Julia Dollison
Sacramento, California, United States | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
Dollison's full-bodied yet sweetly airy voice has always been a wonder, and her self-penned arrangements are subtle to a degree rarely found among the present generation of once-over-lightly jazz singers. - Terry Teachout
Rare is the vocal acrobat who, like neophyte recording artist Julia Dollison, can remain aloft with interpretations both fresh and substantive. Dollison seems the vocal actualization of the curious dichotomy – jaundiced cynicism blended with fragile optimism – that defines her Generation Y... - Christopher Loudon
In traditionalist circles, among whom Norah and Diana just don't cut it, improvising throat Julia Dollison will push at your preconceptions. - Music Scene
There’s a fascinating newcomer, Julia Dollison, who combines incredible technique with real daring and respect for the words of a song. Hear her version of “Night and Day,” a difficult song that makes singers and instrumentalists alike cower. She takes it at high speed and never slights a single word. If you’re on the fence about this one, check out her website and you run the risk of becoming an instant fan. - Joe Kloper
Listening to "Observatory," the wonder is no wonder: Simultaneously light and airy but full-bodied, her voice is rich and dextrous, and she plays with melodies, harmonies, arrangements and nuances of intonation in ways that reinvent standards such as "Night and Day" and "Autumn in New York." - David Barton
Judging by the cover of Julia Dollison's debut CD, "Observatory", one might expect the recording to just be collection of standards, yet Dollison makes them sound young again. You can hear her heart in this music and that's what makes it so impressive. - Richard Kamins
Dollison moves fluidly through all of her interpretations, demonstrating virtuosity in her vocal performance. She appeals to a broad jazz/rock audience and will give Gen Y-ers sufficient reason to become curious. - New York
Julia Dollison has one of those voices that you’re sure to remember. With just the right touch of class that many of today’s ingénues lack on their record label debuts, she immediately grabs your attention with her beautiful range and excellent accompaniment. - www.soundsoftimelessjazz.com
"I've got to agree with the critics -
Observatory is outstanding from start to finish."
ERIC COHEN, WAER-FM – Syracuse, NY
"Observatory is very popular here. Hers is a unique gift and singular sound."
DOUG COLLAR, WKAR-FM – East Lansing, MI
"Julia Dollison brings a new and distinctive voice with a lot of courage and conviction. I promise this is a musical discovery you will never forget."
BOB MCWILLIAMS, KANU-FM – Kansas City, MS
"After 25 years in this market, I felt like I’d heard it all, but I was knocked out. What’s appealing about her is that she’s really original."
GARY VERCELLI, KXJZ-FM – Sacramento, CA
"A fantastic new voice in jazz… Julia's voice and delivery is definitely presented within her own style. The musicians are a great compliment as well."
MICHAEL MATHENY, RADIOIOJAZZ.COM – INTERNATIONAL
"Julia Dollison is so refreshing, with a vocal style that is right on the money, an innate sense of swing and pitch that is so true. She takes the canvas of the American Songbook and brings it up to date with such a modern sound. Julia is so musical and freshly exciting in the very best sense of the word."
JOHN HAMMEL, HOMEGROWNRADIONJ.COM – Hackettstown, NJ
"An auspicious debut... I've reported Observatory to Radio and Records with strong recommendations for all tracks."
NEIL JUNG, KAJX-FM – Aspen, CO
"Observatory is phenomenal. The interludes are especially beautiful, but I love all the tunes."
ROGER REYNOLDS, WHAN-FM – Ashville, VA
"Thanks for the exquisite CD Observatory, which I find simply wonderful! The arrangements, players, overall sound mixed with that passionate voice are just superb."
MIKAIL GRAHAM, KVMR-FM – Nevada City, CA
"After listening, I think she has something to say about vocalese!"
DAVID ALVAREZ, ELCANTORDEJAZZ.COM – Granada, SPAIN
"Really interesting arrangements… vocal effects… all of it."
VINCE OUTLAW, KSDS-FM – San Diego, CA
"I’m enjoying Observatory and looking forward to having Dollison on our show."
PHIL BOWLER, WPKN-FM – Bridgeport, CT
"I’ve heard Julia Dollson live and she’s great! Beautifully put-together CD."
KITTY O’NEAL, KFBK-FM – Sacramento, CA
"I’m playing “Your Mind Is On Vacation” tonight. Thanks for the CD!"
CHRIS GRISHAM, KRWG-FM – Las Cruces, NM
"I played “In A Mellotone” this morning and have added Observatory to our library."
GARY HELTON, WHFC – Bel Air, MD
"Observatory sounds interesting indeed. I’d love to play the CD on my show."
MAURICE HOGUE, CKUM-FM – Winnipeg, CANADA
"Thanks for the CD. We will be playing Observatory on our radio program."
JANICE MANUSCO, KMHD-FM – Portland, OR
"I’m looking forward to our interview and playing Observatory on our show."
DOUG EDWARDS, KPFA-FM - Berkeley, CA - About Julia Dollison's Debut CD Observatory
Observatory, Julia Dollison's debut CD, contains songs sung in a richly imaginative, pigeonhole-eluding style that lies somewhere in the no-man's land separating jazz from pop. - Terry Teachout
Discography
Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider - Dollison and Marsh (ArtistShare, 2010)
Observatory / Julia Dollison
(Like So Music, 2005)
Skin Tones / Samuel Torres (One Soul Records, 2005)
The Stepford Wives (DreamWorks, 2004)
Vera Drake (Fine Line Cinema, 2004)
Drum Solos Revisited (LP Latin Percussion, 2003)
Rio Corcovado/Quiet Nights (Floreria Records, 2002)
Moment's Notice (Summit Records, 2001)
Chris Jentsch/Miami Suite (Blue Schist, 2000)
Photos
Bio
Six years ago, the Washington Post called Julia Dollison "a deeply musical virtuoso with an airy, luminous voice." Last year, the Wall Street Journal and Jazz Times magazine praised her debut CD Observatory as “richly imaginative” and “rare… fresh and substantive,” respectively. This year the Sacramento Bee described her singing as “subtle, spontaneous and breathtaking.”
Today, Dollison's uniquely personal brand of jazz is delighting club-goers and concert audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada. So far this year, she's performed as a guest with the Grammy award-winning Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, appeared by invitation at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) in New York, premiered a concerto written for her by pianist Geoffrey Keezer, and was a featured headliner at the Brubeck Festival in Northern California.
Since being named DownBeat's Best Jazz Vocal Soloist in 2000, Dollison has been heard at such New York clubs as Tavern on the Green, Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm and Cornelia Street Cafe. She's shared the stage with Jamey Aebersold, Bob Dorough, Christian McBride, Mark Murphy, Dianne Reeves, Ira Sullivan and Kenny Wheeler, as well as pop artist and fellow University of Miami alumnus Jon Secada, and has sung with Erich Kunzel and the Naples Philharmonic.
Currently the applied jazz voice instructor at Sacramento State University, Dollison was previously on the faculty at the New School University in New York, and Florida's University of Miami, where she earned her B.M. and M.M. degrees in studio music and jazz performance, teaching with a full assistantship while earning her graduate degree. While there, she was featured in various award-winning Miami jazz ensembles, performing at IAJE conventions in New York (1998) and New Orleans (2000). She has since been invited to return as a solo artist to conferences in Toronto (2003), Long Beach (2005) and New York (2007).
A classically trained soprano, Dollison sang the solos in Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms under Michael Tilson Thomas and played the title role in Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. She's also appeared in the "Voices of Liberty" show at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center, where she was featured as a main park attraction.
An experienced studio singer, Dollison can be heard on the film score of The Stepford Wives (DreamWorks 2004), the film trailers for Vera Drake (Fine Line Cinema 2004) and The Corpse Bride (Warner Brothers Pictures 2005), and commercials for Disney World, Pier One Imports, The Orange Bowl and Radio City Music Hall, Mattress Discounters and Go Girl Energy Drinks.
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