Suzanne Grzanna
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Music
Press
“She’s a stunning saxophonist, with a flair for gorgeous, powerful solos and the energy to drive her band into sweaty bop workouts.” - Shepherd Express 2006
“A dazzling performer to behold, she’s always a crowd pleaser.” - Eugene Weekly
“Suzanne Grzanna’s about as close as you can get in this biz to a sure bet.”
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
It “swings comfortably with clever lyrics and the sax solos showcase Grzanna’s soulful sound and strong tone.” - Jazz Critic
"Diva of the Year!!" - World Art Celebrities Magazine
"Grzanna's a talent who knows where she is going and how to get there...Call it taste." - Milwaukee Magazine
"Her combination of fiery sax licks and smooth vocals is truly original. Once she steps on stage, you know who's in control...If you are in the mood for some skillful sax work and smoking jazz tunes, check out Suzanne and her band our some hot summer night." - UWM Post
"Noteworthy Women: ...it is refreshing to note two musicians who are,well,just plain ambitious and talented. Suzanne Grzanna debunks myths about female jazz musicians. She also desplays both melodic saxophone playing and a knack for making standards her own on "Fly Me to the Moon" (Diva Records, April 13), her second independently released album. Not only is Grzanna an accomplished musicians and label entrepreneur, he is a singer, adding her vocals to such time-honored material as Rodgers and Hart's "My Funny Valentine" and her own original compositions. "I think it's important to include some material that people are familiar with," Grzanna says, noting that she performed primarily original material on her debut, 1997's "Cat's Meow." "Most importantly, I like a composition that has a strong groove and a good melody, elements that give me a lot of room to improvise with my saxophone." While Grzanna handled all the marketing for "Cat's Meow," she has retained independent promoters to assist with press, retail, and radio promotion for "Fly Me to the Moon." Distribution is being handled by Valley Media and Orchard. Grzanna notes that it can be "very difficult" for a small idie to obtain rack space...." - Stev Graybow
Saxohponist and vocalist Suzanne Grzanna performed with her quartet at The Money Tree in March. She has been there every Tuesday night for several months. Grzanna is a talented and attractive performer who has focused her talents in the jazz world. She is from the Milwaukee area and started piano at the age of 5. Later she won awards in the National Guild Competition and also took up the clarinet, saxophone and singing. Grzanna was graduated from Carroll College is Waukesha, Wisconsin with a B.S. in Music and Business Administraion. She was a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus from 1988-1991. In 1993 she started her jazz quartet. Her first CD, "The Cat's Meow," was released in 1994, with tenof the 14 tracks originals by Grzanna. Her "Cat's Meow," video was aired on the BET channel. In 1997 Grzanna won the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award for Best Jazz Artist. Her music was aired on Northwest Airlinesin-flight channels in 1998. Under Diva Records she has a new CD out titled "Fly Me to the Moon." Her music has also been released in Japan and Southeast Asia. Grzanna has performed in such clubs such as "The Money Tree," "Spazio," and "Lunaria." She is soon to be seen on "Music throught the Years," hosted by Kris Lamas on the Jazz on the Rise program....
Grzanna has a very distict sound, a very beautiful voice. She puts a lot of energy into her sax playing and puts on a very interesting set. One of her close friends and mentors is the saxophonist Frank Morgan. Her set included some originals.....Check her out when she is in your area. - Bob's Beat - Bob Comden
In a field that has been mostly domoinated by men, it's nice to finally get some female imput into the jazz world. Hailing from Milwaukee, Suzanne Grzanna is hitting the jazz scene full force at the young age of 25. Grzanna solos on saxophone and vocals, and sometimes delivers a slinky lounge-lizard classic like "Stormy Weather." She mixes traditional jazz standards with her own compositions, describing her music style as "bluesy jazz." The say ssay that her "torchy vocals st times leaves one with the impressions that you're watching a radiant youong lounge diva... See her perform at SOHO... - The Santa Barbara Independent
Discography
"The Cat's Meow" CD
"Fly Me to the Moon" CD
"My Santa Baby" CD
"Simply Sunday" CD
"Christmas Night" CD
Songs on CD's
Stormy Weather
'Little Valentine
The Cat's Meow
A Tribute to Hawkins
Snow City
By the Fireside
Cedar Lodge
A Night in Tunisia
Mystery Man
Kiss
Blue Seven
1887
Thining of You
Eunni
All of Me
In a Sentimental Mood
As Time Goes By
Jazz and Me
From My Heart
Mr. P.C.
Fly Me to the Moon
Latin Nights
My Funny Valentine
Tenor Madness
Now's the Time
Always Thinking of You
Capri
St. Thomas
Let it Snow
My Santa Baby
By the Fireside
Santa Claus is Coming To Town
Santa's Cheer
Winter Winds
Solid Joy
Jingle Bells
Simply Sunday
My Valentine
Spring Waltz
Cantaloupe Island
Love in the City
Boogie Nights
Love You
Summer Dreams
Moonsand
Follow Your Heart
Living Your Dream
Christmas Night
By the Fireside
Christmas Delight
Snow City
Lovely Winter Love
Frosty the Snowman
Christmas Song
Have Yourself a Merry Christmas
Photos
Bio
From New York – Paris – Japan – Russia – Los Angeles – Chicago, Suzanne Grzanna has made a prominent world wide name for herself. She has performed at prestigious halls such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Preservation Hall, Cinegrill, and the Hollywood Bowl. Suzanne has had such sit-ins with players such as Frank Morgan, Dave Hazeltine, Bryan Lynch, Betty Carter, Ray Brown Jr., Charles McPherson, John Hurd, and Jeff Goldblum to name a few. Her unique talent of not only being a dazzling saxophonist but also a sultry vocalist…can make you melt in your seat.
The sound of Grzanna Jazz is somewhat a hybrid of classic jazz, pop standards, original compositions, and funky tunes all clearly influenced by Suzanne’s unique and contemporary style. She has released five CD’s in the last decade, with a few more coming out soon. Her music has won rave reviews from both the critics and her fans. Says the Pasadena Weekly, “Her smoky voice and skillful sax set her apart from many other jazz performers, both those of her own age and beyond.”
Suzanne Grzanna began her jazz career at age five when she studied piano. She grew up in a small suburb of Milwaukee, WI and flourished in music from the beginning. Her parents, Don and Maureen Grzanna, are notable musicians who taught her the discipline of the craft. Throughout her childhood, Suzanne won various awards not only in jazz, but also in classical music. Ms. Grzanna even participated in the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus starting at the age of eighteen. Suzanne attended Wisconsin Lutheran College for a few years and proceeded to graduate from Carroll College.
In 1994, Suzanne Grzanna released her first album titled “The Cat’s Meow.” This put her on the map and gave her the opportunities to perform around the United States. Her video “The Cat’s Meow,” also got rave reviews on BET on Jazz. This introduced her not only to the US, but also to the world. Soon afterward, Ms. Grzanna released her next album titled “Fly Me to the Moon.” This album got the attention of Billboard Magazine, which wrote a fabulous review. The offers of releasing an album overseas came from such countries as Japan, Brazil, and South East Asia to name a few. Not only did Suzanne get attention from record labels, but the film community started to take notice. Suzanne was involved in various films with not only her music, but also her persona. In December of 2003, “My Santa Baby” was released followed with “Simply Sunday” in 2006. Suzanne released her new CD titled “Christmas Night” in 2008. Throughout the years she has shown her diversity in music recording of jazz, blues, funk, classical, Christian, rock, Children’s and contemporary music. Suzanne has won various awards from ASCAP, Shepherd Express, Carroll College and Wisconsin Area Music Awards. She also has been featured on the cover of the book “Entertainment Greats from the 1800’s to the Present – Cinema, Music, Divas, Legends” by Dr. Maximillien de Lafayette, an international bestseller, historian and stage producer. “ Ms. Grzanna is one of the best female entertainers in the United States,” according to author Lafayette. World Art Celebrities magazine calls Suzanne Grzanna - Diva of the Year!!
http://www.saxdiva.com
“She’s a stunning saxophonist, with a flair for gorgeous, powerful solos and the energy to drive her band into sweaty bop workouts.” Shepherd Express 2006 Milwaukee, WI
“A dazzling performer to behold, she’s always a crowd pleaser.” Eugene Weekly Eugene, Oregon
“Suzanne Grzanna’s about as close as you can get in this biz to a sure bet.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinal – Milwaukee, WI
It “swings comfortably with clever lyrics and the sax solos showcase Grzanna’s soulful sound and strong tone.” John Gilbert Jazz Critic
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