Note: This is the third installment of Festival Profiles for the 2005 Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival, June 12-26.

Photo by Don Berryman

At the 2005 Hot Summer Jazz Festival, there will be no shortage of vocalists. From Mears Park to Peavy Plaza, from the Dakota stage to the Millennium lounge, from national headliner Roseanna Vitro to local legends Lucia Newell, Connie Evingson, and Bruce Henry, you will have your pick of the finest interpreters of the Great American Song Book and more.

Mears Park, St. Paul Lowertown, June 18

Lucia Newll with Departure Point (1:30-2:30 pm). With her tribute to Billy Strayhorn, local diva Lucia Newell joins forces with Pete Whitman’s long-standing sextet, Departure Point. From Los Angeles to Mexico City to Rio de Janeiro, as well as locally at Orchestra Hall, the Artist's Quarter, and the Dakota, Lucia Newell has performed Brazilian samba, French ballads, and bop melodies; she has sung with the great Billy Eckstein, the Rio Jazz Orchestra, and Oscar Castro Neves. On her latest recording, Steeped in Strayhorn, she was accompanied by Departure Point, and this afternoon gig in the Park promises to feature many selections from this acclaimed release. These musicians know each other well, and their simpatico collaboration will make this a must-see set.

Connie Evingson with the Parisota Hot Club (4:30-5:30 pm). One of the most distinctive voices among local jazz artists, Connie Evingson may be best known as a long-time member of the acclaimed vocal quartet, Moore By Four. In addition to her nearly 20-year stint with the popular ensemble, however, Evingson has established a remarkable career as a solo performer and recording artist. In addition to global tours with Moore By Four, Evingson has appeared on concert and club stages around the world as a soloist, has appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony conducted by Doc Severinsen, and sang with the Vocalessence Music Series with Bobby McFerrin. In 1998, she was chosen by Jazziz magazine as "one of the top unsigned vocal talents in the country,” was among the top 15 contestants in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, and received the McKnight Artist Fellowship Award in 2000.

Evingson has released five recordings for Minnehaha Music and developed the popular show, “Fever: A Tribute to Peggy Lee.” Turning her talents to the music of Django Reinhardt, she recently released Gypsy in My Soul. Noted Rick Mason of City Pages, "With her own delicious sense of swing, silken phrasing and sense of adventure, Evingson really nails Django's spirit on 'Gypsy', rummaging through his songbook (often with added lyrics) and other tunes that fit the mood..." One of three bands on the new recording, the Parisota Hot Club will join Connie Evingson for a set of gypsy swing and great fun.

Peavy Plaza, Downtown Minneapolis (June 26)

Photo by Andrea Canter

Roseanna Vitro (6:30-7:45 pm). A Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador, Roseanna Vitro has toured the world and played in the company of the very top echelon of jazz artists. A native of Texarkana, AR who grew up in Houston, she was mentored by the great Arnett Cobb. After working in Houston, including a live radio show and singing with Oscar Peterson, she moved to New York City, and was soon touring with Lionel Hampton. Vitro became a regular at The Blue Note, Fat Tuesday's, Birdland, and The Five Spot. Touring India in 1998, Vitro studied Indian classical vocal technique, leading to the formation of her eclectic ensemble featuring classical Indian vocalist, Usha Kallianpurkar. Twice, Vitro has appeared on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” on NPR and toured with Benny Golson in 2003. An active jazz educator, she has directed the Jazz Vocal Program at New Jersey City University for 9 years, and previously was a resident faculty member at SUNY Purchase. Noted Jeff Bradley of the Denver Post, “Roseanna Vitro sings jazz like she means it, the way Anita O'Day used to wail. ...she understands lyrics, knows how to caress a melody and, most of all, swings like mad. Imagine Barbara Streisand as a jazz singer or Rosemary Clooney with a three octave range.”

RBC Dain Rauscher Stage, Minneapolis, 10^th St and Nicollet Mall (June 26)

The Girls (3:15-4:30 pm). Jazz is synonymous with fun when The Girls are on stage! This quartet of Twin Cities’ divas (and McNally Smith College instructors) has been pleasing audiences with their infectious blend of stellar voices, magnificent piano, and hilarious banter, a recipe for high flying synergy. Pianist/vocalist Lori Dokken has been entertaining Twin Cities’ audiences for over 20 years. An award-winning songwriter and in-demand arranger, she is one of the area’s most popular cabaret performers. Head of the Vocal Music Department at McNally Smith, Judi Donaghy has an eclectic list of credits in opera, musical theater, jazz, folk, country, gospel, pop, and R&B, including appearances with Moore By Four, the Mixed Blood Theater, Yo Yo Ma, Carole King, Janis Siegel, Garrison Keillor, and Marilyn McCoo. Perhaps the best known local diva, Debbie Duncan has a background rich in jazz, gospel and Motown. Duncan has opened for Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Stephane Grapelli, and won the Minnesota Music Award for “Perpetually Outstanding Performer.” As a musical theatre performer, Erin Schwab portrayed Tina in Hey City Theater's long-running production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding and performs with The Bellcats, the Wolverines and Metro Jam. Together, The Girls have recorded Requests (Swedish Girl Music) and Live at the Dakota. “Lori thunders away on the keys, Debbie sings low and sassy, Erin and Judi croon with thundering energy. They mix and match duets, trios, and full-blown quartets throughout the evening, but whatever combo you get, it’ll definitely impress” (The Rake, July 2004). Note that the Girls will also perform at the Dakota on June 19^th, 7 pm.

Patty Peterson, June 24-25, 8 pm ($10 cover). Daughter of jazz matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson and sister of recording artists Linda, Billy, Ricky and Paul Peterson, Patty Peterson has performed at nationally renowned jazz venues, including The Vine Street Bar and Grill in Hollywood and at the Dakota here in the Twin Cities. She has received the Minnesota Music Award 7 times for Best Female Vocalist and Best Group, and for "Best Jazz Recording" for her debut CD, The More I See You. In addition to her singing career, she has worked as an actress, print ad model, and national anthem singer, and, for seven straight years, was the number one female radio personality on WCCO radio. This weekend, she will be backed by the all-star band of Chris Lomheim on piano, Tony Axtell on bass, Michael Pilhofer on drums, and special guest, Tommy Peterson (The Tonight Show Band) on sax. Said Jon Bream (Minneapolis Star Tribune), “She can cover anything from Chaka Kahn to Cole Porter with equal authority, exhibiting star quality and drive!"

Millennium Hotel Lounge, Minneapolis, June 26—Midwest Chapter, Jazz Vocal Coalition Showcase

Photo by Andrea Canter

Featuring a list of new and veteran area vocalists, the Showcase artists will be supported by Tanner Taylor (piano), Graydon Peterson (bass), and Mac Santiago (drums) for the first three sets; the final sets and “vocal jam” will be supported by Rick Carlson (piano), Keith Boyles (bass), and Dick Bortelussi (drums). The lineup:

Lucia Newell and Rhonda Laurie (Noon-1:15 pm).

Connie Dussl and Lila Ammos (1:30-2:30 pm)

Sue Tucker and Vicky Mountain (2:45-3:45 pm)

Photo by Andrea Canter

Katie Gearty and Christine Rosholt (4:00-5:00 pm)

Maud Hixon and Connie Olson (5:15-6:15 pm)

Arne Fogel (6:30-7:00 pm)

Vocal Jam hosted by Bruce Henry (7:00-8:00 pm)