| The Royal Bopsters is a vocal summit on which the talents of singers
London, McGuinness, Pramuk and Ross unite in harmony to pay tribute to the art of vocalese singing and to the forefathers and mothers of their favored art form. Four years in the making, The Royal Bopsters Project was initially conceived by producer/vocalist/arranger Amy London as a twilight years feature for her musical hero and close friend Mark Murphy, who she cites as a key influence, (as do scores of other successful jazz singers.) One by one, the other ‘Royal Bopsters’ signed on for the project at London’s behest. What you will hear will warrant this group’s achievement of making five lists for Top CD Releases for 2015 including Downbeat and Jazz Times. | | AMY LONDON
Amy London is known and loved in New York City jazz and Broadway circles for her effortless sound, impeccable musicianship and depth of emotion. Her two critically acclaimed Motema CD's as a leader, 'Let's Fly' and 'When I Look In Your Eyes' feature some of the world's top jazz musicians, and have led her to engagements in Russia, Italy, Turkey, France, Brazil, England, Belgium, Czech Republic and Canada, as well as cities across the US. London's fully seasoned career also includes three years in the 6 Tony award winning Broadway hit 'City of Angels' (singing on its Grammy nominated original cast album), and City Center's production of 'Promises Promises' starring Martin Short, plus tours with Charles Aznavour, Larry Elgart and Tom Browne. Ms London has enjoyed more than 25 years of performing at New York's top rooms, such as Dizzy's, The Rainbow Room, Lincoln Center, Birdland, Blue Note, The Kitano, BB King's, Cornelia Street Café, North Square Lounge and more. Ms. London’s latest CD, ‘Bridges,’ is a retrospective of her recordings from the 1980’s and 90’s with such jazz stars as Fred Hersch, Bob Mintzer, Darmon Meader, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and many others. A world renowned jazz educator, Ms. London was one of the principal architects of New School’s Jazz BFA vocal program, has been faculty there since 1992, and in partnership with Dylan Pramuk, recently opened the Vocal Jazz Program at Jazz House in Montclair. Ms. London has been directing summer jazz camp vocal programs worldwide since 2008. “Swinging and Sophisticated” —New York Times An immense talent deserving of national attention” —JazzTimes “Lovely choice of songs, underdone, but new and imaginative.
What I liked best is her showing us what joy is!” —Mark Murphy, legendary jazz singer HOLLI ROSS
Holli Ross has performed in top clubs from New Orleans’ Snug Harbor to NYC’s Blue Note. Her recording on Miles High Records…”You’ll See is a serious jazz vocal album from a singer who knows how to present a song with a measure of elegance...a top-tier jazz vocalist,” says All About Jazz. She has performed in Germany, France, Eastern Europe, Japan, Monterey Jazz Festival and the JVC Jazz Festival. A published ASCAP lyricist, Holli’s songs have been recorded by jazz artists, Janis Seigel with the Count Basie Orchestra, Mark Murphy, and Meredith D’Ambrosio. Holli has performed and recorded with Jon Faddis, Romero Lumbambo, Bob MIntzer, Eddie Monteiro, Rufus Reid, Ted Rosenthal, Claudio Roditi, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Randy Sandke. She has also recorded several CDs with her female vocal trio, String Of Pearls and is well documented with other vocal ensembles, Mad Romance and Group Five. More recently she was a featured artist on Bill Kirchner's, wildly acclaimed CD and DVD concert, An Evening of Indigoes, highlighting Kirchner's inspirational compositions. Holli is an associate professor of Jazz Vocal Studies at Hofstra University and an adjunct at Montclair State University where she also directs the vocal jazz ensemble, Vocamotion. Holli received her Masters for Speech-Language Pathology at Kean University where she immediately set out to pursue a specialty in voice disorders. As a Singing Voice Specialist, she presents vocal health
clinics throughout the country and treats patients at her home practice. PETE MCGUINNESS
Pete McGuinness is the Professor of Jazz Composition and Arranging at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. Since 1987, he has been an active New York City area jazz artist - trombonist, three-time GRAMMY-nominated composer-arranger, and award-winning jazz vocalist (semi-finals of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition, 1st prize in the Jazzmobile Vocal Contest). Pete appears on over 50 jazz CDs as a sideman and has released four recordings as a leader. He also leads his own quartet and a big band, The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, which has appeared on numerous occasions at such venues as The Blue Note, Iridium, The Jazz Gallery and other NYC jazz clubs. He has appeared on the Downbeat Magazine Critics’ Poll in both 2008 (”Rising Star” category – Jazz Arranger”) and 2015 (“Rising Star” category for both Jazz Arranger and Male Jazz Vocalist). Several of Pete’s arrangements for jazz ensemble are published by the Kendor Music and Smart Chart Music companies. DYLAN PRAMUK
Deeply steeped in the great traditions of jazz and voice, bebop and improvisation, Dylan Pramuk is a remarkable vocalist, improviser, arranger and educator. He has performed at many of NYC’s finest jazz venues, including The Blue Note, Zinc Bar, Joe’s Pub and Birdland. Dylan has performed in saxophonist Billy Harper's Voices; Beat Kaestli’s Vocal Summit, which showcased Dylan’s original arrangement on Mexican public radio; Anne Phillips’ Jazz Nativity at B. B. King’s; and Max Pollak’s RumbaTap, a review for which the New York Times stated, “killer scat singing by Dylan Pramuk.” The New School Vocal Jazz Ensemble has debuted Dylan's original arrangements, performing at Jazz at Lincoln Center and in a sold out evening featuring vocal legend Mark Murphy. In addition to private instruction, Dylan has developed an ongoing course in vocal improvisation entitled Hearing & Singing the Changes. Since January 2014, Dylan has been co-director with Amy London of the Jazz House Kids Vocal Academy in Montclair, New Jersey. |
