All that jazz...
... and more when the NLC Jazz Ensemble pays tribute to
influential vocalists of the century
By Cassady Clark
Staff Writer
North Lake College will
kick off Black History
Month with a fingersnapping,
toe-tapping
big-band music performance Feb. 1
at 7:30 p.m. in the college's Performance
Hall.
The NLC Jazz Ensemble will
host the evening, featuring local vocalist
Claudia Melton. She will perform
tributes to jazz greats such as
Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and
Billie Holiday. “It's a musical collection
of different songs that were
performed by timeless singers…
some of the most infl uential vocalists
of the century.”
Joining Melton is band director
Danny Prado, trumpeter Ira Bassett
and pianist Darwin Martin. Bassett
has performed in the company
of various musical legends, such
as Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and
B.B. King.
Melton demonstrated her musical
talents at age 4, playing the violin
and moving on to the piano, alto
saxophone and the vibraphone. She
began performing professionally
while still in high school.
Melton has directed the awardwinning
Texas Christian University's “Word of Truth” Gospel Choir
and performed as soloist with the
Jazz Band. She was featured soloist
with the University of North Texas
Jazz Singers, and lead vocalist for
the UNT keyboard ensemble the
“Zebras.”
Following college graduation,
Melton toured the nation with the
Kennedy Center “Imagination Celebration
Tour” and was lead musician
for the show “Harlem.” She
now performs with the Dallas-based
band “Top,” a group named
“Best Dance Band” by D magazine.
Melton performs at 7 p.m. on
Tuesdays through Thursdays at
the Magnolia Hotel in downtown
Dallas.
“I love to sing,” Melton said.
“Everyone can relate to the blues.” |
