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"On stage, she can crack you up and break your heart over the course of one verse." (Press release, Artists Quarter)  Minnesota's "First Lady of Song" and perhaps the best known diva of the Twin Cities, Debbie Duncan "is blessed with a large, full, yet feathery voice and stylistic subtlety ranging from gospel to jazz and pop" (Jazziz). With a background rich in jazz, gospel and Motown, Duncan can pack a house to the rafters, and this weekend she will cover premiere clubs of both Twin Towns, at the Artists Quarter (Friday and Saturday, January 7-8) and Dakota (Sunday, January 9).
Detroit native Debbie Duncan studied music at Wayne State University. Spending ten years on the club circuit in LA, her performance resume includes opening for Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Stephane Grapelli, and appearing with Bob Seger, Bobby Watson (Horizon), Mark Murphy, Von Freeman, Marlena Shaw, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Henderson, Jimmy McGriff, and John Hendricks. After moving to Minneapolis, she soon became known as the "Working-est Singer" in the Twin Cities, winning many Minnesota Music Awards as well as the MMA's first award as "Perpetually Outstanding Performer."
Duncan's recording credits include work with Oleta Adams, Jimmy McGriff, pop band Iffy, and numerous local bands including Fat Kids Wednesday. She has released four of her own recordings, Nice One for Boo, Live at the Dakota, It Must Be Christmas, and her latest, Travelin' at the Speed of Love, all on the Igmod label and featuring casts of first-call area musicians. Local gigs include frequent appearances at the AQ, Times, and Dakota; popular performances with "The Girls" and the Phil Aaron Trio; opening for Al Green at the Guthrie last spring; and handling the vocals for the Adi Yeshaya Big Band. She heads groups with varying combinations of area artists, lately in the company of Michael O'Brien (bass), Nathan Norman (drums) and Mary Louise Knutson (piano). And, while Debbie Duncan is often on stage, she still manages to find time to teach at the McNally Smith College of Music (formerly MusicTech), which has established the Debbie Duncan Award for Excellence in Voice, and to serve as an instructor at the Twin Cities Youth Jazz Camp. Debbie Duncan doesn't just stand up there and sing, she interacts with the audience, jokes, and above all is a story teller and comedienne. If she didn't sing, her shows would still be pure entertainment. But of course she sings like no one else. "As musically versatile as she is vocally outstanding." -Jon Bream, Star Tribune
Debbie Duncan performs on Friday, January 7, and Saturday, January 8 at the Artists Quarter, St. Paul, 7th Place and St. Peter in the lower level of the Hamm Building, 9 pm, www.mnjazz.com. On Sunday, January 9, catch Debbie at the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, 7 pm. Visit www.dakotacooks.com. Debbie Duncan performs with Lorie Dokken at the Times Bar and Cafe in Minneapolis, on January 17, 8:30 pm, www.timesbarandcafe.com |
Twin Cities, MN 
Saturday, 18 May 2013
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