Jesse Caverly)
From recent audiences:
“It was absolutely terrific! Such talented women… What a treat. Not to be missed so special!”
“Please, please, please bring back Champian Fulton and that great show! All the singers were marvelous!”
About the album:
If an anthology of really hip girl singers is to your taste, look no farther…this recording is a serious pleasure…A tribute to canaries is long overdue. And this one is excellent. And sexy too.
All About Jazz (Richard Salvucci)
“Any library that supports jazz pedagogy should jump at the chance to acquire this wonderful album”
CD HotList (Rick Anderson)
“Each "canary" captures the spirit of that genre...Champian's art shows through on the whole program.”
— WDCB Radio, Chicago
The Music
We choose 10-12 songs from our song list for each show, depending on the line-up of musicians.
All of Me
LISTEN HERE
He's Funny That Way
The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)
Tea for Two
Travelin' Light
Sweet Georgia Brown
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Fine and Mellow
Lullaby of the Leaves
Exactly Like You
Is That All There Is?
Why Don't You Do Right
I Don't Know Enough About You
A Tisket a Tasket
Mad About the Boy
What a Difference a Day Made
You Belong to Me
I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire
I Only Have Eyes for You
Social Call
Secret Love
Sentimental Journey
The Artists
The performance include 5-6 musicians from this line-up.
Exact artists depend on city and performance date.
Champian Fulton
Music Director and Lead Piano/Vocals
Gretje Angell - Vocals
Elizabeth Bougerol - Vocals
Carmen Bradford - Vocals
Olivia Chindamo - Vocals
Alex Frank - Bass
Mike Gurrola - Bass
Lezlie Harrison - Vocals
Willie Jones III - Drums
Neal Miner - Bass
Jane Monheit - Vocals
Ekep Nkwelle - Vocals
Nicholas Payton - Trumpet
Vanessa Perea- Vocals
Charles Ruggiero - Drums
Dylan Shamat - Bass
Buster Williams - Bass
Champian Fulton
Music Director and Lead Piano/Vocals
With 14 albums to her credit, CHAMPIAN FULTON is considered one of the most gifted pure jazz musicians of her generation, being called “an assured vocalist with a galvanizing presence,” by The New Yorker and “a charming young steward of the mainstream jazz tradition” by the New York Times. She has performed with musical royalty such as Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Scott Hamilton, Buster Williams, and Louis Hayes. (Her first paid musical engagement was with her own band at Clark Terry’s 75th Birthday Party; she was 10 years old) Champian is a Yamaha and Birdland Artist.
Suzanne Waldowski
Jazz at the Ballroom - Executive Director
Jazz at the Ballroom - Executive Director
In 2014, after moving to the original Bing Crosby estate in Northern California, SUZANNE WALDOWSKI began inviting musicians to play in the empty ballroom. The concerts grew in frequency and attendance and, before long, the concept of Jazz at the Ballroom was born. Suzanne turned the ballroom into a listening room, put a grand piano in the bay window alcove and set up cabaret-style seating for the 100+ guests. By becoming a nonprofit in 2017, Suzanne formalized JATB's mission: to share classic jazz and the American Songbook with others, bring people together, and build a love of music in future generations.
Beyond
