Ellen Winters profile picture

Ellen Winters

About Me

An award-winning jazz singer, Ellen is devoted to keeping her music fresh while still paying tribute to the great jazz artists of the past. A student of trad-jazz, Ellen has studied with some of the best vocal jazz educators/arrangers in the country including Phil Mattson, Steve Zegree, Ron McCurdy, Steve Tyler and Chip McNeill. Ellen’s current project, Secret of Life, is a unique blend of popular and original tunes re-arranged to fit the jazz idiom.
“Beautifully done and so sweetly sung!” – Peter Eldridge, singer/songwriter & member of the Grammy award winning group New York Voices
Ellen has sung in award winning vocal jazz groups VoicesIowa and Gold Company and has performed at the Montreux and North Seas Jazz Festivals in Europe, the Rocky Mountain Jazz Festival in Banff and the Monterey Jazz Festival Sea Cruise. As a soloist, Ellen has performed jazz and cabaret all over the country. She has been featured at wonderful venues like Danny’s Skylight Cabaret and Rose’s Turn in New York City and the Third Ward Summer Sizzle, Bastille Days and Summerfest stages in Milwaukee.
“If you think NY and LA are the only places to be, have I got news for you. Ellen Winters breezed through town for an intimate CD release party at Upstairs at Rose’s Turn and turned it upside down with her rocking jazz/pop stylings. Ellen is a gifted songwriter as well. I’m listening to her fabulous 2nd CD, Secret of Life, as I write this.” — Kevin Scott Hall - Upstairs at Rose’s Turn
Ellen continues to be sought after as a jazz and cabaret singer throughout Milwaukee and the Midwest, while working as a clinician, adjudicator, and arranger. Ellen is also on staff as a voice teacher/coach at the Waukesha Conservatory of Music as well as several locations/schools in Southeastern Wisconsin. She is also on the Private Voice Faculty at Columbia College in Chicago. Both of Ellen’s CD’s are available on Amazon and CD Baby, as well as Ellen’s live performances. Ellen is signed to 251 Records, a Chicago-based independent label.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/12/2005
Band Website: www.ellenwinters.com
Band Members: The core of my band (when all of our schedules mesh) is Sam Steffke ..boards, Hal Miller on bass and Jim Ryan on drums. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to have a semi-steady gig on Fridays with Milwaukee jazz piano legend Frank DeMiles.On my latest project: "Secret of Life," I was joined by some of the areas best musicians including: the aforementioned trio of Sam, Hal and Jim - my dream trio!; Scotty Van Domelen (currently on tour with Glenn Miller Orchestra) and Streetlife's Warren Wiegratz on saxophones; Steve Lewandowski, Jack Grassel and Peter Mac on guitar; and vocalists Alaria Taylor, Barb Stephan and Chris Cole.

Influences: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Janis Siegel, Stan Getz, Errol Garner & Miles Davis.
Sounds Like: "Ellen Winters is one of the area's most respected jazz vocalists. [In her sophomore effort, Secret of Life,] Winters' voice caresses proven songs like 'Celebrate Me Home' and 'Wings to Fly,' giving them life and dimension." --Brian Barney, The Shepherd Express

Thanks for involving me in your sophomore cd which is a MASTERPIECE!!! Oh my GOD!!!! This thing is just going to totally blow up, and if you don't win a bunch of WAMIs this year (and a few retroactive ones as well), I'm giving mine back !! -- Sam Steffke, jazz pianist/multi-year award winner for Wisconsin Area Music Industry Pianist of the Year

Record Label: 251 Records - Chicago, IL
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Shepherd Express 2007 Best of Milwaukee Poll

Hey all,It's time again to vote for the "Best of Milwaukee" in the 2007 Shepherd Express Reader's Choice Poll.  I have been fortunate to be honored with the "Best Jazz Artist" award for the last ...
Posted by on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:40:00 GMT

Shameless plug .2,465

Hello Friends, Just wanted to take a minute to let you all know that my latest CD, Secret of Life, is now available on Amazon and CD Babyfor purchase.  I encourage one and all to utilize CD Babya...
Posted by on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:45:00 GMT

Back from NYC

Hello all,Well, I'm back from my sojourn out to the East Coast.  It was a blast and I thank everyone who had a hand in making the trip so terrific.  I stopped off in Boston first to visit so...
Posted by on Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:35:00 GMT

Ramping up "Secret of Life"

Hello all, We're about one month out from the big CD release in NYC and it's getting both daunting and exciting.  While I feel this sophomore project is much stronger than my debut release, it is...
Posted by on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:23:00 GMT

There are no new ideas

As I've been embracing my new vocation, I've been working to keep myself busy with all things music.  A friend called today to lend her support for my "big decision" and gave me some great advice...
Posted by on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:16:00 GMT

We're done.....

Today is a momentous day....we finished the recording.  Sigh.....   It's only been a 14 month process:-)  However, if I compare the time it took to record the first CD (2 days) and...
Posted by on Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:11:00 GMT

Making it better

This is intended to be mostly a catharsis and not necessarily anything that will change the world.  I doubt anyone will read this, so I'm going to use it as a journal today.  However, i...
Posted by on Thu, 20 Jul 2006 20:40:00 GMT

Tip of the week...

Okay, I know my advice has not been solicited, but if you're reading my blog then you have figured out that my opinion will be offered whether or not it's wanted.  So, here you go: Tha latest "mu...
Posted by on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 08:32:00 GMT

Some people's kids....

I haven't blogged in a while, but a new friend has inspired me to get something out of my system.  I attended a great party today thrown by one of Milwaukee's jazz legends - a great man and ...
Posted by on Sun, 16 Jul 2006 18:45:00 GMT

I've been tagged!

Okay, Miss Linda....you wanna know how weird and quirky I am - here ya go.  Six things about me that make me....well....ME!  (Maybe this will explain why I'm still single.....) :-) 1. ...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:43:00 GMT