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Profile of a Jazz Singer
Michelle
Kiner was born in Medina, a small town outside of
Buffalo, NY. She grew up with a desire to sing since the
age of five. Hailing from a musical family, her father
was a bassist and pianist. That desire to sing was fed
in the church choir where she served as director and
president.
Michelle's
youth and exuberance abounded to opportunities to be founder and director in both her
Jr. & Sr. High School's gospel choruses. Learning the violin and the
clarinet, she represented her high school in the
All-City Orchestra. Michelle also participated in her
high school's Radio Club, where she produced and
announced her own Jazz show.
In an effort
to fulfill her musical dream, Michelle participated in
various plays and musical groups while in college. She
sang Rock, R&B, and for a short time, Opera, which she
studied while attending college in Albany, NY. Michelle
completed her undergraduate studies, receiving her
degree in Business Management.
Michelle's
professional musical experience began in the Jazz Jam
Sessions of Philadelphia. Through these events, Michelle
was able to obtain musical advice from the likes of Tony
Williams, Downtown Sonny Brown, Bootsie Barnes and Jimmy
O'Dell, legendary musicians in the Philadelphia area.
She was taken under the wing of pianist, Gene Rizzo, who
taught her the value of studying the art and developing
proper jazz form as a vocalist. Michelle acknowledges
the continued support and tutorage of pianists Bernard
Samuel and Jimmy Gaskins.
In January
2000, Michelle Kiner released her debut CD, Clear Days,
to which she is Executive Producer. Collaborating with
well-known Producer Bill Jolly (former musical director
for the Late Grover Washington, Jr.), the result is a
music compilation that appeals to every taste and style. To add to her credits, Michelle has performed
with legends such as Al Tinney (pianist for Billie
Holiday), Jerome Hunter (bassist for Ella Fitzgerald),
Lucky Thompson (drummer for Nina Simone), and
vibraphonists Roy Ayers and Khan Jamal to name a few.
Although Michelle's focus has been in the jazz realm,
she is also very comfortable singing R&B, as well as
Blues, and usually incorporates songs from those genres
in her live performances.
Michelle
Kiner's aspirations are to perform on the Jazz Circuit
nationally and internationally.
The ultimate goal at the end of this rainbow is having a
recording deal that allows her the ability to make good
music that appeals to the masses, as well as obtain more
exposure globally. She is presently working on material
for her next CD and plans to expose her talents for
writing and composing lyrics.
Top
Venues/ Events Performed:
New
Jersey
Wondergarden's Nightclub, Atlantic City; Trenton
Heritage Festival (1997); World Boxing Association
Banquet Honoring Evander Holyfield, Atlantic City
(1997); Cape May Jazz Festival (1999).
Pennsylvania
Zanzibar
Blue Nightclub, Philadelphia; Arroyo Grille,
Philadelphia; Manyunk Brewing Co., Philadelphia;
Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel, Philadelphia; Downtown
Club, Philadelphia.
New York
St. Nick's
Pub, New York; City of Buffalo Jazz Festival (1999).
Delaware
Christiana
River Club, Wilmington; Cafe Bourbon Street Restaurant,
Wilmington.
Louisiana
Club
Rhythms, New Orleans; Margaritaville, New Orleans.
Texas
Juneteenth
2006, Jazz & Blues Fest - African American Museum,
Dallas
Dallas Bar
Lawjam 2006
Dallas
Museum of Art - Jazz in the Atrium
Sambucca
Nightclub, Dallas
Tower Club,
Dallas
Sandaga
Market, Dallas
Kirby's
Steakhouse, Southlake
Terelli's
Restaurant, Frisco
107.5 Oasis
Sunday Brunch - Omni Hotel, Richardson (2004)
Roy Ayers in
Concert - Black Academy of Arts & Letters, Dallas (2003)
Razor's Edge
Television program - DCTV, Dallas (2002)
Artfest,
Dallas (2002)
Ft. Worth
Jazz Society - Women in Jazz Program (2000) |
