BIO
Born into a show business family, Jo Belle has always been around music. Her father was The Great Yonely, International Musical Humorist, and her mother Sarah, was a singer. Jo Belle got into her first band in 7th grade and sang through high school and college in every style. Jo Belle first acheived recognition in Chicago as a leader of her own groups as well as working with every notable Jazz Musician on the scene. Her explorations into standards, original music, and classic jazz have had her working with such established veterans as Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman, Johnny Frigo, Willie Pickens, Wilber Cambell, John Young, Eddie Johnson, and Jodie Christian...and musicians of her generation, such as, Mike Smith, Howard Levy, Ted Rosenthal, Ron Perillo, Kelly Sill, Joel Spencer, Russell Kassoff, and many more.
Jo Belle has performed at many well known Jazz Festivals and Nightclubs throughout the United States. She is a founding member of Chizil, with Dick Reynolds and Alejo Poveda. Chizil is an explosive 7 piece Brazilian/Jazz group that plays festivals, records, and performs original music. As a busy freelancer, Jo Belle has performed with Lionel Hampton sextet for President Bush Sr. She was a principal cast member in Sophisticated Ladies at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. She has recorded with the 60 pc. New American Music Orchestra. She recorded with Tommy Shaw of Styxx fame. Played annual Brazilian Jazz Festival with Chevere, Chizil, and Manfredo Fest. Jo Belle has shared the stage with such Jazz luminaries as Red Rodney, Red Mitchell, George Cables, Herb Ellis, Claudio Roditi, Louie Bellson, Cecil McBee, Joe D'Orio, Rufus Reid, Gene Bertoncini, Dave Finck, Walt Weiskopf, and more.
After Chicago, Jo Belle spent 7 years in New York doing studio work, and Jazz Performances. She currently resides in Las Vegas where she has worked with Joe Lano Trio, Don Menza Quintet, Joey Singer Trio, Walt Boenig Big Band, Steffan Karlsson Quintet.....Jo Belle is on the faculty at UNLV along with Dave Loeb, Tom Warrington, Bruce Paulson, Joe Lano, and artists in Residence Joe La Barbara,Bobby Shew and Bob Shepphard. She heads the Vocal Jazz Department. Jo Belle continues to work various venues throughout the country...Nightclubs, Corporate Events, Festivals, Concerts, and has recorded 7 CD's.
PARALLEL CAREERS
Jingles and Voice Overs: Jo Belles is the highly recognizable voice behind thousands of T.V. and Radio Commercials for the last 25 years...such as, McDonalds, United Airlines, Coors, Yoplait, Sears, Hallmark, Kelloggs Special K, to name a few.
Artist: Jo Belle studied art one summer in Chicago at the Art Institute. She is an accomplished painter and regularly works in oils, water color and other mediums. To view her artwork, click on " Pics ."
CRITICS COMMENTS
At the Austrian Embassy benefit concert for pianist Reuben Brown, the highlight of this set came when Ira Sullivan brought Jo Belle on to the stage for "Softly as In The Morning Sunrise", which was done up and hot. (Sullivan switched to soprano for this number, and he and Jo Belle worked horn-like lines and changes with aplomb. No wonder Sullivan has been championing this vocalist!) WASHINGTON, DC. NEWS
Her jazz based singing dovetails with the taste of the rest of the band, her sense of swing is strong enough to shame many an instrumentalist, and she always gives the others their fair share of space. Jo Belle assumes a hornlike roll, reinforcing her status as a vocal musician...her voice is deep and throaty and best of all, she can really improvise...reshaping the melody of " You've Changed" without violating it's character, and altering the lyrics of a light ditty like " Secret Love" as though she were playing a hip word game. CHICAGO TRIBUNE "NIGHT SCENE" LARRY KART
Though it's cliche to say, Chizil is the type of jazz group that has something for everyone: ground-shaking rhythm, a unique melodic sound in the unison of vocalist Jo Belle's wordless syllable singing with the front- line horns, and incendiary tenor saxophonist in the versatile Steve Eisen, and a tight well groomed presentation of the performance. WEST MICHIGAN JAZZ SOCIETY CLASSIC JAZZ CONCERT
...the vocalist was the excellent singer Jo Belle, whose lovely alto was a pleasure to hear...Jo Belle's intensly dramatic way with a phrase befits a traditional big band. CHICAGO TRIBUNE, HOWARD REICH
...overflowing with an omnipresent kinetic energy and effervescence that seems to engulf her entire being... MIX, THE RECORDING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
...vocalist Jo Belle also dealt in pastels, though her work was bit more rhythymically volatile than anyone elses. She's a first-rate bebop singer, scatting with great precision and style; but she handles less ornamented ballad singing just as effectively. CHICAGO TRIBUNE, HOWARD REICH
Saturdays nights opener was almost a reprise of Friday with singer Jo belle, accompanied by an Ira Sullivan-led quartet. She's a strong voiced swinger, apparently well-known in her native Chicago, but hardly at all outside it. Our loss!!!! "If I were A Bell" (Ira on muted trumpet and a beautiful chase between guest trumpeter Brad Goode, and a scatting Jo Belle), a swinging bossa "No More Blues", " A Night In Tunisia", "Out Of This World", (with a galloping Ted Rosenthal piano solo) "Angel Eyes" (with great tenor work by Ira), and a way uptempo "Surry With The Fringe On Top". The audience was in shock...Jo Belle left me breathless. 2000 CENTRAL PA. MELLON JAZZ FESTIVAL, BOB GOLD
...This was followed by a swinging version of the classic "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" with vocal by Jo Belle.The band swung,and we can't get enough of this lady.She is sounding more like Ella all the time--her rhythm, her manner, her intonations are irrerepressible. And her scat singing draws up sounds no dictionary has even contemplated. There followed a number done by Jo Belle and Joe Lano--just the two.The song was the touching ballad "Two For The Road", and done in a very sensitive manner. An emotional experience. Next we heard "Night And Day", it was done in an upbeat way by Jo Belle and the rhythm section, and it was really something. Scat-singing again and all. Syllables and sounds were fascinating. UNLV JAZZ FACULTY CONCERT 2007, REVIEW BY KEN JOY
