Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"We dig Rebecca! Great sound and phrasing, a musician's singer. She's an asset to the club, a popular weekend performer that really delivers. Any fan of vocal jazz will want to check out one of her shows. Do yourself a favor and catch Rebecca 'in the act,' you'll love it!" - Owner, Kelly's of Alameda
"Rebecca is a true musician. She has a propensity for selecting great material and delivers it with ease."
- Vocalist and Recording Artist
"Rebecca has a very unique vocal sound and a style that draws from diverse stylistic influences. She is a good musician and a promising young singer who will continue to season with time." - Jazz Vocalist and Jazzschool Faculty
"Rebecca's unassuming presence, playful style and original interpretations make her as enjoyable to perform with as she is to listen to." - Bassist
"It's June Christy, Anita O'Day, & Chris Connors all rolled into one. But, I assure you that Rebecca Griffin has her own vocal signature. Boy, does she know how to sing the American Songbook. I'm a latino musical culture freak so her 'Like A Lover' & 'Gentle Rain' are definitely keepers to my way of thinking. Rebecca & her wonderful group dance well musically thank you! There's an essential simplicity in Rebecca's delivery as her melodic lyricism is inflected with a seemingly unflappable flow."
- George W. Carroll/The Musicians' Ombudsman
Discography
"Live at Kelly's" 2006
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Rebecca Griffin brings a sultry, warm and rich sound to a unique repertoire of great jazz standards, lesser-known gems, and fun and sophisticated contemporary tunes. With a strong background in musical study, she brings a serious musicianship to music bridging the tradition of legends like Billie Holiday to modern arrangements inspired by the likes of contemporary jazz star Nnenna Freelon. Her mellow style and mesmerizing voice are sure to bring this emerging Bay Area vocalist greater attention, appreciation and a loyal legion of fans.
Rebecca grew up in the small town of Springvale, Maine, immersed in the music of legendary performers like James Taylor and Carole King, and was always singing along with her younger sister, now an up-and-coming singer/songwriter. At the age of 8, she began performing actively in the musical theater, combining her love of music and dance and delighting audiences with her burgeoning talent. Rebecca continued performing theater locally until the age of twenty, but it was upon buying her first Ella Fitzgerald CD in high school that she truly fell in love with jazz and decided to embark on more serious musical study.
In 1998, she entered the University of New Hampshire, where she studied classical voice with David Ripley, participating in many campus performing groups. She also pursued private jazz voice study with David Scott of Boston and Michelle Hansen of Portland, Maine. She reveled in the intensive musical study, and gathered inspiration from great musicians as diverse as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Diana Krall, Ben Folds, and Stevie Wonder. She graduated summa cum laude in 2003 with a B.A. in music performance and Italian with minors in political science and race, culture and power. It is hardly surprising that such a varied and creative mind would be drawn to the vibrant genre of jazz, and to the diversity and culture of the west coast.
Upon moving to the Bay Area in 2003, Rebecca had the privilege of enrolling in Berkeley’s Jazzschool, which reinvigorated and energized her love for jazz. She had the pleasure of participating in classes and private study with Stephanie Bruce and completing Madeline Eastman’s Vocal Pro-Track program for aspiring professional singers. Rebecca then became a private student of renowned Bay Area vocalist Clairdee.
In August of 2006, the 26-year-old vocalist released her debut album, “Live at Kelly’s,” recorded during one of her popular Friday night performances at Kelly’s of Alameda. The album offers fresh interpretations of wonderful jazz tunes ranging from Cole Porter classics to contemporary Brazilian tunes, all with the unique energy of a live performance. She has impressed audiences with her appearances at local venues such as Kelly’s of Alameda, Prism Cafe, the Rite Spot, the Red Poppy Art House and the Octavia Lounge. This young singer’s mysterious smile and silky sound will surely be enticing Bay Area audiences for years to come.
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