Ayanna Hobson
San Diego, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
'BLUES BY THE BAY FESTIVAL 2006'
EUREKA CA.
"Ayanna Hobson's Performance Was The Best Of The Festival...It Was Amazing."
Cliff Berkowitz - VP Operations KHUM 104.7 - 104.3 FM
- KHUM 104.7 FM
"AYANNA & THE SOULMATES CD 'Looking For A Home Too', Is The Most Soulful Music Ever To Come Out Of Phoenix",
'Bob Corritore KJZZ 91.5 FM, Mesa AZ.'
- KJZZ 91.5 FM Mesa, AZ
"The Songs, Music and Lyrics of AYANNA & THE SOULMATES CD 'LOOKING FOR A HOME TOO' all tell a story, and AYANNA'S Vocals Are Just As Dynamic As One Of My Favorite Entertainers KOKO TAYLOR".
'Bill Wagner KZUM 89.3 FM. LINCOLN NE.'
- Bill Wagner-KZUM Lincoln, NE
“............ most of the numbers are knocked out of the park by Hobson, who’s an IARP regular, a charming presence with a multi-octave vocal range. Okay, she doesn’t have the full-on chops of The Divine One, but who does? Her smoky, sultry lows are especially resonant, but in songs like the show-ending “Sassy Blues,” she swoops and glissandos from the top to the bottom of her range, scatting along the way. Terrific! She nails a good deal of Vaughan’s signature ornamentation and bluesy/jazzy variations on melody. Sometimes she sings a capella, sometimes just with the piano and or drums or even bass....”
“Ayanna Hobson, who’d done such a knockout job as Ella in IARP’s last production, “Raisin’ the Rent,” reportedly “excused herself from the role to let someone whose voice sounds more like Ella’s” to take it on. But Hobson has the moxie and charisma, and the amazing scatting ability that steals the show.”
“ ……. other galvanic performers are the l the dynamo Ayanna Hobson, a scat-phenom with a 4 ½ octave range, as Ella Fitzgerald.”
.
- Pat Launer - Center Stage/KJZZ San Diego
"Stand-out performances included, "You Can Have My Husband" & "Keep Sittin' On it" by singer Ayanna Hobson. - Voice & Viewpoint - San Diego, CA
"AYANNA Is One Of The Best Singers I`ve Heard In Some Years", 'Kjell Andreassen, Radio Holstebro 97.4, Denmark.' - Radio Hosltebro 97.4- Denmark
Ayanna Hobson is pure dynamism in motion. She delivers her vocals with the confidence and pleasure that are the foundation of all strong performances. She treats her audience members with the affection she might show a friend she’s not seen for a number of years, but is enthralled that friend is now back in her company. Ayanna’s stage presence exudes affection for not her musical gift, but true affection for the members of her audience.
By: Jay Mouton
'THE CHATTANOOGAN'
CHATTANOOGA TN.- June 15th, 2005
- The Chatanoogan - Chattanooga, TN
"Live feel to the whole thing and I would guess that if you hear this ‘out’ it would sound exactly the same and you would go home satiated with Ayanna’s presence and most of all Voice. Unfortunately you don't hear voices like this too often in todays material but it should be captured and bottled.."
By: Mike Ashley
'LIFE & SOUL PROMOTIONS', U.K.
2004
- Life & Soul Promotions - U.K.
Discography
"I Wish for Love"
"Looking For A Home, Too"
"Sunday Morning Blues"
"Midnite Lullaby"
Photos
Bio
Ayanna Hobson
Biography
National recording artist, Ayanna Hobson, has recently returned to San Diego and is currently singing jazz, R&B, blues, and Soul Music in local clubs with some of San Diego's finest musicians. Musical Theater is another area that you'll find her portraying some of the jazz vocalists greats such as Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald in theater productions. She has toured nationally & internationally and is a graduate of the Don Campbell," Power of Sound" training in San Francisco and she studied with and performed with such internationally known musicians/teachers as Eddie Harris, Daniel Jackson, the flautist, James Newton and Phil Moore in LA. Her performance repertoire consists of her original compositions, urban, progressive & standard jazz/blues, soul and gospel.
Her musical diet consisted of many of the greats such as, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and Sarah Vaughn to name a few. Her powerful vocal style, with an Operatic 4.5 Octave range, has often been compared to that of Cleo Laine and Sarah Vaughn, her jazzy vocal stylings to that of Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter. Her powerful Blues deliveries to that of KoKo Taylor!
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:
Ayanna has received Billboard Magazine's, "AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT" for her original jazz composition, “Midnite Lullaby” and soulful "Show You How I Feel". She has performed in Europe and in every major City in the USA. Consistantly incredible R&B,BLUES,SOUL,and JAZZ Musical performances are due to Ayanna's outstanding 4.5 octave Vocal range.
“BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS” Awards (2) for her parts in musical theater productions: “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope” – Marquis Theater, directed by Dr. F. Gaffney. “Celebration, A Human Odessey” – Human I Theater – Ricardo Pitts-Wiley director
California Music Studios’ “FORTE’ AWARD” (Fine Outstanding, Resourceful Teacher of Excellence) for teacher of the year 2009.
BA - Metaphysical Sciences from University of Metaphysical Sciences.
AYANNA HAS OPENED SHOWS FOR:
The late, legendary trumpeter, Dizzy Gillispie, The Four Tops, The Platters (J.C. Parrish), The Temptations, B.J. Thomas, Little Buster & The Soulbrothers, Eddie Harris, Lamar Johnson, Mary Wells, Little Milton, Tommy Castro, Shemika Copeland, Lydia Pense & Coldblood and has shared the stage with many others.
TEACHING/COACHING/CONSULTING
She has also been teaching & coaching private voice & piano lessons as well as vocal consulting, facilitating group vocal labs & workshops, seminar presentations and lectures since 1990. She has received a BA in Metaphysical Sciences, is currently working on her Masters in Metaphysical Sciences with an emphasis on healing arts utilizing vibrational frequencies & sound, in particular the human voice. She is currently writing articles and a book(s) about vocal techniques and psychology of performing as well as consulting in vocal therapies, assisting in finding ones' "true" voice for singers, speakers and pure everyday enjoyment of life without stressing the body or the vocal cords.
For those on a spiritual path of enlightenment, she has provides safe, supportive environments for explorative improvisational use of the voice in a type of layered, path-working process that leads back to the authentic Self; essentially leading one back to the Voice of their Soul.
Presently,she owns and operates Yanalisi Music Studios where she teaches/consults out of three locations in San Diego area; Encinitas, Solana Beach & her home studio in La Mesa with some home visits at this time.
'BLUES BY THE BAY FESTIVAL 2006'
EUREKA CA.
"Ayanna Hobson's Performance Was The Best Of The Festival...It Was Amazing."
Cliff Berkowitz - VP Operations KHUM 104.7 - 104.3 FM
Links
