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Maia Santell and |
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Performing
at the Tacoma Freedom Fair
July 4, 2008: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
on the Lobster Shop/KIXI Stage
Northwest jazz and blues vocalist Maia Santell, known as “The Pacific Northwest Queen of Swing”, took the South Sound by storm seven years ago with her soulful, swingin’ style and dynamic back up band, House Blend.
Santell was raised in a prominent entertainment family of jazz and swing musicians that performed in the Northwest music scene for many years. Her talent, versatility, phrasing, and clear, warm, unaffected vocal style can be attributed to her rich musical heritage, including attending Seattle’s Garfield high school, singing in jazz ensembles, musicals and rhythm and blues bands, and performing at a young age with jazz and blues giants like Joe Venuti, Floyd Standifer, Ron Weinstein, John Holte and her uncle, Frank Sugia.
The band has performed at such leading venues as Seattle Art Museum, Jazz Alley, St. Michelle Wineries and The Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival, and is a regular in the South Sound at Johnny’s Dock, The Fire Creek Ale House, Jambalaya Restaurant and Verrazano’s Italian Restaurant.
House Blend instrumentalists include Brian Kent on tenor saxophone, Jeff Ziontz on guitar, Jay Mabin on bass and Bruce Simpson on drums.
Performing on the Lobster Shop / KIXI Stage at Freedom Fair, the band performs an upbeat mix of jazz, blues, swing, Latin and rhythm & blues.
“Santell’s voice and musical presence is free of affected theatricality… Her knowledge of the inner workings of a melody, her impeccable phrasing and her superb vocal control allow her to deliver a diverse combination of great songs with richness and intensity….Supported by the seasoned musicians of House Blend, she offers one of the most brilliant sounds in the Northwest music scene.”
Doug Bright, Heritage Music Review
For more about Maia Santell and House Blend visit www.maiasantell.com
