Antoinette Montague

Antoinette Montague
Residence Connecticut
Nationality United States
Occupation Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Singer
Website http://www.antoinettemontague.com/

Antoinette Mongague is an American Jazz and Rhythm and blues singer. She performs in many of the major jazz clubs, and music venues in New York tri-state area. Her style is said to be bold and brassy. She sings many Jazz standards, slow blues, uptempo swing, Gospel music, R&B, bossa nova and what has been called 'pretty blues', styles. She has been noted to be in the class of jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. She has performed all over the world.[1][2] She has created the Jazz Woman to the Rescue Foundation, and a super hero "Jazz Woman", a project to bring jazz and art to schools and communities. She is known to bring jazz masters together for performances. [3] Ms. Montague says that she sings "people music"". She is known to push the boundaries of jazz and blues. She sings new and old classic jazz and blues songs. She even blends in gospel, R&B, classic soul, pop, Bossa nova, and does what she calls hip bop. And, is known to be able to take a song from any genre and jazz it up, or to blend in her various influences. Her deep belief is that jazz can be made to be appreciated by the general public. [4]

Early life

Montague was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. She grew up in a musical household. She is the youngest of 7 children. Her introduction to jazz was through her mother, who sang like Ella Fitzgerald. She grew up listening to her mother, Nat King Cole, Paul Robeson, Louis Armstrong, the Ink Spots, and Motown Sounds. Growing up her father would take her to the Newark Public Library where she would listen to many great jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. She is not shy about taking non jazz and blues tunes and turning them into jazz or blue style. She is known to be inspired not only by many Jazz legends but concerned about issues such as civil and human rights. Which inspired her to start the Jazz Woman to the Rescue Foundation. Her foundation's goal is to encourage and to mentor other artists and the public to donate their old instruments and art supplies to schools and communities in need of art and music programs. She is a protege of Etta Jones. [5][6]

She sang in High School for her high school graduation. She attended Seton Hall University. She also sang with a Gospel choir growing up. Her early singing performances were at the Peppermint Lounge in East Orange, New Jersey.[7]

Mentors that have influenced Antoinette are vocalists Etta Jones, Carrie Smith, Della Griffin, and Myrna Lake. [8] [9][10]

Music career

Antoinette's mentors in the early days of her career were vocalists Etta Jones, and Carrie Smith.[11] She has performed with notable musicians in jazz and blues such as; Benny Powell, Stanhope, Wycliffe Gordon, Bobby Sanabria, Danny Mixon, Lisle Atkinson, Christopher McBride, Solomon Hicks. Red Holloway, Frank Wess, Mulgrew Miller, Winard Harper, Victor Jones, Bernard Purdie, Paul Bollenback, Zeke Mullins, Tootsie Bean, John di Martino, Earl May and with international musicians Warren Vache, and Bucky Pizzarelli. [12] She is known for revamping classic Jazz standards. Musicians who she has worked regularly with in New York; Bill Easley, Norman Simmons, Winard Harper, Wycliff Gordon, Frank Wess, Duke Ellington Orhestra, Mike Longos New York State of the Arts Orchestra.

Headlining her own performances she has performed for Jazzmobile, Birdland with Duke Ellington Band, Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club-Cola, the Blue Note, and at concert halls and Jazz Standard clubs. She performed in 2010 with the 46-piece Ashdod Orchestra in Israel, and has also performed internationally with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra in Russia.[13]

Musicians Studio Recordings Antoinette Montague has recorded with;

Other Noted Musicians Performed With;

Current work

The Jazz Drama Program

Albums

Pretty Blues, 2006 by Consolidated Artists Productions in 2006

Behind the Smile, 2010

World Peace in the Key of Jazz

Jazz Woman to the Rescue

Record labels

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/antoinette-montague-mn0002044582
  2. ↑ http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2014/03/antoinette_montague_newark.html
  3. ↑ http://www.jazzsingers.com/WhatsHappening/AllAboutJazzNewYork_may_2010.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/antoinette-montagues-new-cd-behind-the-smile-continues-to-garner-rave-reviews-141830.php
  5. ↑ http://www.axs.com/interview-with-jazz-and-blues-artist-and-activist-antoinette-montague-105120#slide=1
  6. ↑ http://www.forkedrivergazette.com/event/newark-born-vocalist-and-jazz-singer-antoinette-montague/
  7. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/antoinette-montague-mn0002044582
  8. ↑ http://patch.com/new-york/mountvernonny/antoinette-montague-wrap-jazz-society-season
  9. ↑ http://www.axs.com/interview-with-jazz-and-blues-artist-and-activist-antoinette-montague-105120
  10. ↑ https://artswestchester.org/events/pjs-second-sunday-jazz-14/
  11. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/27/arts/music/carrie-smith-singer-in-black-and-blue-dies-at-86.html?_r=0
  12. ↑ http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/event/summerstage-charlie-parker-jazz-festival-jason-lindner-breeding-ground/
  13. ↑ http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Antoinette-Montague-to-Perform-at-NY-Bahai-Center-514-20130511
  14. ↑ http://www.antoinettemontague.com/

External links

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