Roseanna Vitro
Roseanna Vitro | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 28, 1951 |
Roseanna Vitro is a jazz singer and educator.
Biography
Born Roseanna Elizabeth Wickliffe[1] in Texarkana, Arkansas on February 28, 1951, Vitro began singing at an early age, drawing inspiration from various musical genres like gospel, rock, and R&B.[2] Eventually settling on jazz as her genre of choice, she moved to Houston, TX in the 1970s where she studied with voice coach Ray Sullenger.[3] Vitro worked for two years in Houston's Green Room with her group "Roseanna with Strings and Things" hosting a radio show which featured guests like Bill Evans, Tommy Flanagan and Joe Williams. While in Houston, she met saxophonist Arnett Cobb, who, along with Sullenger and pianist Oscar Peterson, encouraged her to dedicate herself to jazz. In 1978 she moved to New York City where she studied at the Manhattan School of Music and with Kenny Werner and Fred Hersch she sat in with and ultimately toured with Lionel Hampton. In New York, she appeared at all the major jazz clubs including, The Blue Note, Fat Tuesday's, Birdland, and the Five Spot. She also appeared with Steve Allen at New York's Town Hall.
Throughout her career she has collaborated with musicians such as Kenny Werner, Christian McBride, Elvin Jones, Gary Bartz, Kevin Mahogany and David 'Fathead' Newman, all of whom have served as accompanists on her recordings.[2] Vitro is an active performer, touring throughout the United States and abroad. She has been broadcast on WBGO-FM (Newark, New Jersey) and on National Public Radio.[1]
In addition to being a critically acclaimed performer and recording artist, Vitro is a teacher and clinician. She has taught Vocal Jazz at State University of New York at Purchase and currently holds a teaching post at New Jersey City University. She holds frequent workshops, clinics, and master classes. She herself has studied classical voice, classical Indian vocal technique, piano, and jazz technique and concept.[2]
Discography[2]
- Listen Here (Skyline, 1985)
- A Quiet Place (Skyline, 1987)
- Reaching For The Moon (Chase Music, 1991)
- Softly (Concord Jazz, 1994)
- Passion Dance (Telarc, 1996)
- Catchin’ Some Rays: The Music Of Ray Charles (Telarc, 1997)
- The Time Of My Life: Roseanna Vitro Sings The Songs Of Steve Allen 1986 recording (Sea Breeze, 1999)
- Conviction: Thoughts Of Bill Evans (A, 2001)
- Tropical Postcards (Challenge, 2004)
- Live At The Kennedy Centre (Challenge, 2006)
- The Delirium Blues Project (Half Note, 2008)
Awards and Honors
- Inducted into Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame 1998, with Bob Dorough and John Stubblefield.[4]
- Selected as a "Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad" featured artist in 2009 with her band JazzIAm. "Rhythm Road" (formerly known as "Jazz Ambassadors") is a program administered by Jazz at Lincoln Center for the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.[5]
References
- ^ a b Scott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy. "Vitro, Roseanna." In The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed., edited by Barry Kernfeld. Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.ezproxy.bu.edu/subscriber/article/grove/music/J717900 (accessed February 15, 2011).
- ^ a b c d "Vitro, Roseanna." In Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 4th ed., edited by Colin Larkin. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.ezproxy.bu.edu/subscriber/article/epm/70552 (accessed February 15, 2011).
- ^ M. G. Nastos, “Riffs: Vitro Makes Major Label Debut,” Downbeat Magazine, February, 1994.
- ^ Arkansas Jazz Heritage Foundation. Accessed February 15, 2011. http://www.arjazz.org/artists/hof/1998/index.html
- ^ 2009 Jazz at Lincoln Center. Accessed February 15, 2011. http://www.jazzatlincolncenter.org/TheRoad/bands/2009/roseanna_vitro.asp
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