Opie Bellas Bella Blue Music 3752 Fruitvale Ave Oakland, CA 94602 510/336-9509 http://www.opiebellas.com email: booking@opiebellas.com MEDIA KIT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIOGRAPHY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MEDIA KIT "I come from a family of painters, writers, actors, designers, and singers. My own brother is a theater director and teacher, so I guess a passion for expressing myself is in my blood." This passion of Opie Bellas, a jazz singer and so much more, has grabbed the attention of producers, bookers, and fans around the world. The packed concert halls in Capetown, South Africa, where Opie performed in 2004 and 2006 are evidence of this. Serge Jeannet, the producer of these concerts, had heard of Opie, listened to her CDs and fell in love with her style. "Serge is a true patron of the arts," Opie commented. "I wasn't exactly a household name in Cape Town, yet he had the confidence to book me and fly me half way around the world." She proved to be such a success with her appearances at Jazz at the Nassau in 2004 that Jeannet insisted she return the following year. She'll return again in 2007. In 2003 Opie performed at the Queensland (Australia) Jazz and Arts Festival. Her jazz travels have also taken her to Vals, Switzerland, and to Osaka, Fukai, and Kanzawa, Japan. A singer just doesn't pop into these cities and ask, "Hey, have you got any gigs for me?" What is instead at work in Opie Bellas' international career is the effort she has made to establish a reputation as a jazz singer people wantÊto pay attention to. This effort began at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where Opie trained as a classical vocalist. "I learned how powerful the human voice can be in expressing the full range of emotions. When technique and heart come together, that's what singing is all about for me." Listen to her CD "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" (HYPERLINK TO THE CD PAGE)for example, and you will hear a singer gifted with both delectable phrasing and feeling. Her CD "Faces" (HYPERLINK TO THE CD PAGE)was produced by and recorded at the Grammy Award winning Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and went on to reach the U.S Top 50 on the JazzWeek charts. Her recording, Live For Life (Link to CD page) features Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Quartet and caught the discerning ear of New York music scholar, author and WNYC presenter Jonathan Schwartz who continues to feature the recording. In 2004 she performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as part of a tribute to the music of Fred Rogers. You remember Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, don't you? Keeping company with Opie were Renee Fleming, Tommy Tune, and John Lithgow. Good company, indeed. ÊSpeaking of that TV NeighborhoodÊand great jazz in Pittsburgh, Opie had a grand time gigging with the late Johnny Costa, the long-time musical director of Fred Rogers' show and a wonderful jazz pianist. "Johnny floors me," Opie has said. "He always reminded me of Art Tatum."Ê As we traverse the globe with her we realize that Opie is as comfortable in the concert hall as she is in more intimate clubs. "I love singing to large audiences, and I think my classical training has let me be at ease when working with symphony orchestras."Ê ÊThose intimate clubs on Opie's resume have included Danny's in New York, where the venerable Blossom Dearie makes her musical home, Town Hall, The Plush Room, and Yoshi's, the West Coast's premier jazz club. Ê Opie's talents have also extended to an impressive range of voice work. She has provided an array of voices for Leapfrog Learning Toys and has also delighted our kids by playing a variety of characters for numerous recordings of children's books. She's been heard on the California Lottery TV commercial, and the astute fans of National Public Radio welcomed her as the host of its Concert Matinee for a number of years. Ms. Bellas has also been known to play a mean game of tennis. But relax. In concert halls, clubs, and in the recording studio she serves up nothing but love.Ê - Milton Elbogen ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QUOTE SHEET ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "A great performer in her prime...do yourself a favor and track her down." JazzTimes Magazine - America's Jazz Magazine Christopher Louden "A sexy voice, impeccable taste and rare musical instinct add up to make Opie Bellas a jazz singer to treasure. Best of all is the unmistakable impression she leaves that there is always more where that came from." San Francisco Chronicle Octavio Roca "Opie Bellas make such an instant emotional connection with her songs that it's hard not to be moved when she sings. At the same time, her voice has a musicality so innate, that she never has to strain to prove it" James Gavin Grammy-nominated author of Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker, is writing a biography of Lena Horne for Simon & Schuster "Bellas phrases from the heart. A gifted storyteller worthy of more recognition." Backstage Magazine, New York City John Hoglund "There is, in every writer of words and music, a silent prayer that a singer will pick up his song and find a way to make the words and music live for the listener. Opie does that. She makes you listen. She's not just singing. She's sitting beside you, whispering in your ear." Arthur Hamilton composer/lyricist of "Cry Me A River" "Opie Bellas knows what to sing and how to sing it! If you thought you've heard Lazy Afternoon, Born to be Blue, Fever, think again.... Opie puts the classic "Fever" smack dab in the middle of the jazz idiom, with her unique and compelling arrangement." Melanie Berzon Program Director/Host KCSM-FM 91.1 San Francisco, California "The tenderness and passion Opie Bellas imbues in the opening Since You Stayed Here sets the tone for Live For Life, a simply wondrous and imaginative collection of nine familiar songs that sound anything but in Bellas' alluring interpretations and an original work that sends one searching for the socks that have been knocked off - only after the tears have been wiped away. Live For Life is a work that reaches deep into your soul and ranks as one of the year's finest creations..." Cabaret Scenes Magazine Jeff Rossen "With burnished, vibrant timbre reminiscent of Joni James and Chris Connor, Bellas wraps her smoky voice around (her) material." Napa Valley Register L. Pierce Carson "Fast rising to a preeminent rank in the hierarchy of jazz vocalists. A Jazz singer from the old school, Bellas doesn't mess around with chichi vocal embroidery. She sings, the lyrics pure and simple in a warm, seasoned voice that's assured, in total control. and backed by impeccable phrasing." San Francisco Bay Times Gene Price "The first time I heard Opie Bellas sing, I demanded to know where she had been all my life. With a sophisticated, honey-warm jazz sound like BellasÑand phrasing that would have made Ella nod in admirationÑwhy had I never heard of this woman? A year from now, If you're left out of all the Opie Bellas buzz, you'll have only yourself to blame." San Francisco Chronicle Stephanie Salter ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CDs ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FACES Opie Bellas Now available at CDBaby.com and Buythiscd.com ORDER CD: http://cdbaby.com/cd/opiebellas3 Recorded at the Grammy award winning Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, San Francisco, and Burbank. * Drummer Roger Humphries * Drummer Wally Schnalle * Trombonist/Percussionist: Jay Ashby * Guitarists: Ron Anthony (George Shearing) * Marty Ashby, Brad Buethe * Pianist: David Udolf * Bassists: Dwayne Dolphin and Chris Amberger CD Song List 1. Since You Stayed Here 2. My Father 3. Live For Life 4. Not While IÕm Around 5. The Summer Knows 6. Rainbow Connection 7. Once Upon A Summertime 8. When I Look In Your Eyes 9. My Brother John 10. Do I Miss You ................................ LIVE FOR LIFE Opie Bellas ORDER CD: http://cdbaby.com/cd/opiebellas JAZZ QUARTET Michael Moricz Ð Piano Jeff Mangone Ð Bass Al Wrublesky Ð Drums Ralph Guzzi Ð Trumpet CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Michael Moricz Ð Piano Charles Lirette Ð Trumpet William Caballero Ð French Horn James Gorton Ð Oboe, English Horn Rosemary Harris Ð Violin Sarah Clendenning Ð Violin Tatjana Meade Chamis Ð Viola Joseph Bishkoff Ð Cello David Premo Ð Cello George Kresovich Ð Accordian John Maione Ð Guitar © 2001 Bella Blue CD Song List 1. Since You Stayed Here 2. My Father 3. Live For Life 4. Not While IÕm Around 5. The Summer Knows 6. Rainbow Connection 7. Once Upon A Summertime 8. When I Look In Your Eyes 9. My Brother John 10. Do I Miss You ................................ HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING ORDER CD: http://cdbaby.com/cd/opiebellas2 Opie Bellas, Vocals Chick Cicchetti, Piano Tom Martin, Bass © 2001 Bella Chetti Productions CD Song List 1. Late Late Show 2. Midnight Sun 3. Imagination 4. How Insensitive 5. 'Tis Autumn 6. How Do You Keep the Music Playing 7. Hey John 8. Where Do You Start 9. Once I Loved 10. I'm Beginning to See the Light 11. My Romance