Maia Santell and House Blend
Performing
at the Tacoma Freedom Fair
JULY 4, 2011 at 12:00 - 1:30 PM
DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE BLUES STAGE
Northwest jazz and blues vocalist Maia Santell is a descendant of Seattle’s Jackson Street era of jazz. Her mom, dad and uncle were prominent musicians in the Northwest music scene for forty years. Maia’s phrasing and clear, warm, unaffected vocal style can be attributed to her rich musical heritage, including attending Cornish School of the Arts, singing in jazz ensembles, musicals and dance bands, and performing at a young age in her uncle’s combo, The Frank Sugia Quartet.
Maia and her band, Maia Santell and House Blend, deliver with ease a wide variety of material, including jazz, blues, Latin, rhythm and blues, swing, big band and contemporary favorites. They have been performing for twenty five years, at such leading venues as The Grand Opening of the Tacoma Trade and Convention Center, Dancing with the Tacoma Stars at The Temple Theater, University Place Festival, Tall Ships Tacoma 2005, Jazzbones, Tacoma Elks, Lakewood Elks, The Gray Sky Blues Festival, Argosy Cruises, Muckleshoot Casino, Studio 6 Ballroom, 4th of July Tacoma Freedom Fair, St. Michelle Wineries and The Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival, to name a few. With Al Alto on guitar, Steve Sarandos on saxophone, Josh Violette on guitar, Joe Hendershot on bass and Pete Marzano on drums, Santell puts on an energetic show that appeals to all ages.
Doug Bright of Seattle’s Heritage Music Review says, “Maia Santell is one of the Northwest's most dynamic and refreshingly believable jazz vocalists. Her voice is warm, clear and natural, and totally free of contrived theatricality. Supported by the seasoned musicians of House Blend, she offers one of the most exhilarating sounds on the Northwest music scene.”
