About Me
Sommer Stockinger, a native of Tacoma, has been performing jazz throughout the Northwest since 1997. She attended Pacific Lutheran University for three years, where she continued to explore and expand her musical interests, and refine her skills, through music classes, and ensemble participation. Sommer has evolved through traditional and Brazilian jazz, blues, and R&B, listing as her strongest influences as Nina Simone, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin.Sommer started the Sommer Stockinger Quartet when she was 18 years old, and began performing regularly at local venues in Western Washington, particularly Tacoma and Seattle. She appeared frequently at local clubs and restaurants, as well as various private and corporate events. She became a regular at Kelleys in downtown Tacoma, sitting in with big band legend, bassist Red Kelley, who was best known for playing with Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton during the reign of the big band.Sommer quickly made a name for herself and had numerous articles and reviews on her in The Tacoma News Tribune and various Tacoma weekly papers. She could often be seen at Grounds For Coffee, a popular all ages venue in downtown Tacoma, so overcrowded with people that the audience often spilled out through open doors and up and down the sidewalks outside. Most nights, she packed the house when she played the Habana Lounge, a quaint Caribbean inspired restaurant and Casino, and she also helped to introduce a younger generation to Kelleys downtown jazz lounge.Sommer performed with a variety of musicians, and frequently changed her instrumentation on stage. At any given performance, you could find her with a standard trio, an intimate guitar duo, or a lively organ group. You never knew what setting she would explore next. Whichever she chose, Sommer adapted herself flawlessly into her surroundings as if she had rehearsed it for weeks. She performed a constant mix of classic jazz standards, Brazilian jazz, R&B, and blues. You could watch Sommer night after night, and never witness the same performance twice.At the age of 21, Sommer began to expand her repertoire yet again by joining a widely popular Seattle based disco band, Hit Explosion, where she was a member for three years. In that setting she was able to gain more confidence on stage, and push her vocal abilities further by performing challenging disco and R&B songs several nights a week for hours each night. During this period, she had the opportunity to not only expand her range, but her fan base as well. Playing in a prominent group meant playing at large venues such as Key Arena, Quest Field, Safeco Field, The Paramount Theater, The Crystal Ballroom, E.M.P., and many other popular clubs, casinos, and festivals, as well as numerous corporate and private events. Since then she has become a regular substitute member in various other local bands throughout the northwest.In 2000, Sommer produced and recorded her first album, Close Your Eyes, which was released in March of 2001. The CD featured various prominent local musicians such as Jeff Johnson, Bob Nixon, Hans Teuber, Jose Martinez, and Jim Noriega, and was recorded live at Clearwater Studios in Gig Harbor. The recording features 14 songs which vary from traditional to Brazilian jazz. Several of the songs were given a fresh modern overhauling with arrangements by pianist Jim Noriega.Sommer Stockinger auditioned for the 2003 Kennedy Centers Jazz Ambassadors World Tour, where she was selected as a national finalist, and had the opportunity of performing with her organ trio in front of a panel of U.S. State Department officials and selected renowned jazz artists.
Currently, Sommer is focusing on recording and performing locally, as well as branching out into a national market, where she can perform for a wider audience.Luring an audience inside the depth and complexity of her emotions is Sommer's greatest asset. Sommer opens herself up to those that are willing to look deeper, making them forget the fact that they are listening to a young woman of 26, and pay more attention to the meaning of the lyrics. Connecting with her audience and connecting with her soul are the reasons Sommer performs. With each show, and each year, Sommer gains more sophistication, grace and insight. Her constant learning and evolution will make for a promising journey in music for decades to come.
