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Ernestine Anderson Appears at Jazz at Pearl's, June 22-24 |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Friday, 15 June 2007 |
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 Ernestine Anderson © Kip Lott
Born in Houston, Texas, on November 11, 1928, into a musical family, Ernestine grew up listening to the blues. As a child, she joined her father and grandmother singing gospel. When she was twelve, Ernestine entered a talent contest and so impressed trumpeter Russell Jacquet that he hired her on the spot to sing with his big band.
When she was 18, she left Seattle, where her family had moved in 1944, to tour for a year with the Johnny Otis band. In 1952, she went on tour with Lionel Hampton's orchestra. After a year with the legendary band, she settled in New York, determined to make her way as a singer. In 1955, she cut a few tracks with alto saxophonist GiGi Gryce, which brought her to the attention of the larger jazz world.
A few months later, she was asked to go on a Scandinavian tour, where she was a huge sensation, the adoring Swedes dubbing her "Stina". Anderson recorded her first solo album in Sweden, which was released here in 1958 by Mercury Records and retitled Hot Cargo. Her star rose rapidly; she was asked to perform in the first Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958, named "Best New Vocal Star" in Down Beat's 1959 Critics Poll, and was featured in Time magazine. In the 1960s, changing musical tastes made it tough for American jazz musicians, and like many others, Ms. Anderson moved to Europe to pursue her career. After a few years in London, she returned home and went into semi-retirement, performing only occasionally in local clubs.
After joining the Buddhist church, she felt a renewed interest in singing. With the urging of bassist Ray Brown, she resumed her career and signed with Concord Records in 1976. She stayed with the label for fifteen years, making nearly 20 albums. Two -- Never Make Your Move Too Soon (1981) and Big City (1983) -- received Grammy nominations. She then signed with Quincy Jones' label, Qwest, and recorded Now and Then in 1993 and Blues, News & Love News in 1996, both of which were nominated for Grammys. In 1998, Koch Jazz issued Isn't It Romantic, a collection of beautiful jazz standards, which received wide critical acclaim.
Ernestine Anderson has earned her title of "jazz legend." Years of singing and living have shaped a vocalist who can make your heart cry one moment and dance the next. Poignant ballads, sassy swing, and down-home blues--Ernestine Anderson is master of them all.
Check out this video of Ernestine Anderson singing "I Want A Little Boy" with Mike Renzi, Ray Brown and Randy Jones in Berlin in 1978:
Jazz at Pearl’s is located at 256 Columbus Avenue near Broadway in San Francisco's North Beach District and is an “all ages” venue. Shows begin at 8:00 and 10:00 pm, with doors open at 7:30. For tickets and more information about Jazz at Pearl’s, visit www.jazzatpearls.com. Biographic information adapted from www.ernestineanderson.com
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 Monday, 01 December 2008
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