Michele Thomas profile picture

Michele Thomas

Everything is everything...

About Me

Current MySpace Bio SectionHi! I'm Michele Thomas. I'm a vocalist here in Chicago. I've been singing jazz around here for about 10 or more years, and singing gospel and everything else for even longer...

I'm working on a recording career as a solo artist, studio singer & voiceover artist. Mainly jazz and creative music, but I'm always open to new possibilities! My current CD project is called "Messenger". Aiming to be released by fall of '07...my last CD, "I'll Take Romance" is on sale online at: www.Amazon.com and www.CDBaby.com And now available as digital downloads at iTunes
Besides my own group, I'm featured in a couple of jobbing bands; the Gold Coast Orchestra and Joe Lill's Six Of One Orchestra who are both based here in Chicago.
I also work with some great musicians here in the city...my main group consists of a fine lot of handsome young men by the names of Bob Lovecchio(Bass) , Neal Alger(guitar), and most important, my husband, music director, producer and greatest love... Darren Scorza(Drums).
Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza, Darren Scorza. (That's so his name comes up in the searches! Kidding!)
All joking aside, I come off sounding extremely dorky when I write this sort of stuff, so I'd rather my music and bio speak for themselves. Just wanted to leave a personal hello to all of you loggin' on! (See what I mean?) Hope you enjoy and keep coming back! Love, Michele Thomas
MICHELE THOMAS -- BIO
Michele has been performing jazz in Chicago for over the last decade. In that time she has managed to perform at such legendary venues as Chicago's own Green Mill, and worked with such well-known musicians as bassists Kelly Sill and Michael Arnopol, and pianist Ryan Cohen. Recognized for her "Ella-esque" tone and the musical coloring of "Sarah", Michele Thomas brings a vibrant spirit to the voice of jazz. With her warm, heartfelt delivery and mean scat solos, she has won over the hearts of her fans and the jazz community!
She, like many of the great singers, grew up singing gospel music in the church. But for the last few years, Michele Thomas has zealously pursued finding her voice in the jazz idiom; so much so that she has already caught the attention of such distinguished jazz vocalists as Kevin Mahogany and Sheila Jordan.
The daughter of a minister and the progeny of Chicago's gospel saturated Church of God In Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) denomination; Michele's musicality was nurtured and developed in significant ways. From the time she was a small child she sang in her school choir, nurturing her passion for harmonies and improvisation. By the time she entered junior high, Michele was a member of the Chicago All-City choir and in her junior year of high school, she won a scholarship to study voice at the Sherwood Music Conservatory of Music. It was that same year that Michele joined her high school jazz band and discovered her passion for jazz.
When Michele went to college she continued her music studies, fervently striving to bring all the types of music she loved into her learning experience. From her dedication towards her classical training, to her participation in the university's jazz band--where she brought home an award for "Most Outstanding Individual Performance" from the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival--Michele gave herself to many musical genres. Throughout this time, Michele kept strong ties to her gospel heritage, and as a college freshman, Michele founded and conducted North Park University's very first gospel choir. Her tremendous success with this group was evident in the rapid growth of the choir that sprouted from a small ensemble of 12 to a massive assembly of over 100 members in just the four years that Michele was a student. Her charisma in gospel singing as well as conducting not only won the praise of her immediate campus community, but also caught the interest of international gospel musicians. So in both 1996 and 1998, Michele was invited to tour in Sweden performing and teaching gospel music to Scandinavian audiences.
Even as Michele has inherited the riches of a great gospel music heritage, her transition (while yet not at all a departure) into the jazz idiom has been met with fast and noteworthy success. Michele has a bachelor's degree in music from North Park University and has studied at both the Bloom School of Jazz and The Music Institute of Chicago. Michele has also studied with the likes of jazz vocalist, Spider Saloff and Sheila Jordan , pianist and jazz educator, Dan Haerle and B-3 Hammond organist extraordinaire, Hank Marr, Dr. Billy Taylor and drummer, Winard Harper.
Michele is currently performing with a quartet of talented up and coming musicians featuring Ted Hogarth on saxophones, Darren Scorza on drums, Neal Alger on guitar and Bob Lovecchio on bass. Michele has also performed at such Chicago venues as The Green Mill, Green Dolphin Street, Pete Millers, Blue Water Grill, Katerinas, and The Gateway Bar And Grill. Her debut CD, Ill Take Romance has also received airplay on some of Chicagos prominent jazz radio stations such as WBEZ 91.5 and WDCB College of Dupage Radio 90.5. She is currently working on the release of her second album, "Messenger", due out in the fall of 2007.
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/9/2006
Band Website: michelethomas.net
Band Members: Darren Scorza - drums Neal Alger - Guitar Bob Lovecchio - Bass
Influences: Donny Hathaway, Ella Fitzgerald, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Sheila Jordan, Kurt Elling, Danilo Perez, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Eliane Elias, Luciana Sousa, Michael Franks, Sarah Vaughn, Steely Dan, Sting, Norah Jones, Pat Metheny, Jon Hendricks, Take Six, The Winans, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Michael Ruff, Aretha Franklin, Oscar Brown, Jr., Freddie Hubbard, Quincy Jones, Wendy Waldman, Diana Krall, Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, Nina Simone, Cornel West, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Louis Jordan,
Sounds Like: Oleta Adams, Jill Scott, Ella Fitzgerald, Norah Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Kurt Eilling, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Roberta Flack, Nancy Wilson, Lizz Wright, Anita Baker...
Record Label: Independent
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Ah, but then came a voice of reason...

Sorry, but I HAD to share this news talk segment from Keith Olbermann that I just saw tonight on MSNBC. It was an incredible synopsis of the Clinton campaign strategies and an affirmation of my own c...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:58:00 PST

The Apology--Too little too late...

I was already disillusioned by the Clintons authenticity once...never again. Clinton Apologizes to Black Votershttp://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/general/2008/03/ 13/Clinton_s.Apologies/...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:31:00 PST

The Black Vote--Just plain silly!

Check out this blog from Alternet.org--I’ve already lent my comments. For the sake of this nation, keep the dialogue going!http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/pachacutec/
Posted by Michele Thomas on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:01:00 PST

DIGITAL DOWNLOADS NOW AT ITUNES!

"I'LL TAKE ROMANCE" now available as digital downloads at iTunes.com! Download single tracks or the whole album. Go to: ">http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum? playListId=2107167...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:43:00 PST

Top 24 Women-Check them out!

I gotta say that I have been more and more impressed with the MySpace experience.  Besides being connected to my current friends, I have had the pleasure to meet some pretty incredible ...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 08:22:00 PST

Big Hair

The reason for all the Afros in my favorite friends picks?  No reason.  I just thought it was cool.  So much big, beautiful, natural black hair out there!  Next week, it'll be...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:11:00 PST

Walmart lyrics

Recently I responded to an ad calling for a songwriting collaborator. I responded and showed him some of the lyrics I've written for jazz tunes.  His comment to me was: "these days ..., lyrics ge...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 01:08:00 PST

A bit addicted to the blogthings quizzes...

What Your Soul Really Looks LikeYou are very passionate and quite temperamental. While you can be moody, you always crave comfort.You are a very grounded, responsible, and realistic person. People may...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 12:05:00 PST

Love

Your Love Element Is WaterIn love, you connect deeply and commit totally.For you, love is all about taking risks and moving into unknown territory.You attract others with courage and confidence.Your f...
Posted by Michele Thomas on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 11:58:00 PST