Greta Matassa

GRETA MATASSA JAZZ VOCALIST AND TEACHER "Matassa's performance was a marvel of virtuosity." —Los Angeles Times "One of the best jazz vocalists we have to boast about these days " John Clayton "Worldly, gentle, bold, dynamic, Favorites From a Long Walk is a gift for the heart. Greta Matassa is one of America’s finest singers, and stands firmly among the best in today’s jazz." —Jazz Review“Greta Matassa moves from triumph to triumph” —Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times, Vox CD Reviews, June 2002 Seattle native Greta Matassa is one of the northwest’s most talented and popular singers. With hints of Ella, Sarah, Billie and Carmen, Greta is increasingly recognized as a unique voice in jazz. Her rapport with an audience, lively, spontaneous and humorous one moment and touchingly introspective the next, consistently wins praise from fans and critics alike. She has released 6 cd's Amoung them are: "The Smiling hour" Origin 2008 (Still charting / Jazzweek), "Favorites from a long walk" Origin 2005, “Greta Matassa and Mimi Fox, Two for the Road” a live concert available on DVD and CD from Origin 2003, “All This and Heaven Too, Greta Matassa Live at Bake’s Place” on Origin Records., Here Greta has captured the true essence of her gift, live performance. Jazz Times calls the CD “as cozy as a fireside brandy on a rainy Northwest night.” Seattle’s Earshot Jazz organization has five times voted Greta the NW best jazz vocalist, and her musicianship as earned her the respect and admiration of many of the areas top jazz players. Her versatility is evident in the variety of collaborations and performances she’s been featured in these last ten years: "Light out of Darkness" a tribute to Ray Charles " That Shearing Sound" the music of George Shearing as recorded with Peggy Lee Nancy Wilson and Dakota Staton, Featuring Susan Pascal on Vibrophone “Ella and Billie” a one-woman tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. “By Request” an evening of the audience’s favorite requested standards. “Voices of Jazz, Danced” a tribute to 14 of the great jazz vocalists of the 20th century. “Zirkus Weill” the works of Kurt Weill, with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. “Tribute to Duke Ellington” with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of Kurt Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins”. Concerts with the Seattle Men’s Chorus and many of the areas finest big bands, such as the Bill Ramsey/ Milt Kleeb Big Band with Pete Christlieb, as well as regular concert and nightclub appearances with her own jazz group and noted area players. She has appeared on many of the areas familiar stages: Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Tula's and Bakes Place (All three voted amoung the top 100 jazz clubs in the country!) the Seattle Opera House, Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center, the Kirkland Performing Arts Center, Benaroya Hall, The Moore Theater, Auburn Performing Arts Center, ArtsWest, Rialto Theater, the Admiral Theater, Seattle Art Museum, Port Townsend Jazz Festival, Washington Performing Arts Center, Bagley Wright Theater, Cabaret de Paris, Teatro ZinZanni, Bumbershoot, Out To Lunch concert series, as well as many of the areas smaller performing arts centers, and Seattle night clubs.As well as her work on stage, Greta is also one of the areas most familiar voices on television and radio advertising. She teaches privately and offers jazz workshops. Greta is a devoted mother of two and has shied from extensive touring in the past, however, she is making some changes and will soon be broadening her career to include performances beyond the NW. What the critics are saying: “Echoing Rosie Clooney’s natural warmth and Nancy Wilson’s impeccable phrasing, Matassa moves from triumph to triumph” —Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times, June, 2002. “The thing that’s really impressive about her is her versatility. She has a fearlessness in approaching material that makes her like an instrumentalist in a jam session. At the same time she can croon a ballad that will break your heart.” —Jim Wilke, host of nationally syndicated “Jazz After Hours” on PRI “Ella and Billie” is Matassa’s tour de force” —Roberta Penn, Seattle P-I. “Her pitch, her phrasing, her ability to find the groove and swing it place her in the company of Ernestine Anderson and Dianne Schuur.” —Joseph Murphy, Earshot Jazz. “A vocal chameleon herself, Matassa can sound husky or crisp, ebullient or wailing, girlish or jaded. She recalls Billie Holiday in one phrase and Cleo Laine the next.” —Misha Berson, The Seattle Times. “There was Matassa herself, whose voice can ping-pong along the highest riffs and effortlessly belt down to the darkest whiskey tones.” —Mary Murfin Baily, The Seattle Times. “…She’s so light-hearted and humorous. Her musicianship is so meticulous. Her voice is so lovely. Her stylings are so precise and detailed.” —Joe Adcock, The Seattle Times “Purists might argue there will never be another Ella or Billie. These cats have obviously never heard Greta Matassa!” —The Seattle Times. “Matassa is worth a sizable price of admission wherever and whenever she sings!” —Rick Nelson, The Tacoma News Tribune. “Greta Matassa is a powerful, distinctive vocalist. Seemingly limitless as to what jazz form she can master” —The Seattle Times. “Vocalist Greta Matassa can do Ella and get away with it! It’s not mimicry, it’s talent, and it’s only part of a much greater gift.” —The Seattle Times. Fees for performances can vary depending on location and number of musicians required. Please inquire if interested. For booking information call Greta at 206-937-1262 or visit her web site at www.gretamatassa.com. 3848 48th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98116 206-937-1262 e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.gretamatassa.com
GRETA OFFERS TEACHING BY MAIL!!
Lessons by mail $60 ( Gift certificates are available) Order you own private customized lesson on CD Today!!
Busy People, shy People and out of town people can sing too! I’m adding a new lesson option to my private teaching.For those of you too busy, shy or otherwise unable to schedule appointments w/ me in person, I’m now able to offer lessons by mail!! Here’s how it works: You can review my available accompaniment song titles on my website (see list) and choose up to 4 songs at a time . Give me an idea of your highest and lowest comfortable range (notes). I’ll choose a key and will record an accompaniment track for you w/ multiple choruses on a CD. I will also record for you a guide melody, several improvisation exercises in harmonics, and rhythm techniques to be used with each song. You will also get a "virtual jam session" where I will give examples of improvised melody and, or scat 8 bars at a time and you and I will "trade lines". This has proven to be a great way to jump start your freedom of expression. I will send you the cd and the sheet music. This type of lesson will not replace private one on one lessons at my studio, as I’ll need to hear you to help you, however, for many it's a great way to add to your repertoire and stay in practice. I advise students to schedule a private lesson with me after working on your own w/ the cd.