Amanda Bridgette
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Amanda is a wonderful talent. She's not afraid to "lean into" a phrase or back off and let the music breathe in the right spot. With her powerful tone and an obvious in-depth understanding of the roots of Jazz and Swing, I can't wait to hear what she'll do next.
Scott Rouse
Grammy Nominated Record Producer - Grammy Nominated Producer
Amanda Bridgette is beautiful inside & out. She is blessed with a killer voice that sounds authentic whether she is singing jazz, soul, pop, folk, blues, or country. Having said all that she remains refreshingly grounded and humble. I had the honor of guiding her first CD into the world, and I predict that sky is the limit for this young & talented artist.
Ron Sowell Music Director
Mountain Stage Radio Show NPR
- Ron Sowell, Music Director
"Amanda Bridgette is beautiful inside and out. She is blessed with a killer voice that sounds authentic whether she is singing jazz, soul, pop, folk, blues, or country. She plays piano, guitar and clarinet (though she doesn’t always like to admit it). She is coming into her own as a songwriter and she simply oozes charm and charisma. Having said all that, she remains refreshingly grounded and humble. I had the honor of guiding her first CD into the world and I predict that the sky is the limit for this young and talented artist."
- Herald Dispatch
"Amanda Bridgette is beautiful inside and out. She is blessed with a killer voice that sounds authentic whether she is singing jazz, soul, pop, folk, blues, or country. She plays piano, guitar and clarinet (though she doesn’t always like to admit it). She is coming into her own as a songwriter and she simply oozes charm and charisma. Having said all that, she remains refreshingly grounded and humble. I had the honor of guiding her first CD into the world and I predict that the sky is the limit for this young and talented artist."
Ron Sowell
Musical Director
Mountain Stage Radio Show NPR - Putnam Herald
"Amanda Bridgette is beautiful inside and out. She is blessed with a killer voice that sounds authentic whether she is singing jazz, soul, pop, folk, blues, or country. She plays piano, guitar and clarinet (though she doesn’t always like to admit it). She is coming into her own as a songwriter and she simply oozes charm and charisma. Having said all that, she remains refreshingly grounded and humble. I had the honor of guiding her first CD into the world and I predict that the sky is the limit for this young and talented artist."
Ron Sowell
Musical Director
Mountain Stage Radio Show NPR - Putnam Herald
Discography
Daydream (2011)
Photos
Bio
“ ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing’ sums it up for me.” Contemporary jazz artist Amanda Bridgette’s enthusiasm is contagious when she talks about music. “There are some things in life that are truly good. Music is one of those things.”
Growing up in Appalachia, Bridgette was surrounded with music, mostly gospel and bluegrass. “That was my introduction to music. My grandfather was the first person who introduced me to jazz”. As a child, Bridgette remembers her grandfather playing Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and old 1940’s tunes. “As a child I associated that sound with old folks music. I had no clue what an education he was giving me.” It wasn’t until later in high school when a teacher gave her a recording of Natalie Cole that she began to re-explore the world of jazz.
“That CD sparked my interest in jazz, and I soon began exploring the world of jazz vocalists. It wasn’t until I began working as a professional vocalist that I realized the importance of the jazz instrumentalists – how greatly they influenced the jazz vocals so I began to listen to the greats: Django Reinhardt, Miles Davis, and Chick Corea. There is so much to learn and listen to that I fear I won’t have enough life to soak it all in.”
Bridgette studied music in college and after graduating embarked upon the beginning of her music career as a vocalist for Busch Gardens, Norwegian Cruise Line, Orient Cruise Line, and numerous resorts along the east coast. She also spent a good deal of time performing musical theatre in regional theatres across the USA. “After you sing other artists songs for so many years, the urge to perform your own tunes begins to take over, at least it did for me.”
Bridgette recently released “Daydream”, her debut album featuring seven of her original tunes. “I love music -- good music -- the genre doesn’t matter. My tunes are reminiscent of different eras of music, but I can’t pinpoint one particular style. I suppose that is why it is called contemporary jazz -- tunes heavily influenced by the past but with a here & now spin.”
Bridgette’s debut album not only spotlights her vocal versatility but also her songwriting with tunes ranging from big band to jazz ballads to modern groove. “First and foremost I have always been a vocalist, but I see that beginning to change, I am now beginning to see myself more as a writer, and I hope that path continues unfolding for a long time.”
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