Christie Grace

Artist Information

Biography

CHRISTIE GRACE BIO

PAUL SHAFFER MUSIC DIRECTOR DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW

“Christie Grace has a sound that washes over you like sweet honey and fine wine. Every song is as beautiful to listen to as she is to look at…Christie Grace has it all”

PERFORMING SONGWRITER MAGAZINE- Russell Hall
" Grace’s “brushed velvet” voice is the focal instrument on this fine CD. Good things are sometimes worth waiting for”.

Poised to record her 3rd album, Christie is excited about the new musical direction that has evolved over the last few years, with pianist Chris Gestrin.

Born in Thunder Bay ON, into a talented family where music is bred in the soul, Christie Grace McCullough aspired to her father John McCullough’s stature as a well known big band /jazz singer. The natural starting point was her older brother Murray’s popular bands, Bay St Blues & Blue Shadows with Rodney Brown, Ari Lahdekorpi, Ken Hamm and Paul Hesse.

From her early beginnings, Christie’s diverse musical experiences have grown into an unconventional roots/jazz style. A turning point in her music came when Christie moved to the bustling artistic community of Bowen Island, BC. Her gospel solo in the popular Vancouver “Magic Of Christmas Show” led to meeting saxophonist/arranger Bill Runge. She collaborated with Bill through both her first and second CD releases. Soon she was performing along side west coast alumni Shari Ulrich, Valdy, Doug Cox, Yvonne McSkimming, Melanie Dekker and Coco Love Alcorn. She also began working with acclaimed pianist Chris Gestrin while studying jazz vocals at Capilano University with Kate Hammett Vaughan and Steve Maddock. This led to further study with the jazz legend Bob Murphy, Jennifer Scott and Sheila Jordan.

Prior to her acclaimed debut CD “Late Bloomer” in 2000, Christie won a song writing award with North Shore News that led to a concert appearance headlined by Spirit of the West and a showcase at New Music West. Her successful Joni Mitchell Retrospective at the Jazz Cellar followed a sponsorship with the Vancouver Sun Jazz Concert Series.

Christie’s second CD “Contemplation” brought the heady opportunity to record with Paul Shaffer, Musical Director of the David Letterman Show in New York. She has been featured on THE TRAVEL GUYS, URBAN RUSH, CBC HOT AIR, VINYL CAFE, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, DISC DRIVE, ET CANADA & CTV and in 2008 won two Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards as best BC Jazz Vocalist and BC Songwriter.

Christie has steadfastly earned a reputation as a gifted chanteuse selling out shows and performing with some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians including Jodi Proznick and Bill Coon, Rene Worst, Miles Black, André Lachance, Stan Keen, Sharon Minemoto, Tania Hencheroff, Raphael Geronimo, Jesse Zubot, Bill Sample and Brian Tate’s: Soul City Gospel Choir.

Christie creates a level of intimacy within her music that can only stem from her personal experiences. Following in her family heritage, Christie offers a window into her heart, as she shares her unique insights and life lessons with her many fans.

Instrumentation

Chris Gestrin - Piano, Keyboards/
James Dandefer - Woodwinds
Daryl Jahnke - Guitar
Joel Fountain - Drums
André Lachance - Bass

Discography

Christie Grace's debut pop/jazz/Latin CD Late Bloomer released in 2001 met with international critical acclaim. This album was worth the wait. The musical love story sung with Christie's pure smooth vocals opened the doors to many new opportunites and stages.The collection of twelve songs begins with her signature self portrait Late Bloomer, that touches a universal chord, Come To Rest, takes you on a journey of love and loss in a poignant song of her Father and soulful new beginnings with Ashley's Lullaby.

Christie followed with her triumphant second release in 2007 Contemplation which swung into the jazz/pop feel with West Coast Girl, that celebrates the journey to her ocean home, Meet Me in Maui an upbeat romantic pop duet performed with Dave Steele, Fly Me Away, which elegantly expresses regret and sorrow, Inner Voice speaks about listening to one's intuition with a world beat groove, and Be Yourself' an empowering personal philosophy and . Along with a mystical version of Woodstock and Both Sides Now from her Joni Mitchell Retrospective the extraordinary talent and sincerity of the songs and music in this CD are unmistakable.

Contemplation is currently receiving airplay nationally across Canada (CBC) US and Japan where it is also distributed on many smooth jazz stations.

Current Airplay of Contemplation :
Fly Me Away, Woodstock, Meet Me In Maui, West Coast Girl and Moon River

Late Bloomer : Late Bloomer & Soul Mate Tango , Come To Rest, Softly.

Official Website

http://www.christiegracemusic.com

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• West Coast Girl
  Listen   Download
• Steel & Porcelain
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• Both Sides Now
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• Meet Me In Maui
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• Fly Me Away
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• Time Won't Wait
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• Woodstock
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• Moon River
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• Be Yourself
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• Late Bloomer
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• West Coast Girl
• Meet Me In Maui
• Time Won't Wait
• Steel & Porcelain
• Be Yourself
• Fly Me Away
• Inner Voice
• Late Bloomer
• Flying towards the Sun
• He Lays Me Down

Video

ET Canada Segment

New song exerpts.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• 2008 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards [+ Show ]
  

  Christie Grace wins in two categories: Best Provincial Jazz Song - Meet Me In Maui Best Provinc...Christie Grace wins in two categories:
  
  Best Provincial Jazz Song - Meet Me In Maui
  Best Provincial Artist of the Year!

• 2008 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards [+ Show ]
  

  Christie Grace's CD Contemplation has been nominated in the 2008 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards i...Christie Grace's CD Contemplation has been nominated in the 2008 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards in three categories!
  
  Best Provincial Jazz CD
  
  Best Provincial Jazz Song: Meet Me in Maui
  
  Best Provincial Artist.

• A Creative Duet /April 2007 [+ Show ]
  

  "Her music is elegant and intimate- a tender waltz in front of a warm fire, a rich merlot whose flav..."Her music is elegant and intimate- a tender waltz in front of a warm fire, a rich merlot whose flavor is enhanced by the ambient glow of candlelight"
  
  " My heart is my most prized possession". And truly it is her heart you'll feel in the rhythms of her songs.
  
  Shelly Charleston

• Christie Grace Enthralls Audience [+ Show ]
  

  On Thursday, Oct 25, at Christie Grace's CD Release Concert at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre I...On Thursday, Oct 25, at Christie Grace's CD Release Concert at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre I experienced an evening of such musical magic and brilliance that I find myself still in awe. Surrounded by six of the most stellar musicians on the jazz scene today ( Chris Gestrin, Daryle Jahnke, Pepe Danza, Jodi Proznick, Vince Mai, Dave Robbins, and guest vocalist David Steele), Christie's voice carried us on a sonic journey with its with its exquisite depth and range. By turns intimate, playful, haunting and mesmerizing, this remarkable voice was supported by instrumental grooves that were equally stunning.
  Christie, these words are for you:
  I have known you and have followed your singing career for many years. I have greatly enjoyed all your concerts and have always loved the sound of your voice. I wasn't prepared to be astonished.............the entire audience was in thrall. You sang your soul out, you were radiant, your instrument never more breathtakingly beautiful. Your interpretation of "Woodstock" is a masterpiece. (I overheard someone at intermission say "Joni Mitchell would pay to hear HER") You moved us from toe-tapping to tears (and, according to one concert-goer "into the 4th dimension"). The words "uplifting", "superb", "world-class", "soulful", "astounding" echoed up and down
  the line-up to the refreshment bar and into the foyer..................the place was abuzz with delight.
  Kudos to you, Christie. Your performance at the VECC is testament to the esteem in which you are held by some of the finest musicians around. (I'm certain Henry Mancini would have paid to hear you sing "Moon River"!) It is testament to your indomitable spirit, hard-work, and your willingness to risk and explore new musical ground. Your new CD "Contemplation" (kudos as well to Bill Runge, who produced it) is gorgeous. Consider this a review from the collective, from all of us who were so deeply touched by your musical soul that evening. We wish you every success.
  Elaine Taylor
  

• UPBEAT [+ Show ]
  

  UPBEAT VMA NEWSLETTER Bob Hales Review Dec 2007 Jazz is a very expressive idiom and Jazz voc...UPBEAT
  VMA NEWSLETTER
  
  Bob Hales Review Dec 2007
  Jazz is a very expressive idiom
  and Jazz vocalist/ composer
  Christie Grace expresses herself
  extremely well in her latest
  CD release “Contemplation.” She
  shows a broad range of emotions
  in this her latest effort. Overall I
  would describe her voice as being
  swingin’, sultry, haunting and
  delicate at moments during her
  varied selection of songs. Her pitch
  is immaculate and it has been a
  long time since I have heard someone sing a jazz ballad so beautifully and at a perfect jazz tempo.
  
  Christie’s compositions offer more
  than a few pensive moments as
  well as well as lighter fair as in
  her original “West Coast Girl.” Six
  more of her originals are dressed
  up in swing, jazz waltz, latin and
  bossa nova idioms. She performs
  five standards on this CD and
  most notably is her treatment of
  Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”
  and “Woodstock”. “Moon River”
  features Christie’s good friend on
  piano and synth harmonica, the
  one and only David Letterman’s
  Paul Shaffer. This CD is an exceptional and well thought out jazz production and kudos to producers Bill Runge and Christie for their artistic contributions. Jazz accompaniment is provided on various cuts by keyboardists Chris Gestrin and Michael Creber, percussionist/flautist Jose Pepe Danza, trumpeter Vince Mai and on all tracks by guitarist Daryl Jahnke, bassist Jodi Proznik and drummer Dave Robbins. To purchase this CD go towww.christiegracemusic.com
  

• CG Concert a Magical Event [+ Show ]
  

  May 02, 2008 There were two big stars at the house concert held on Saturday, April 19. The...May 02, 2008
  
  
  There were two big stars at the house concert held on Saturday, April 19. The first was the Christie Grace Quintet and the second was the award-winning Mackey House, designed by local architect Frits de Vries.
  
  More than 140 people came together to hear the professional and enchanting music of Christie Grace, supported by her jazz ensemble of guitar, drums, double-bass and piano. The piano, played by hostess Maureen Mackey when she was a child, was part of the impetus for the exciting concert. After years of neglect, the piano was lovingly restored over a period of three years by Bowen’s master keyboard craftsman, Sigurd Sabathil. Sabathil suggested that the restoration should be celebrated by a concert.
  
  

• Christie's voice carried us on a [+ Show ]
  

  'Christie's voice carried us on a sonic journey with its exquisite depth and range. By turns intima...'Christie's voice carried us on a sonic journey with its exquisite depth and range. By turns intimate, playful, haunting and mesmerizing, this remarkable voice was supported by instrumental grooves that were equally stunning' Elaine Taylor, Oct 2007
  

• I too lost my mother and brother [+ Show ]
  

  'I too lost my mother and brother recently. I realize I am still in the grieving process for your so...'I too lost my mother and brother recently. I realize I am still in the grieving process for your song made me cry. But you made me aware that there was a gift for me too. Thank you for the realization that there is always a gift along with sorrow but one must look for it and treasure it along with the loving memories.' In response to performance of "Fly Me Away" by a fan April 19, 2008

Setlist

2- 45 min sets

Set 1
1 West Coast Girl
2 Steel and Porcelain
3 Both Sides Now
4 Meet Me in Maui
5 Fly Me Away
6 Late Bloomer
7 Inner Voice

Set 2
1 Woodstock
2 Soul Mate Tango
3 Moon River
4 For Once In My Life
5 Be Yourself
6 Counting Your Blessing
7 Time Won't Wait


Depending on the gig I add complementary jazz standards or I add more songs from Late Bloomer.

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Christie Grace & Band:RIDER

Calendar