Sony Holland, vocalist.

Photo Gallery: Vitello's

2012-01-31T09:27:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to everyone who made my first show at Vitello's a memorable one. It's a rush to have a full house, but this night was extra special because my parents surprised me. They had been vacationing in Arizona and drove to Los Angeles, arriving just before show-time. My Dad called me that morning to wish me good luck and didn't say a word about coming. He is pretty sneaky.

We had a great audience @ Vitello's.

We scheduled an early sound check and the band was on time... my first good sign. Though I had heard Otmaro play with his trio this was the first time we'd actually met and I am so glad we did. Sound check was our opportunity for a quick rehearsal. I could tell right away that this band was going to be a pleasure to work with.


Otmaro Ruiz playing a terrific solo... Jazz musicians are freelancer's who are accustomed to performing in different combos. So even though these guys hadn't worked together as a unit they meshed perfectly. By the time the show started it seemed like everyone in the room was feeling good. The rhythm section of David Hughes and Kendall Kay kicked into our first number and we were really swinging.

A cool shot of David.

"I see your face in every flower..."

Time absolutely flies on stage when the sound is good (thanks Paul), the band is in sync (thanks guys) and the audience is attentive. Then all I have to do is wear a nice dress and sing the songs like I do at home. Before I knew it we were playing TWO SLEEPY PEOPLE and it was almost time to say goodnight.

Jerry had everyone's ear during his beautiful solo on OVER THE RAINBOW.

When the show was over I had the chance to visit with everyone. I loved that so many people introduced themselves to my parents. They had a great time. Vitello's is a very comfortable venue for jazz so I hope you'll join us when we return. A big thanks to Terry Dudley for taking these photos and for sharing them with me so generously.

It wasn't easy but Terry managed to get us back on stage for a shot after the show. What a nice evening!

Jan. 26th @ Vitello's

2012-01-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

"Sony Holland keeps getting better and better. She is the quintessential artist. Her calling cards are flawless phrasing, sultry tonality and bright energy. Her vocals shine on the slower and languorous ballads." Richard Connema - San Francisco Reviews

January 26 @ Vitello's Jazz and Supper Club
4349 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604
Reservations: 818.769.0905 - www.vitellosjazz.com

One Show Only @ 8pm ($15)

Vitello's is an essential part of the LA jazz scene. I am very excited to be performing there for the first time this month. I can see why they've been successful. The Italian restaurant downstairs is a lively and popular neighborhood joint and they've built an attractive supper club with excellent sound and lighting in the cozy space above it. A comfortable place to make a great night of it... many of LA's top session musicians live in and around the Studio City location so it has become their 'home court'.

Here's a little bit about the superb band who will be on stage with me for this concert.

Otmaro Ruiz

Otmaro Ruiz, piano: Originally from Venezuela, Otmaro moved to Los Angeles in 1987. Among his many credits are 5 years as pianist and musical director for Dianne Reeves. During this period Otmaro played on her CD “In The Moment – Live in Concert,” which won the Grammy Award 2001. Vitello's will be our first gig together and I am looking forward to it!
See www.otmaroruiz.com for more info.

David Hughes

David Hughes, bass: David played bass on my CD SANSSOUCI, but this will be our first time working together in a club. Yeah, man! Born in Sweden and now based in LA, David received his first important break when Wayne Henderson invited him to join the legendary Jazz Crusaders. Other credits include Chaka Khan, Melissa Etheridge, Burt Bacharach, etc... Currently he fills his schedule touring and recording with renowned pianist/radio personality David Benoit and with recording sessions and local performances spanning jazz to rock and classical music.
For more see www.swedebass.com

Kendall Kay

Kendall Kay, drums: Kendall played percussion on SANSSOUCI. He was born in Durban, South Africa. Since arriving in Los Angeles in 1987 he has been a 'first call' drummer on the live jazz scene. His credits include playing or recording with Kenny Burrell, Phil Upchurch, Bob Sheppard, Allan Broadbent, Kyle Eastwood, Rickie Lee Jones, Jack Jones and many more. I've had the good fortune to work with Kendall a bunch of times. Aside from being a remarkably sensitive musician (especially for a drummer!) he is a great comrade to have on the bandstand.

Jerry Holland

Jerry Holland, guitar: Jerry also played on the sessions for SANSSOUCI. What goes into making a musician out of a songwriter? Jerry gets up at 4:30 in the morning to practice for several hours every day. If I'm lucky he doesn't wake me up:) In jazz slang "he's been in the shed" and we inspire each other to keep taking the music to a higher level. Since jazz groups generally don't get a whole lot of rehearsal time it is great to have someone in the band who knows the material inside & out. As a songwriter Jerry wrote the music and lyrics to the #1 Country song FRIENDS as recorded by John Michael Montgomery on Atlantic Records. Jerry had staff writing deals with Warner/Chappell and Mike Curb Music in Nashville.

You might wonder how musicians can play a show with little rehearsal. Much of the important work is done well before the show. Jerry and I spend a lot of time on the arrangements to be sure the charts are clear for the band to follow. Notation can only go so far... it is the talent, experience, and interpretive skills of the musicians that bring the charts to life.

Please join us on the 26th.

A good audience is like having another great musician in the band!

Sony

Live Shots:

2011-11-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

@ the Rrazz Room, San Francisco: November 2011

We were having a good time from Jump Street:-)

The shot above was taken right after the opening number,

I'LL REMEMBER PARIS.

SPEAK LOW:

"Time is so old and love so brief,

Love is pure gold and time a thief..."

I confess that I make a lot of funny faces

when I'm singing, like this one below.

This shot is from POLK STREET BAR.

"He's right at home

in a lively Polk Street Bar

Where the jukebox plays Sinatra

and the good time people are..."

That's Seward McCain on bass & Bob Blankenship on the drums.

And here's the rest of the band,

Benny Watson on piano & Jerry Holland on guitar!

We were playing SOON IT'S GONNA RAIN,

a lovely song from the Fantasticks. We took it off Broadway

and turned it into a gentle Bossa Nova.

Hand on hip. I think I was singing

YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME,

served with a little attitude.

I was so pleased with these shows. The band was great,

the sound clear and the audience so warm and enthusiastic.

It's unfortunate that we were unable to video tape them:(

A huge thank you to Terry Dudley for taking these photos!

What's On My Shelves...

2011-11-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this pic that we took for a feature in Bay Stages Magazine called 'Who's reading Bay Stages?' If you're not familiar with it, Bay Stages is a very attractively put together arts magazine that covers the scene in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This photo was taken in my apartment in downtown Los Angeles. Atop the concrete & pine bookshelves you can see that I have some LP covers spread out... Babs and Tony Bennett are just over my shoulder.

Also on the mantle (but out of view) are photos of Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee and Jerry's platinum records. Below there are hundreds of CDs and tons of sheet music folios and books. The 'dorm style' wall units line the northeast corner of my loft and serve as a great perch for pictures of friends and family as well. Although they stubbornly defy any attempt at organization these shelves do a great job of holding my cherished memorabilia.

Video: When I Find You

2011-08-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of WHEN I FIND YOU, a very special Jerry Holland song that we performed together at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. The lyrics are below.

Or click here for the recorded version from my CD 'Sanssouci'

WHEN I FIND YOU

(Jerry Holland, c. Heebalibra Music, BMI)

How could I have known you were a wounded dove
You never showed a sign of weakness when I had your love
How could I have seen you’d be flyin’ west
And what would it all mean if my heart withstood this test

When I Find You - If I Find You
I will never let you go
If I find you - When I find you
I will never, ever let you go

How could I have fallen for such pretty lies
And still believe I saw the truth written in your eyes
Could I have somehow changed the way it all came down
And will it end the same The second time around

When I Find You - If I Find You
I will never let you go
If I find you - When I find you
I will never, ever let you go

Searching for the soul of you
The fractions and the whole of you
One part poison, one part cure
Just one thing I know for sure

When I Find You - If I Find You
I will never let you go
If I find you - When I find you
I will never, ever let you go...

Non-Stop To Brazil (guitar/vocal)

2011-08-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

The most well-known version of this song was recorded by Astrud Gilberto in 1965.
Click the title to hear our guitar/vocal rendition. The lyric is below.

NON STOP TO BRAZIL

(Bonfá, Duby, Gimbel)

Silver jet
Take me
I'm all set
Take me
Through the sky
Fly me
Where the air of Rio sings
All my hopes ride on your wings

Makes this trip
Non-stop
Like my heart
Non-stop
Bring me where he is
Help my heart be his
Don't ask why
Love waits at the end of the sky
So fly me to Brazil

Thanks for listening!

I'll be performing this Sunday, August 7th at the Twist restaurant in the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel for the KJAZZ Brunch with host DJ Bubba Jackson. KJAZZ is America's #1 jazz radio station.The brunch performance starts at 11am and goes until 2pm.

The band will be:
Robbie Kondor, piano
Jerry Holland, guitar
Bruce Lett, bass
Bob Leatherbarrow, drums

Video: Stanford Jazz Festival @ Oshman JCC

2011-07-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my good friends Terry & Chris Dudley here is a video clip that they put together from my recent concert at the Oshmann JCC in Palo Alto. This show was part of the Stanford Jazz Festival. I hadn't seen Benny (piano) and Seward (bass) in over a year, so it was great fun to reunite with them. Prior to this gig I hadn't worked with Bob Blankenship, but he did a great job on the drums and was a pleasure to work with.

This was my first time performing One For My Baby, written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. It is most strongly associated with Frank Sinatra but I have been listening to it lately on one of my favorite Tony Bennett CDs, PERFECTLY FRANK.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show! I look forward to my next Bay Area trip...

Up next: Sunday, July 24th @ Vibrato in Bel Air, CA. Vibrato is owned by the one and only Herb Alpert. The band for that date is Pat Senatore (long time bassist for the Tijuana Brass), Theo Saunders, Kendall Kay and Jerry Holland.

And for good measure, here's another video (with Benny & Seward, plus David Rokeach and Jeff Buenz) from the San Jose Jazz Festival a couple of years ago:

http://www.sonyholland.com

Guitar/Vocal 2:

2011-07-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

Click the song title to hear a guitar/vocal recording of:

THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU

Words & Music by Ray Noble
Sony Holland: vocal, Jerry Holland: guitar
Engineer: Mark Vincent Producers: George & Gracie*

"The Very Thought of You" was composed by Ray Noble in 1934. Bing Crosby had a hit with it in the same year. Ever since then it has been a staple of the Great American Songbook, even though Mr. Noble was thoroughly British! The song has been covered by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and many other stars.

I hope you enjoy our version as much as we enjoyed recording it!

Here are the lyrics:

The very thought of you and I forget to do

The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do

I'm living in a kind of daydream

I'm happy as a queen

And foolish though it may seem to me

That's everything

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you

You'll never know how slow the moments go 'til I'm near to you

I see your face in every flower

Your eyes in stars above

It's just the thought of you

The very thought of you, my love

I see your face in every flower

Your eyes in stars above

It's just the thought of you

The very thought of you, my love...

<<< Mark Vincent's dogs George & Gracie kept the studio environment light & relaxed.

New Vocal/Guitar Track: Two Sleepy People

2011-06-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hoagy Carmichael

Here is a vocal/guitar track that we recorded this week (Jerry's on guitar) at Mark Vincent's studio in Toluca Lake. We had a lot of fun doing this tune and we hope to do more in the future.

"Two Sleepy People" (c. 1938) was composed by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Frank Loesser. It was performed by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in the film Thanks for the Memory in 1939. Other versions have been recorded by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Fats Waller, Carmen McRae, Carly Simon and many others.

The first version of Two Sleepy People that caught my ear was a luscious recording by Julie London. No one makes the song sexier than she does. I'm a big fan, and weren't those photos on her album covers terrific!?

Here is our vocal/guitar track. The lyrics are printed below.

TWO SLEEPY PEOPLE

Two Sleepy People

Here we are
Out of cigarettes
Holding hands and yawning
Look how late it gets
Two sleepy people by dawn's early light
And too much in love to say goodnight

Here we are
In a cozy chair
Picking on a wishbone
From the Frigidaire
Two sleepy people with nothing to say
And too much in love to break away

Do you remember
The nights we used to linger in the hall?
Father didn't like you at all
Do you remember
The reason why we married in the fall?
To get a bit of rest
And get this little nest

Well, here we are
Just about the same
Foggy little fella
Drowsy little dame
Two sleepy people by dawn's early light
And too much in love to say goodnight

Thanks again for listening. I hope to see you at a concert soon!

A Piano Trio: Theo Saunders, Shota Osabe & Ted Rosenthal

2011-03-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

Today's post is part of a series about the talented musicians I've been fortunate to work with over the years.

THEO SAUNDERS: One of the perks of living in L.A. is the chance to check out the many incredible musicians who perform on the local jazz scene. Theo is among the very best of them. His playing is exuberant, sensitive, soulful and smart. I am thankful that he was willing to be the band-leader for my first bunch of gigs in Los Angeles.

His own fab sextet has just finished up a new CD titled 'Intergeneration'. The group consists of Theo Saunders: piano, Zane Musa: soprano sax, Chuck Manning: tenor sax, David Dahlsten: trombone, Jeff Livingston: bass and Tony Austin: drums. Theo pulled this stellar band together and turned them into a big fat sounding jazz machine with his inventive compositions and arrangements as the engine. Check out the CD and gig schedule at www.theosaunders.com

SHOTA OSABE: Shota traveled with me from San Francisco to Tokyo for a three month residency at the New York Bar. The spectacular venue, on the 56^th floor of the Park Hyatt, is known for bringing in jazz musicians from all over the world. Shota was the first Japanese born player to be featured there. I am ever thankful for his help in getting around Tokyo and for all of the gigs we played together there and at home in San Francisco. Besides being a wonderful jazz pianist who has recorded with Ray Brown at Capitol Studios, Shota also plays pedal steel guitar in a country band!

TED ROSENTHAL: Unfortunately, I had only one chance to work with Ted (so far!) at the Blue Note in NYC. When I travel for a gig, sometimes I don't meet the band until sound check. In this case, Ted offered to host a rehearsal at his Manhattan apartment. Within the first few moments I could tell that he was a masterful pianist who understood the art of accompanying a vocalist. I wish I had more opportunities to work with Ted, but he keeps quite busy without me:-) Since winning the 1988 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, Ted has released twelve CDs as a leader. His latest, "Impromptu," features jazz re-imaginings of classical themes.

Thanks again, Theo, Shota & Ted.

Twin Cities Daily Planet Review

2011-03-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

MUSIC | Sony Holland's "Sanssouci"

By Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet

March 24, 2011

Twin-Cities-spawned ace chanteuse Sony Holland is back at it, keeping the airwaves safe for smooth, cool jazz ballads with her new album Sanssouci (Van Ness Records), following the brilliant Out of This World (Van Ness Records) from 2009.

Holland is the quintessential artist, honoring an ageless genre while marking her mark on it. Her calling cards are flawless phrasing, sultry tonality, and bright energy. Her music allures. With the same, rich textures, for instance, Lani Hall used to infuse Sergio Mendez & Brazil '66 with subtle grace and hypnotic sensuality. Holland has that kind of commanding presence, that kind of irresistible artistry. That kind of heat.

She's joined on Sanssouci by Jerry Holland (guitar), David Hughes (bass), Kendall Kay (percussion), Robbie Kondor (keys), and Wolf Sebastian (cello), a combo that fits the velvet vocalist like a proverbial glove. The boys provide excellent, flowing accompaniment that showcases Holland to best possible effect. She is seamless. Together, Sony Holland and her band make it all seem effortless, make magic like it's nothing, bring some pretty marvelous stuff. Holland's take on the old standard "My Foolish Heart" is a fine opener for Sanssouci, signing in with her trademark style. She holds down a breezy, lilting groove. Gleaming highs. Rich low tones. In between she fairly dances on air. It's a recurring quality throughout the album. "Too Many Beautiful Girls," by Jerry Holland, is innovative, a doo-wop melody that swerves into samba and winds up a very smoky affair. The Rodgers and Hart chestnut "My Romance" gets a refreshing going over, soft and laid back. Holland's singing is superb. Fluid. In fact, enchanting. "Those Dancing Days Are Gone" blends reggae and jazz to a tantalizing T.

Out of This World, aptly titled, captures cool jazz at its finest. On standards like "Old Devil Moon" and "I've Got You Under My Skin," and on Jerry Holland originals "It's An Understatement," "I'll Lead The Way," and "By The Sea." On everything, the band swings, and Sony Holland sings like a dream. This album is a splendid follow-up—improving, as it were, on perfection. Holland broadens her textures, gets a little more sinewy and, in general, intrigues beyond belief. All said, with Sanssouci, Sony Holland continues establishing herself as a siren of the first order.

@ Kuumbwa & the Rrazz Room

2011-03-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

I've just returned to Los Angeles from two Bay Area concerts. It was wonderful to see so many dear friends and to feel the comfort of their warm smiles and embraces.

In the past when I've played venues such as Kuumbwa and The Rrazz Room I've been accompanied by a jazz trio or quartet. This time I performed as a duo with my guitarist/husband Jerry Holland. The two of us have played gigs at small venues such as wine bars and house concerts but this was our first show together on a bona fide concert stage. We took the difference very seriously and made sure we were well prepared.

A lot of work went into these shows. First we chose songs for the set list which is not an easy task because we invariably have to leave out some of our favorites. The arrangements were then roughed out and fine tuned. We had a few clashes during this process but as soon as Jerry realized that my ideas were best things went as smooth as silk... I'LL LEAD THE WAY:) The lyrics, melodies and chord changes must all be memorized so repetition is key. We worked separately on difficult passages of the music... over and over and over. Since we live in an open loft Jerry would often practice in our car 'down under' in the parking garage. After rehearsing for several weeks we taped the entire show to make sure the sequence flowed naturally. We often record in our bathroom to minimize the street noise. Finally we went into the rehearsal studio for a run through with amplification. Jerry's old folk guitar wasn't quite the right tool for the job so he tried out a new arch top aka jazz guitar and I picked out a dress... Fair enough! I thought about what I'd say between songs. We rehearsed some more. One of the great things about working as a couple is that we get to practice every day. It is so much fun when the show starts coming together and we share in the joy of it's creation.

Besides the musical preparation there is promotional work to be done. It's important to get the word out so we send emails to fans and friends as well as reaching out to the media. There is an old adage in show biz, "Advertising you pay for, press you pray for..." I'm in no position to buy ads so I do a lot of praying:) Promotional work is time consuming and I'm not very comfortable with self-promotion. Ninety percent of the time journalists don't return calls or emails and it can be difficult to remember that it's usually nothing personal. It is all part of the music biz.

It was almost show-time and we were excited to be back in the Bay Area. Then, on Friday morning I was floored by a sudden spell of vertigo. No dizzy blond jokes, please. This was really bad. I awoke to a room spinning so fiercely that I could barely stand up. I had never experienced anything like it. My doctor assured me that this kind of vertigo was quite common, but no less debilitating. The worst of it passed in 24 hours but it left me shaken and stirred. I was still unsteady on Saturday but of course the show must go on! I had to be careful or I would wind up singing from the stage floor.

Photo by Joanne Olivieri

With a lot of help from my fans and friends there was an amazing crowd at the Kuumbwa on Saturday night, and the Rrazz Room was sold-out on Sunday. The warmth of the audience in addition to the preparation helped me to get past the vertigo and really feel the music. There is nothing I love more than singing my heart out for an attentive audience.

I haven't looked at the video from Kuumbwa yet. I hope the lighting was OK and the audio was well balanced, etc. If no one coughed extensively in front of the mic or walked back and forth in front of the camera on their way to the bathroom I'll be able to post some clips in the near future... In the meanwhile, here are a few photos from the Rrazz Room show. A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and made these concerts a successful debut for Jerry and I.

On stage at the Rrazz Room. Photo by Terry Dudley


Jerry's new Godin Guitar. Photo by Terry Dudley


It was a sold out show @ the Rrazz. Photo by Terry Dudley

Giving a hand to the audience! Photo by Terry Dudley

Some New Press Items:

2011-03-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

With many thanks to the writers and reviewers who have spread a kind word

about my musical endeavors here are a few more press items for the archives...

Harrington: Jazz singer Sony Holland back in Bay Area with new CD

By Jim Harrington
San Jose Mercury News
© Copyright 2011, Bay Area News Group

Posted: 02/24/2011 01:00:00 AM PST

SONY HOLLAND now calls Los Angeles home. But that doesn't mean Bay Area fans should stop feeling possessive about this incredibly talented former San Francisco singer. The Bay Area is where things first started to happen for the smooth-voiced Holland, who originally hails from Minnesota. She spent six years practicing her art here, going from busking for spare change at Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square to performing at Yoshi's, Jazz at Pearl's and some of the area's other top clubs. She rose through the local ranks, then took her show on the road, gaining fans in such jazz hot spots as New York City and Japan. Her fan base continued to grow as she released three critically acclaimed CDs. Now make that four.Holland's new CD, "Sanssouci," finds the song stylist putting her distinctive stamp on a mix of standards, originals and contemporary songs. The title track, penned by Rufus Wainwright, refers to a summer palace built by King Frederick of Prussia in 1745. That topic sounds a bit dry in print, yet it's anything but in Holland's hands. Holland is coming back to Northern California to support the new CD with two concerts. She'll perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. Then she'll play at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St., San Francisco.

Two short audio clips from KGO Radio's Scott Lettieri:
KGO Clips 1 & 2

A new Sanssouci review from renowned jazz journalist Scott Yanow in the LA Jazz Scene Newspaper:

One of the most talented jazz singers in town, Sony Holland has the potential to sing a wide variety of music and improvise creatively in every idiom. On Sanssoucci, she sings several standards, a few obscurities, and five
excellent songs by her husband guitarist Jerry Holland. Accompanied by Holland, keyboardist Robbie Kondor, bassist David Hughes, drummer Kendall Kay and occasionally the cello of Wolf Sebastian, the singer pays respect to the melodies and lyrics and keeps her renditions concise but definitive. Slower tempos are emphasized with her versions of “What A Difference A Day Made” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (the most rewarding recording of the latter song in quite a few years) are among the highlights. This continually evolving artist is well worth seeing live too. Sanssoucci is available from www.sonyholland.com.

And this "pick" from Bay Stages Magazine:

A New Review:

2011-01-31T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sony Holland – ‘Sanssouci’

Van Ness Records 2010

“Sanssouci”, Rufus Wainwright’s lush romantic rumination is the perfect illustration of where vocalist Sony Holland stands musically. The song is both intelligently composed, even classically oriented, yet refreshingly modern and contemporary in its lyrical content. It also moves in the up-tempo Latin beat that seems to be driving much of this CD’s sound. Holland has been moving away from standard interpretations of Great American Songbook and here interprets “My Foolish Heart” and “What A Difference A Day Made” in this hipper, acoustic based style. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” is a perfect example of Holland’s re-interpretive work.

Influenced by husband Jerry Holland’s original tunes (“Curiosity”, “You’re Always With Somebody New” and “When I Find You”), this CD has a moving beat, tempered with Sony’s languid, deliberate reading of the lyric. It’s not swing or jazz in the strict sense, but moves close to the Jobim/Gilberto bossa nova sound popular in the sixties. Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is most close to its original recording and a Holland live staple. “Autumn Leaves”, originally the 1945 French song "Les Feuilles Mortes", sung in French and English, is lovely. Sony’s voice is lovely as always and self-assured and the musicianship heartfelt.

Steve Murray in Cabaret Scenes

Musicians: Part One

2011-01-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

This post is where I get to shine the spotlight on some of the terrific musicians I've worked with over the years. I will do this in periodic posts spread out over time.

Charles Dungey

Charles Dungey, 1935-2003. I was so blessed that Charles played bass with my very first jazz trio in Nashville. He had a mentor spirit and always wore a big friendly smile. Charles had come back home to take care of his mother after touring with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr. and Pearl Bailey, recording with Eartha Kitt, Betty Carter, Milt Jackson and a stint with the house band of The Mike Douglas Show.


Dave, Jerry, Me, Dennis & Mickey.

I played regularly with the Dennis Burniside Trio at F. Scott's in Nashville. (Jerry just jumped in the picture!) Dennis Burnside is a soulful, strong pianist and a great arranger who played on hundreds of major label sessions in Nashville. He grew up playing jazz and started out touring with big bands when he was very young. We had a great time working together. Dave Pomeroy is one of the top bassists in Nashville (that's saying something!) and has played on a million sessions. I was still green and very lucky to get him in the band because he wanted to play more jazz and loved working with Dennis. Mickey Grimm is so much fun on the drums. He can make a chair or the wall into a rhythm instrument as well. No surface is safe from his brushes! I'll never forget the day he drove off after a gig and left his bass drum in the parking lot:-)

Dave Rockeach: Photo by Terry Dudley

David Rokeach: Two highlights of David's career speak volumes. David toured nationally and internationally with Ray Charles from 1990-91. AND, David has also played with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, including appearances on VH1's Divas Live, where he performed with Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, and Carole King for the show's finale. I had the pleasure of gigging regularly with David when I lived in the Bay Area. He's a great drummer and a great guy. And man are his kids cute!

Me, Charles McNeal, Jeff Buenz: Photo by T. Dudley

“Charles McNeal is a fiery saxophonist who brings a sense of urgency and soul to every note he plays.” It’s that immersion in the music that also gives him such a charismatic presence on stage. Though he is a powerful soloist, Charles also enjoys the role of sideman. He has the sensitivity to know when to play sparsely and when to shine. I always love having Charles in the band. These days Charles and his gorgeous wife Pam live in Las Vegas. His website is an incredible resource for sax players. www.charlesmcneal.com.

Benny Watson: Photo by Terry Dudley

Benny Watson: Benny, Benny, Benny! I met Benny at a jam session at the now defunct club owned by drummer/pianist/chef Kelly Park near Oakland, (Kelly’s of Alameda.) When he sat in I immediately noticed how he pounced on the keys with blues infused intensity all while smiling and laughing and having a good time. Since that night we’ve played together for concerts, casuals and all manner of gigs. It’s always a comfort to have my talented friend at the piano.

Ruth Davies: Photo from her web site

Ruth Davies: I haven't worked often enough with Ruth, but it is always fun when we do. I remember one peculiar night at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. We were featured as part of the museums "Jazz Night" and had a receptive and attentive audience of about 100. It would have been a wonderful and intimate evening except for the fact that we had to share the large ballroom with a raucous Single's Night party that was (incredulously) co-booked into the space. When I sang a ballad the thump of their stereo nearly drowned out my voice. On nights like that it's important to have a good humored, steadfast pro like Ruth to go into battle with! In presumably better circumstances Ruth has performed with such jazz and blues greats as Keb' Mo', Clark Terry, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Maria Muldaur, Etta Jones, Terry Gibbs, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Little Jimmy Scott.

Pasadena Weekly Article...

2010-11-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

Sophisticated Lady

Jazz stylist Sony Holland and hubby/guitarist Jerry Holland return to Left Coast Wine Bar

By Bliss 11/18/2010

When the going gets tough, the tough get creative — and mobile. Consider jazz singer Sony Holland, who’s pulled up stakes several times in pursuit of her muse. The native Minnesotan logged time in the upper Midwest, Nashville, Paris and the Bay Area before relocating to LA last year with songwriter husband Jerry Holland. Unexpectedly, what boosted her career was busking for tourists at San Francisco’s Pier 39 and Ghiardelli Square.

Holland’s silky, refined style isn’t what springs to mind when envisioning roughened street singers. Yet she hung onto the seemingly humble gig, which eventually helped her score work at higher-profile clubs, throughout her seven-year stay in San Francisco.

“I kept meeting new people, and I met so many people from around the world,” she recalls. “When they’d come back to visit the United States, they’d ask, ‘Are you playing anywhere?’ Eventually they’d get to see me in more of a small concert type setting. I loved it. It worked really well, because I sold CDs and developed a fan base, and you can make a little bit of money out there.”

It was a heartening development after her eight-year dry spell in Nashville (and, prior to that, paying dues touring the upper Midwest in rock and funk cover bands). While Holland’s pop dreams ran aground in Music City, that’s where she met her husband, who was penning country hits for the likes of John Michael Montgomery. During a 10-month sojourn to Paris with him, she fell in love with jazz.

“I had gotten a little more experience and decided that maybe pop wasn’t really what I wanted to do, because as you get older with pop careers, you know, you have to be 17,” she says with a laugh. “I was really drawn to the sophistication of [jazz] lyrics and melodies … I rented a rehearsal space, and just worked my voice a lot. I listened to Julie London, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, all the song stylists — Nancy Wilson — and basically tried to learn from all of their phrasing and all of their passion.”

She cites Wilson as her “No. 1 female favorite, because she did everything — R&B, pop, Broadway tunes, jazz — and she did it all so well, and she still does.” Like Wilson, Holland describes herself as a stylist, and considers her audience when selecting material. Her new album “Sanssouci” smoothly combines her personal taste for haunting material with Jerry Holland originals and melodic standards. She’s been surprised by response to the title track, a lilting Rufus Wainwright cut.

“When we started doing ‘Sanssouci,’ people were just knocked over,” she says. “It’s a really special tune.”

House Concert

2010-10-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

I woke up on the morning of the backyard house concert and looked out onto a cold, gray, windy and rainy day. Nancy and I had started planning this event six weeks prior, back when mid-October seemed like a safe bet for blue skies in San Mateo. A few days earlier Jerry and I had packed our car full of guitars, amps, speakers, etcetera, and drove up from the heat of SoCal. Today was the day, there was no Plan B.

I was still staring out the window of the San Francisco high-rise where Jerry and I were staying when Nancy called. We shared a pathetic laugh. She had already put the chairs out in her yard and pulled them back in, wet with rain. I figured only a handful of folks would be crazy enough to show up for an outdoor concert with the rain coming down, the roads slick, the Giants in the playoffs and the Raiders playing at Candlestick. "Leave the chairs in," I said, "we're on our way." We picked up my dear friend Jo and arrived with our gear and some goodies for the would-be feast.

Jerry

Jerry overconfidently tried setting up the P.A. system in the yard before retreating with it to the patio. We would have to seat everyone indoors, if anyone showed up! Big Bad Mike arrived and defiantly parked his barbecue grill beneath a dark cloud. Then one by one they came through the front door on Lake Street. Familiar faces of fans and friends and many newcomers to the cast. I was so humbled that they all came out to hear Jerry and I perform under these conditions. Nancy's house was soon overflowing with about 80 of our unflappable crew.

With everyone finally seated Nancy introduced us. We opened our set with "On A San Francisco High," and then performed a few songs from my latest CD. As if on cue, the sun appeared as we launched into "What A Difference A Day Made." Applause for that! A few people slipped behind us taking their chairs into the back yard.

The rain let up and some folks slipped behind us.

KCSM DJ Pete Fallico

Pete Fallico, a DJ from KCSM, did us the honor of introducing the song "Sanssouci" in his deep, rich and resonant radio voice. It was all going so well when suddenly the power went out on the whole block. Still, the mood was good and no one panicked. We had stared down Zeus... what was Thor going to do? The queue at Big Bad Mike's grill grew long, and by the time everyone was fed the power was back on.

We began the second set with "Night And Day" and a J. Holland original, "I Was No Angel Myself." Then we played an old song that is one of my new favorites, "Just For A Thrill," composed by Louis Armstrong's wife Lillian. I noticed several people tearing up during "Les Feuilles Mortes." When it was time to wrap things up I had the wonderful feeling that everyone would have been happy if we kept going and going.

With my friend Marlene Sorosky Gray

As we said our goodbyes a few volunteers stayed behind to help Jerry pack the car and Nancy put her home back together. I took the opportunity to sample some of the delicious leftover chocolate cake and cookies which guests had contributed. The guests had also generously filled our tip jar with enough cash for Jerry and I to breath a little easier this month. We are so thankful. A house concert is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or evening... simply good music, food and fellowship without the overpriced drinks. I hope you'll join us for the next one, rain or shine!

Time to eat and chat between sets.

A "big" fan:-) Naz and Mike!


The Sacramento Connection

Yellow flowers from a mysterious gentleman!

P.S. To set up a concert in your house, please email me at sony@sonyholland.com. Thanks!
Photos: Terry Dudley

Sanssouci News

2010-10-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some exciting developments regarding my new CD, Sanssouci. In spite of the fact that we have no publicity budget a few good notices have appeared.

1) From: Jazz Station - Arnaldo DeSouteiro's Blog: Vocal CD of the Month - "Sony Holland: Sanssouci"

This enchanting CD, by LA-based singer Sony Holland, offers delightful moments that combine elegance, delicacy, sensitivity & musical joy, in reverence to music's subtler values. The lovely intertwining of lines, tempos and motifs abounds throughout the beautifully & inventively arranged 13 track-program, a perfect blend of standards (from the opener "My Foolish Heart" to the finale with the best vocal version of "My Romance" since Carly Simon's recording with Eddie Gomez & Steve Gadd 20 years ago) and originals by Sony's hitmaker (and multi-talented) husband Jerry Holland -- my personal favorite being "Little Tune," that sounds sooooo pretty!

Also noteworthy are Sony's renditions of Rufus Wainwright's title track "Sanssouci" and Carla Bruni's "Those Dancing Days Are Gone," composed (for her second album, "No Promises", from 2008) after a 1929 poem by William Butler Yeats. Not to mention Joseph Kosma's 1945 standard "Les Feuilles Mortes," sung firstly in French (with the original Jacques Prévert lyrics) and soon after with the English lyrics added by Johnny Mercer in 1947. The mixing of Sony Holland's soulful vocals with the sparse/ingenious instrumentation is pure pleasure.

2) The CD was also the feature of a one hour podcast interview by KCSM dj Pete Fallico: Sony Holland in the Doodlin'Lounge

3) The original song 'CURIOSITY' was also played in a CD Baby Music Discovery Podcast: http://musicdiscovery.cdbabypodcast.com/?p=1230

4) Tracks from Sanssouci have been played on some major stations like L.A.'s KCRW and San Francisco's KCSM. There have also been many more Internet radio stations and blogs that have helped to promote the CD.

Hopefully there will be some more news to add soon. Thanks to everyone who has purchased a CD or has helped to spread the word. I appreciate it very much.

Venice Community Housing Corporation

2010-09-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday's fund raising champagne brunch for the Venice Community Housing Corporation is the kind of event I love to be involved in...making music for a very deserving cause. The VCHC owns and manages 200 units of non-profit affordable housing. They also provide comprehensive supportive programs including job training, youth development and employment, life skills coaching and family services to help people regain or retain their self-reliance.

The brunch and silent auction is an annual affair to raise money for the VCHC. The setting was a huge yard and our stage had a colorful canvas back-drop, created by some of the young people who have benefited from the VCHC youth programs.

We started making music at 11am, and that's early for a singer. Fortunately Eric Ahlberg did an outstanding job running the sound and I had a great band with me...Theo Saunders, Ryan McGillicudy and Kendall Kay. We kicked it off with Donald Kahn and Stanley Styne's A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP. The crowd was very gracious and in a festive mood. My husband Jerry joined us on guitar for a few of his original tunes, BARCELONA, IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT, and WHIRLWIND ROMANCE.

Theo Saunders and I in front of the colorful canvas.

With Ryan McGillicudy on Bass

We took a break around noon and made way for the formal program. There were very moving speeches by two people who had been able to turn their lives around with the help of VCHC programs and counseling. This is what the afternoon was all about. It was heart-warming to hear testimonials directly from the beneficiaries.

Enjoying a break with some of the VCHC's wonderful supporters.

After the break we came back for more music. By this time I was more warmed up! It was a beautiful day and the band was smoking on tunes like OUT OF THIS WORLD and LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE. Theo played terrific solos on the bossa HOW INSENSITIVE and the bluesy JUST FOR A THRILL.We ended with an up-tempo swing version of YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO that features Ryan's driving bass solo.

Theo on piano, Kendall on drums, Ryan on bass.

The brunch was over but the music festival continued with three great bands, the Luminaire's, The 44's and Allensworth. I'd like to thank Sheri Determan for taking these photos. Also thanks to Kristin Laskaris for all of her help setting up the event. It was a perfect day for a good cause and I'm so happy to have been a part of it. To learn more about the Venice Community Housing Corporation please visit their web site at www.vchcorp.org.

Why Amazon Is Unfair To Independent Musicians

2010-09-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

To Whom It May Concern:

An Independent Musicians Rant

Sony Holland's new CD 'Sanssouci' is available at CD Baby, iTunes and yes... Amazon.

Dear Amazon, I have purchased a lot of products from your site so I thought it would be great to have you sell my CDs. Unfortunately, it just isn’t working out so well. I wish I could break up with you but I am compelled to sell CDs on your site. Because you are so well-known most people assume that you are fair and reputable. They order from you no matter how hard I try to steer them to CD Baby, which is much better suited to independent musicians like myself. If I don’t “play ball” with you the only CDs of mine people will find on your site will either be used or illicit. I’m sure there are thousands (likely tens of thousands) of independent musicians who feel the same way as I do. We may not sell a lot of CDs individually, but collectively we do. However, you certainly won’t pick up the phone to address these concerns. As if the music business isn’t hard enough I am stuck in a one-sided relationship with you. So Amazon, I don’t expect you to change but I hope that at least some of my friends and fans will now understand why they should make their CD purchases at CD Baby instead. I can charge them less at CD Baby and still earn more.

1) You only pay me 50% of the sale price. Even the stingiest retailer gives me more than you do. I make even less at Amazon than I get from iTunes for selling an mp3. After all of the time, effort and money I put into recording and manufacturing a CD those are not good terms.

2) To make matters worse, that doesn’t even include the cost of mailing a CD to you. So I have to subtract another $1.00 for a padded mailer and $1.50 for postage from what I make.

3) My postage costs are unnecessarily high because it is your policy to keep an inadequate stock of CDs. I usually have to send them to you as ordered, 1 or 2 at a time. That gets very time consuming and requires extra packaging as well.

4) This one really kills me! My fans come to your site looking to buy one of my CDs. Yet you allow people who sell ‘used’ CDs of my music to compete directly with me for the sale and on the same web page! The majority of people don’t stop to think that I don’t make a penny when they purchase a used CD…and, believe me, I need the money. You should have a separate section to sell used items, like the bargain bin at a bookstore.

5) Some of these ‘used’ CDs were promo CDs that were sent to radio stations or critics who then turn them into cash. It's frustrating to compete for a sale with something I gave away. You could easily discourage this but you don’t.

6) I have put a lot of time, energy and money into updating my back catalog. Each time I’ve sold out of my original run of discs, I’ve upgraded the product before re-manufacturing it. In some cases I have re-sung the vocals, remixed the tracks and improved the packaging. Still, you display used versions of the old CDs on the same page as my updated product. Visitors to your site have no way of knowing the difference between the two versions and there is little I can do to warn them.

7) You allow some of your approved Amazon sellers to hawk my “out of print” CDs for rip-off prices. It’s upsetting when someone asks me why I’m selling an old CD for $25 - $100. They aren’t aware that I’m not the one selling it, that I won’t make a penny on it and furthermore I wanted it to go out of print because I’ve improved the quality of my product and repackaged it.

8) Another illicit thing your approved retailers do is to offer my CD to your customers for a few cents less than list price. When someone takes the bait, they order the CD through a distributor at a discount and then complete the transaction. You may say, “too bad kid, that’s just the way free market capitalism works”! But CD Baby doesn’t do this. I wish you would protect the artist instead of the middle-men, but you don't care who profits as long as you get your cut.

9) Some of the CDs that are sold on your site are of suspicious origin. I’m not sure how a “seller” can offer new Sony Holland CDs that don’t originate from me since I am the only manufacturer. Plus, who are these people that say they have my CD "in-stock" and definitely did not get it from me or a distributor. Something isn’t Kosher.

10) The entire way you interact with independent musicians is cold, impersonal and entirely one-sided. It is like dealing with a Soviet era bureaucracy when I have a question or a problem. Even your new “Artist Page” is set up very poorly. The artist can’t control what shows up front and center. Guess what shows up most prominently? Used versions of my outdated CDs! That is EXACTLY what I don’t want people to come across first.

I know this is a small gripe in a world full of real troubles but sometimes a woman just has to say what's on her mind!

Sincerely,

Sony Holland

The Songs On SANSSOUCI

2010-09-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick rundown of the songs on my upcoming CD 'Sanssouci'. Since I've opted for very minimal packaging there wasn't room to print most of this info on the jacket.

1. My Foolish Heart (V. Young, N. Washington)

This track is my tribute to Astrud Gilberto, whose voice popularized the bossa nova worldwide through songs such as "Girl From Ipanema," "Corcovado" and this one.

2. Curiosity (J. Holland)

This lovely melody is one of the first songs that Jerry wrote for me and is also influenced by Astrud's music. I confess that he stole the line, "Don't you want to kiss me," straight from my lips. I just blurted it out one evening when he was trying to play it cool.

3. Those Dancing Days Are Gone (C. Bruni, W.B. Yeats)

"I carry the sun in a golden cup, the moon in a silver bag." That line from W.B. Yeats poem grabbed me right away, and the catchy music by Carla Bruni is really sweet. We gave it a reggae feel.

4. Sanssouci (R. Wainwright)

The title track was written by the one and only Rufus Wainwright. Sanssouci was the summer palace of Frederick the Great, located in Potsdam. Jerry's hypnotic guitar and Wolf Sebastian's cello combine for some charming interplay.

5. What A Difference A Day Made (S. Adams, M. Grever)

No one tops Dinah Washington's original version. The foot pedal for the keyboard was broken the day Robbie Kondor came in to record, but he laid down a fluffy pillow of an organ track anyway!

6. Little Tune (J. Holland, A.R. Scott) I love this little tune! Jerry co-wrote it with his friend Alan Roy Scott. They were co-writers years ago when they were young rockers in NYC. Alan moved to L.A. in the 90's and got a gig writing for TAMLA, the publishing division of MOTOWN. When we first moved to SoCal the two of them got together (for the first time in 20 years) and wrote this song in one short session. I hope they don't wait another 20 to write another.

7. When I Find You (J. Holland)

This is one of my favorite songs of Jerry's. In addition to Kendal's djembe I love the bells he added. He also played udu and tambourine on this one.

8. Les Feuilles Mortes (J. Prevert, J. Kosma, J. Mercer)

This lovely arrangement features a touch of flamenco guitar, castanets and a beautiful cello solo by my dear friend, Wolf Sebastian.

9. You Don't Know What Love Is (G. de Paul, D. Raye) You don't know the true value of something until you've lost it...Amen! There have been many versions of this, including the classic by Billie Holiday.

10. You're Always With Somebody New (J. Holland) This coy tune was inspired by a friend of ours who always shows up with a new girl in his arms...a 'bad boy' indeed!

11. Too Many Beautiful Girls (J. Holland)

Everyone asks what a "Kangol crown" refers to in this lyric so here's the explanation: 'Kangol' is the brand of beret I often wear, like the one in the picture below. I have a black beret too!

12. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (E. MacColl) This has been a fan favorite at my concerts for several years. According to Wiki, the songwriter, Ewan MacColl, was an absolute folk purist. For example, he did not approve of English people singing Scottish folk songs or vice versa and reputedly hated almost all the recordings of this song, including Flack's. Hmmm...

13. My Romance (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
We chose to wrap things up the same way we started, with a simple version of a beautiful song. Sweet dreams!

The Evolution Of A Recording...

2010-06-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

I had been overdue for a new release and wanted to do something different from the traditional jazz trio, piano based recordings I've made in the past. Since I have been gigging frequently as a duo with Jerry, my guitarist/composer/husband (not necessarily in that order), we decided to do a CD that would convey the essence of what those performances have been. The two of us brainstormed on which songs to include. We even did a little "test" recording in our bathroom, the quietest room in our apartment. We picked 13 of my favorite songs that have enough variety but still fit on the same disc. I could easily fill another disc, so leaving some songs out is the toughest part...

We were ready to book Nolan Shaheed's home studio. In addition to being an excellent engineer Nolan has played trumpet with the likes of Stevie Wonder and The Count Basie Big Band. He also happens to be one of the best long distance runners in the world in his age group. Jerry started by recording his guitar tracks using a metronome to help him keep a perfect groove. Since we had also been playing some private parties in Los Angeles with our friend, cellist Sebastian Wolf, it was a natural idea to add his magical touch to a few tracks. Sebastian raced into the studio to play two songs, just before leaving on a month long trip to Europe. His playing is wonderful and adds greatly to the CD.

Next we called our friend Gary Griffin who has a home studio set up in a shed behind his house. I am very comfortable singing there even though there is no booth between the vocalist and engineer. Gary is a skilled engineer and also a keyboardist. He's worked with the Beach Boys and other legendary bands. His "shed" has pictures of him with Chuck Berry, James Brown, Brian Wilson and many other stars. We had to pause occasionally for low flying planes, noisy garbage trucks and the neighbors talkative chocolate labs, but I was able to get the vocals done in a couple of short sessions.

We took the tracks home to listen to what we had wrought. On several songs we had inadvertently left the metronome on. The funny thing is that the beat added so much to the feel that we thought, why not actually add a little conga? It wouldn't be too costly and the sound would still be warm and intimate. So we called Kendall Kay. Kendall had played live with me at Catalina's and Spazio, and I knew he was a sensitive musician who would work comfortably in the guitar/vocal setting. At this point we moved to Mark Vincent's studio in Toluca Lake. Kendall brought in a car full of assorted instruments... djembe, conga, shaker, udu, tambourine, snare, rain-stick, etc... He added his rhythms to all 13 songs within a few hours and it all sounded so good!

About that time Jerry found out that Robbie Kondor was in town playing with the James Taylor / Carol King tour. They were in the midst of a three night run at the Hollywood Bowl. Though Jerry and Robbie hadn't seen each other in 20 years they were old friends from their time in a band together in NYC. So he asked Robbie to add piano to a few tracks before the tour packed up and headed out again. To our surprise Robbie agreed. He dashed in (straight from the Hollywood Bowl) and played on eight of the CDs thirteen tracks.

By this point we had developed a really good relationship with engineer Mark Vincent. Mark's dad is Don Vincent, who has been the musical director and band leader for Wayne Newton since the Reagan administration. Mark has grown up around music and is a terrific engineer and a really nice guy too. We all agreed that now the tracks had a great beat and some colorful piano, and what they really needed was a bass to pull it all together. So Mark turned us on to David Hughes. David tours with David Benoit and he has also released several CDs of his own music. He is originally from Sweden but has become a sought after studio musician in Los Angeles. David brought 3 basses; an upright, a Fender Precision and a five string fretless. We really enjoyed the day he came in and played on 12 of the 13 tracks. He would listen down to a track once, pick his bass of choice, and record a terrific part in one or two passes.

The whole project had undergone quite a transformation and Jerry knew his original guitar tracks would have to be replaced. So he re-recorded them, this time playing along with the percussion, bass, piano and vocals instead of just the monotonous metronome. And that's how the project evolved from a sparse guitar/vocal recording to a full combo of percussion, piano, bass, guitar and cello. The remarkable thing is that it sounds like a terrific band performing together live. And you can tell that everyone is having a great time!

We've finished the recording stage and the project is currently being mixed by our friend Brendan Harkin in Nashville. It will be released later this year. I can't wait...

Updates from my mini-blog...

2010-04-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

I am adding a few of the "news" updates from my website homepage for archival purposes...

News: Back from San Francisco: Tue, Apr 20th, 2010 I'm back from a splendid reunion in San Francisco. After a 6 month absence it was so gratifying to feel all of the love and support from friends and fans. I didn't expect for people to be spilling out the door of Cafe Divine and onto the streets of North Beach, but then again I've had so many memorable nights performing there. Thanks so much to everyone who made it a special evening. I miss you already! I've just posted my April/May schedule for the lovely Left Coast Wine Bar in Glendale. The LCWB is a friendly venue with a relaxed atmosphere... perfect for wine, art, music and friends. I hope to see you there! photo: David Wright at Cafe Divine

News: Spazio and Desert Cities: Mon, Apr 12th, 2010 This past weekends gigs at Spazio in Sherman Oaks and Vicky’s in Indian Wells both left me with a satisfied glow. My trio really sparkled at Spazio, and when Jerry jumped in for a few songs on guitar it added a wonderful color to the mix. Kendall Kay had never seen my charts before but he played as if he’s been my drummer for years. I felt all of the elements of a good show coalesce… A good set list, an outstanding band, an excellent stage, clear sound and a receptive audience. Having all of that working for me makes it a pure pleasure to sing and perform. The sets at Vicky’s in Palm Springs were excellent too. Allen Goodman and the Desert Cities Jazz Band have put together a great series and their audience is attentive and gracious. I look forward to a return engagement. I will celebrate my birthday this Tuesday by performing with my favorite guitarist at the Left Coast Wine Bar. On Friday we’ll play Café Divine in San Francisco. I can’t wait to see so many of my wonderful friends there. It’s been too long! Flower in the desert. Photo by Patricia Grey

News: Earthquake in Baja: Sunday, April 4, 2010 We had quite a scare from the earthquake in Baja on Easter Sunday. The windows were rattling, lamps were shaking and the whole building was swaying. For a moment there I thought my gig last week at Charlie O's was going to be my last one ever! Fortunately things calmed down. So my duo will play TONIGHT (Tuesday) at the Left Coast Wine Bar. Then next few days I have recording sessions and on Friday I'll play at Spazio's for the first time. I'll be joined Theo Saunders, Chris Conner and Kendall Kay on piano, bass and drums. On Sunday I head to Palm Springs for a gig at Vicky's with the Desert Cities Jazz Band which should be a ton of fun. Hopefully the only rocking will come from the band!

Music Review: Sony has recipe for soothing soul
By Liana Aghajanian Friday, March 19, 2010 10:11 PM PDT

In a corner of Left Coast Wine Bar and Gallery’s cozy second floor, Sony Holland flooded the room with her dipped-in-honey voice and cool, collected attitude on a stress-free Friday night. Dressed in black, the singer, with her guitarist husband, Jerry, accompanying her, chit-chatted with patrons between sets as they unwound in one of Glendale’s hidden gems.
Her new twists on classic standards, coupled with original songs, attracted not only cheers from her small audience but prompted those who were eavesdropping on her set downstairs to move themselves (and their wine) onto the sectional couches. “I’ve been listening downstairs,” said one patron who made her way upstairs during the middle of Holland’s 3 1/2 -hour performance. “It’s fabulous.” Holland’s renditions of the original French classic “Autumn Leaves,” Americanized by Johnny Mercer in the late 1940s, was luscious and perfectly on par with the relaxing mood of the evening. It was followed up by another favorite, “The Way You Look Tonight.” Her original songs were just as apt, including “Barcelona” and “Curiosity,” in which Holland sang in the glow of the low red lights that surrounded her on the second floor. Holland took a short break, where she mixed with patrons and absorbed the ambiance of the night. And in a quaint wine bar, where a few drinks and appetizers were enjoyed on a relaxing Friday night, Glendale gained some serious soul. for full story see: http://glendalenewspress.com/articles/2010/03/20/entertainment/gnp-singer032010.txt

The Duo a/k/a "dos Hollands"

2010-02-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Upstairs at the artsy Left Coast Wine Bar is a very elegant and cozy setting for my duo to perform. My husband Jerry, songwriter by trade, accompanies me on the guitar. Of course I've had to train him:-)

Click on the song title to hear an audio track from our new demo.
MY FOOLISH HEART
By Victor Young and Ned Washington.

While you are listening please check out some of the wonderful art
that hangs on the walls of the Wine Bar...

Sandra Jones Campbell: URBAN ANGELS

Fillipo Iaco: CARNIVAL

Corno: FACE ON GOLD

Our upcoming dates @ the Left Coast Wine Bar are:
Tuesday, February 16th
Tuesday, February 23rd
Friday, March 12th
Tuesday, March16th
Friday, March 26th
Tuesday, March 30th
We hope to see you there....

Photos from Steamers & the Culver Club

2010-02-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am preparing some new posts but in the meanwhile I'd like to share a few photos from the Culver Club and Steamers. Thanks to Terence Love and Terry Dudley for sending the photos. See my previous post for a little background information on each of the musicians.

The only person I hadn't done a gig with before was guitarist Larry Koonse. As I expected he is a pleasure to work with and an incredible player. We liked him so much that Jerry and I went out to see his trio at the Blue Whale this past Saturday night. What a treat!

The pics below are: 1. The band @ Steamers...What a fun place to play. We'll be back there soon. 2. Larry and I during Autumn Leaves. 3. During Larry's solo... 4. John B. is always having fun playing the bass. 5. The band takes a bow at the Culver Club.

My Band @ Culver's & Steamers

2010-01-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

My band for the Culver's Club on January 29th & Steamers on February 5th will be:

Theo Saunders, piano

John B. Williams, bass

Larry Koonse, guitar @ Culver City
Steve Cotter, guitar @ Steamer's
Tony Austin, drums

I am very excited to be working with this great group of musicians. For those of you who aren't familiar with them here is a little background info.

Theo Saunders and I worked together for the first time at Catalina's in late October and it was a pleasure from start to finish. Maybe we get along well because we both spent time as street musicians! He is a wonderful accompanist and also a comrade. I truly appreciate that. Jerry and I met Theo after catching his sextet at Vibrato's, Herb Alpert's club in Bel Air. We were both excited by the passion and sense of storytelling behind each piece they played. Theo introduced an original song titled "When The Saints Go Out," a very cool tune that recalls the havoc of Hurricane Katrina - and also a jazzified "16 Tons" with all of the weight of the sextets horn section. His compositions, arrangements and leadership all highlight the groups teamwork while encouraging each band member to shine. The sextet is terrific and if you like instrumental jazz you'll dig this band. Here is a link to Theo's website: theosaunders.com

John B. Williams is not only the consummate bassist, but also a wonderful presence on-stage and off. Having studied with Ron Carter he then joined the Horace Silver Quintet. He worked with Doc Severinson and the Tonight Show band for seven years and later on the Arsenio Hall Show. I first saw John B. with one of my all-time favorite singers, Nancy Wilson. He has played in her band since 1976. I am extraordinarily proud to have him in the band once again. His website is very much worth checking out: www.johnbwilliams.com

Tony Austin is the youngest member of the group, but he is already an "in demand" musician. He was mentored by the late Billy Higgins who took Tony under his wing and hired him as his “first call” substitute. Tony is a member of the Theo Saunders Sextet and many other diverse musical groups. http://www.tonyaustindrums.com

Larry Koonse This will be my first time working with Larry and I'm really looking forward to it. He has toured with Mel Torme, Terry Gibbs, John Patitucci, Karrin Allyson, Billy Childs and many others. He has recorded with Cleo Laine, Al Hirt, Jimmy Rowles, Lee Konitz, Larry Goldings, Alan Broadbent, Ray Brown, Bill Perkins, Toots Thielemanns, Rod Stewart, Clay Jenkins, Linda Ronstadt, David Friesen, Bob Sheppard, Charlie Haden and many other jazz artists. http://www.jazzcompass.com/lar_bio.html

Steve Cotter I had the pleasure of working with Steve at the Catalina in October. It's hard to find him in town since he has been touring all over the world with vocalist with Steve Tyrell since 2005. In addition he's toured with Bobby Caldwell and performed with such notables as Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy Smith, John Pisano, Ernie Watts, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, and Ramon Banda. http://www.lajazzcollective.com/page2/page18/page18.html

New Song!

2010-01-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a brand new song to start out 2010 with.

Words & Music by Jerry Holland & Alan Roy Scott

Click the title to hear our song demo. I hope you enjoy it!

LITTLE TUNE
J. Holland & A.R. Scott c. 2009
Pub. Heebalibra Music & A.R. Scott Music, BMI

Sad little tune

Little lonely tune

You have no words for me to sing
So I'll hum along

Hum along for all the joy

Your melody will bring

And note by note

I'll get to know you well

All of the dreams

Your song was born to tell

So sweet samba don't be blue

You'll have lyrics made just for you...

Sad little tune

Little lonely tune

What do you really want to say?

Cause I believe deep inside

You're a shining star

That the world will love someday

And on a quiet night when I can hear you

I will write the rhymes to cheer you

Sad little tune

What a lovely song you are...

Farewell 2009

2009-12-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

I freely admit to being envious of the vocalists who lived during the heyday of jazz clubs, back when touring wasn't so expensive. I have to hustle to find audiences anywhere I can... some jazz festivals and county fairs, classy nightclubs and dives, senior centers, cafes, weddings, on the street, etc. All of these gigs take a ton of preparation. It's supposed to look easy on-stage even when you're working with different bands, new material, questionable sound systems, traveling all day, wearing slippery heels, you name it. But I love the opportunity to sing for people, especially when I can move them with a song. Here is a recap of some of my favorite gigs this past year.

At the start of 2009 I was living in the Bay Area and had performed the National Anthem several times for the San Francisco Giants. Through a referral I began singing the anthem at Stanford Men's & Women's Basketball games in January. It was fun to experience the enthusiasm and spirit of college sports. February marked my last Valentine's Day show at KRML in Carmel. It closed not long afterwards. Jerry & I performed there as a duo and we also played a benefit for the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation at the beautiful old Post Street Theater. It was fun to hang out with Tuck & Patti backstage, among others. Another benefit concert I performed in was the 1st Rrazz Room Anniversary Gala with Rita Moreno, Paul Williams, Petula Clark, Freda Payne and disco diva Linda Clifford. That was shortly after the big dust-up between Etta James & Beyonce over who had the right to sing "At Last" at President Obama's inaugural ball. The Rrazz folks had asked me to sing "At Last" for their gala, so I'm just glad Etta James wasn't in the house!

The Marin JCC asked me to put together a "themed" show around well-known Jewish Songwriters. It went well and during the year I performed that show at several other JCC's and also recently at the Gardenia in Los Angeles. I played The Rrazz Room with my band for a week in April. In spite of the recession, Easter, Passover, etc...we had good turnouts and really nice reviews.

One morning in May I was surprised to find my picture on the front page of the New York Times website. I was part of a feature about how different people in the arts were dealing with the recession. That's an easy topic for me because it's always a recession for jazz musicians. In 2009 the well paying gigs for corporate parties nearly evaporated. I did a handful of private events in Napa and San Francisco but not nearly as many as the year before. Many independent musicians have had to work doubly hard to replace that "event" income.

One of my longest running and most enjoyable gigs in San Francisco started as a very low key affair with my duo. Sunday nights at Cafe Divine in North Beach were a real hit with my fans and friends. Owner David Wright, his brother Wade and the entire staff were so friendly and supportive that it became our "home." When we moved to Los Angeles we decided to have our "goodbye SF" concert there, and it was so jammed we reprised it 3 more times.

Through the summer we started looking for a place in Los Angeles. After settling in downtown L.A. we still had a lot of gigs in SF. We got very familiar with Interstate 5. One of the last gigs I had with my Bay Area band was at the San Jose Jazz Festival in August. Benny Watson, Seward McCain, David Rokeach and Jeff Buenz had been my nucleus for so many shows over the past 6 years. I'm glad we got to do it again. At that festival I also met Llew Mathews and Denise Donatelli.

In September I had a great time singing with the Jazz Arts Group Big Band in Fargo, where I graduated from High School. There were so many old friends and family members in the audience. From there I drove to Minneapolis for a gig at the well-known Dakota Jazz Club.

It wasn't until October that I could stick around long enough to feel like an Angeleno. I went out as much as I could to hear the L.A. singers and musicians. The depth and level of the talent here is a real turn-on for me. I met the incredibly gifted pianist, Theo Saunders, after his show at Vibrato's. For my gig at the Catalina Jazz Club in late October, Theo put together a 'killer' band for me including John B. Williams, Steve Cotter and Tony Austin. I look forward to many more gigs with them in 2010.

Remembering KRML

2009-12-05T10:18:00.001-08:00

2009 saw the doors close on one of my favorite jazz venues to perform in. The KRML Jazz & Blues Company was a one-of-a-kind spot that combined three jazz related businesses... a radio station, a retail store and a concert hall.

Located in the heart of Carmel-By-The-Sea, KRML was the last remaining commercial 24-hour jazz station in the USA. The DJ booth sat behind a large plate glass window which faced the street, so charmed passers-by could watch the DJ's in the act of broadcasting.

The retail shop sold hard to find CDs, hand-crafted African instruments, and the most interesting jazz art-work and memorabilia that owner Dave Kimball could find. From time to time, Clint Eastwood would drop by to play the baby grand piano that sat in the back of the shop. All of the retail fixtures were built on wheels and several times a month they were rolled out and replaced with several rows of seating. The shop quickly morphed into a cozy concert venue.

I played there eight or nine times over the past several years. I performed every Valentine's Day for the past three years. It all started when DJ Don Bowen happened to see me singing at Pier 39 in San Francisco. It took him 2 years to convince the other folks at KRML that "some chick singer busking on the streets" might actually be good enough to play there. KRML had a great history with performances by Diana Krall, Karrin Allyson, and many other big name vocalists but they finally broke down and gave me a date! The first show went well and they kept inviting me back. We sold out the tiny place (70 seats) every time. Playing the room will always be a special memory for me. I'm sorry I won't get to play there in 2010.

PS. The KRML radio station (1410AM) is now broadcasting part time from a different location and is trying to make a comeback! Tune in if you're driving through the Carmel/Monterey area.

Lainie Kazan @ The Catalina

2009-11-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

My last post was about Nancy Wilson, and I've seen some other great veteran performers since moving to Los Angeles including Ernie Andrews and Bill Henderson. The other night I also had the opportunity to catch Lainie Kazan's gig at the Catalina.

This picture of the two of us was taken at the 1st Year Anniversary Party for the Rrazz Room in SF. I must have been holding the drink for her :-)

Lainie is an amazing performer. She got her first big break as an understudy to Barbara Streisand on Broadway. The day Babs finally got too sick to go on (after over a year & a half of shows) there happened to be quite a few reviewers in the audience. It turns out that they were all alerted by Lainie's Mom. Way to go Mom!

One Of My All Time Favs

2009-11-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

I love having this photo taken with Nancy Wilson, one of my favorite singers. I've seen her perform twice, once at Yoshi's in Oakland, and once at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. It's always very special to witness the greats who pack so much into every note and gesture.

You will enjoy checking out this great video of Ms. Wilson singing one of her signature songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaNukIE5ToU

Ms. Wilson still performs with the same wonderful band:

Llew Mathews, piano: John B. Williams, bass: Roy McCurdy, drums.

Big Band Gig

2009-11-22T13:31:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed being back in Fargo to sing with the Jazz Arts Group Big Band. It had taken weeks of preparation to get ready for the 1 hour show. Getting charts made for the band is really difficult and of course, I never got to rehearse with them until the day of the concert. It all went so well, and it was a little surreal when Mayor Walaker proclaimed it "Sony Holland Day" in Fargo! That caught me completely by surprise...

The Look Of Love

http://www.youtube.com/user/VanNessVideo#p/u/9/jQ4-nXkSb2A

The Mayor's Proclamation

http://www.youtube.com/user/VanNessVideo#p/u/2/JSaCSroZ4oc

Brand new to Blogger, 1st test post!.

2009-11-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

Trying out blogger for the first time.
http://www.sonyholland.com

By way of introduction I'll post this photo of me from a show at Yoshi's in Oakland. That's Charles McNeil playing the sax in the background. He's one of my favorite musicians. We played together a lot when I lived in the Bay Area. Now that I'm in Los Angeles, I was really happy to hear that Charles will be relocating here soon as well.

Here is his website. Sax players will want to check it out for sure as he has some great technical materials posted there:
http://charlesmcneal.com

Thanks for visiting!
Sony

Sony Holland, vocalist.

Photo Gallery: Vitello's

Jan. 26th @ Vitello's

Live Shots:

What's On My Shelves...

Video: When I Find You

Non-Stop To Brazil (guitar/vocal)

Video: Stanford Jazz Festival @ Oshman JCC

Guitar/Vocal 2:

New Vocal/Guitar Track: Two Sleepy People

A Piano Trio: Theo Saunders, Shota Osabe & Ted Rosenthal

Twin Cities Daily Planet Review

MUSIC | Sony Holland's "Sanssouci"

@ Kuumbwa & the Rrazz Room

Some New Press Items:

Harrington: Jazz singer Sony Holland back in Bay Area with new CD

A New Review:

Musicians: Part One

Pasadena Weekly Article...

Sophisticated Lady

Jazz stylist Sony Holland and hubby/guitarist Jerry Holland return to Left Coast Wine Bar

House Concert

Sanssouci News

Venice Community Housing Corporation

Why Amazon Is Unfair To Independent Musicians

The Songs On SANSSOUCI

The Evolution Of A Recording...

Updates from my mini-blog...

I am adding a few of the "news" updates from my website homepage for archival purposes...

Music Review: Sony has recipe for soothing soul By Liana Aghajanian Friday, March 19, 2010 10:11 PM PDT

The Duo a/k/a "dos Hollands"

Photos from Steamers & the Culver Club

My Band @ Culver's & Steamers

New Song!

Farewell 2009

Remembering KRML

Lainie Kazan @ The Catalina

One Of My All Time Favs

Big Band Gig

Brand new to Blogger, 1st test post!.

Music Review: Sony has recipe for soothing soul
By Liana Aghajanian Friday, March 19, 2010 10:11 PM PDT