Sean Jamaal

From Chicago to Lillestrøm

The fact that Lillestrøm Jazz Club’s ‘Jazz on Saturday’ had to move from the Fagerborg Hotel to Klimt, certainly did not have an adverse effect on the audience’s mood when, under the summer sun, jazz/blues singer Sean Jamaal entranced them with his warm tones.

By Bente Damhaug

Meeting with jazz vocalist Sean Jamaal, a young and more modest version of Al Jarreau, left one wanting to hear more. From his extensive repertoire his interpretations proved that he posesses a great deal of musicality.

“At home I really don’t listen that much to music,” Jamaal says. – “Except when I am looking for something new. Often I only have to hear a melody once, and I create my own music from it. Maybe that is the reason why I am not influenced by too many impressions.”

Originally from Chicago, Jamaal lives in Amsterdam at present. He finds it interesting to use European influences, and he relishes the artist’s life among the Amsterdam canals. Apart from his musical career he is also an actor.

“How did you arrive here at Lillestrøm?”

“Through the net”, the singer says with a smile. He met base player Øivind Helseth through the Internet, and subsequently came over for a visit. Jamaal was accompanied by Helseth as well as a number of other excellent musicians, Eivind Sannes at the piano, Jan Inge Melsaeter, trombone, and Kristian Lund on drums. With a complement such as this the Lillestrøm Jazzclub will have no problems giving more performances!

Photo caption:
In Lillestrom last Saturday Sean Jamaal impressed the audience with his jazz and blues vocals, well complemented by Jan Inge Melsaeter on trombone.
- Lillestrom Daily

Sean Jamaal, einfühler Sänger aus Chicago - powerfull und mit einer grossen Stimme Zwischen Blues, Gospel und Jazz - The Spirit of Jazz

Caledonia Jazz & Bluesband returns to Buitenzorg<br><br><br><br>EDE
– They have played here before in Buitenzorg, the gentlemen of the Caledonia Jazz & Blues Band from Brabant. The last time was in November 1998 and then, too, they made sure it was a wonderful jazz afternoon. Sufficient reason for Ellis Steens and Job Zomer to get us reacquainted, to everyone’s delight! If you were not there, you missed the boat! You know how it is with jazz, sometimes something very special can happen, and so it did on Sunday the 6th of February.<br><br>What’s nice about this band is its versatile repertoire and their modern handling of many standards. This makes everything sound rather different than it usually does. Professionalism and musicians enjoying themselves are foremost. We did not yet know of their wonderful talent for accompaniment. It is then that you discover the true talent of a real jazz musician. Because on stage that Sunday there unxecpectedly appeared an excellent jazz vocalist who joined in ‘to sing a few songs’. His first few notes of ‘All of me’ caused shivers of excitement among many in the audience. What was happening there on that stage in Buitenzorg? Were we listening to the new Al Jareau, Marvin Gaye, or a mixture of the two, plus a little bit of Sammy Davis? Well, no, it was 34 year old Sean Jamaal. Confused I certainly was, and I was not the only one. With some inquiry it appeared that this young man was born in Chicago and now lives in Amsterdam. He has been singing all his life, and has been listening very well to some of the great examples. In Amsterdam he is known as the top soloist of the Swing Society, and even in Germany he is already well-known. Thanks to Peter and Monica from Tiel, who were kind enough to bring him along to Ede, we were treated to a wonderful set, with excellent timing, and a beautiful, unique singing technique. I can only guess where Sean learned to sing like this, because when I asked he revealed to me that he has never had any lessons. So there!<br><br>The band’s members, leader trumpeter Tony van Kampen, saxophone player Stephan Lems, guitarist Paul Welling, drummer Jac Bogers, and base guitarist Gert Reintjes, all accompanied him excellently, so that we were able to enjoy jazz the way it should be: unprepared improvisation.<br>At the end of the afternoon there was another such moment, because there was a second unexpected surprise in the form of the singer Diana Burta, who was also in the audience. Upon request she took to the stage and gave us her best, so that the afternoon finished with a ‘Saint’ who did not come marching in, but accompanied everyone out. It was a memorable concert. You should try and remember this: some very special things are happening at Buitenzorg on the first Sunday of every month. Next time, on 5 March, Josee Koning and her band will set the stage. Quite a different number, but as sure as sure can be: another class act!<br><br>Jazzfanny<br> - Ede Stad - Cultureel

For Immediate Release

NASHVILLE, TN – SongPrize.com announces the latest winners of its International Song Competition. Winners were selected from contestants who entered the competition through the SongPrize.com website (www.SongPrize.com). In addition, SongPrize was pleased to welcome electronic entries from Sonicbids.com (www.Sonicbids.com). Sonicbids.com offers artists and songwriters from around the world the ability to submit their press kits over the internet. The quality of the “Electronic Press Kits” EPK™ entrants aided Sonicbids.com entrants in securing 1st and 3rd place in the SongPrize.com International Song Competition in addition to receiving multiple “Honorable Mention” awards. The awards were as follows:

First Place Award goes to
JJ Soul Band
of Seltjarnarnes, Iceland
For their Song entitled “Cool Tonight”
(website is www.jjsoulband.com).

Second Place Award goes to
Theresa Demarest
of Portland, Oregon
for her Song entitled “I’m Flyin”
(website is www.theresacd.com).

Third Place Award goes to
Sean Jamaal Quintet
of Amsterdam, Netherlands
for his Song entitled “Love and Life
(website is www.sean-jamaal.com).

In addition, listings for 50 Honorable Mention Awards are posted at www.SongPrize.com.
1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners will be contacted with further information concerning their wins.
Honorable mention winners will be awarded with promotion for their act or themselves as indicated at the SongPrize.com website through a series of press releases.

Press Releases may be found at www.PressHog.com or by visiting www.SongPrize.com. Press releases will also be distributed in various other outlets around the globe.



- Press Hog.com/SongPrize.com