Natalie Cressman
Natalie Cressman | |
---|---|
Birth name | Natalie Cressman |
Genres | Rock, jazz, funk |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Trombone Vocals |
Years active | 2010–present |
Labels | Cressman Music |
Associated acts | Trey Anastasio Band Van Ghost Peter Apfelbaum Dumpstaphunk Wycliffe Gordon Nicholas Payton Brasstracks |
Natalie Cressman is an American jazz trombonist and vocalist.
Early life
Cressman was born in San Francisco to Sandy and Jeff Cressman who are jazz musicians as well. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, she began to play her first gigs in her early teens with various Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian Jazz groups. Her influences include Elis Regina, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock and Weather Report. When Natalie turned 18 she moved to New York to study at Manhattan School of Music on scholarship, where she studied with Luis Bonilla, Garry Dial, Laurie Frink, and Wycliffe Gordon. In her first semester, she was asked to join Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio's solo project, and has been touring with TAB ever since. Now based in Brooklyn, she is involved in various projects, including longtime mentor Peter Apfelbaum's new project S P A R K L E R. She has released 2 albums in her own right, both self-produced, Unfolding and Turn the Sea, which feature primarily her own compositions. Her original music is a blend of singer/songwriter, jazz, funk, and world music.[1]
Performances
In her junior year of high school, she performed at the Monterey and North Sea Jazz Festivals with the Next Generation Orchestra. In 2008-9, she was selected to perform in several youth honor bands, including the Jazz Band of America, California All State Jazz Band, Jazz Band Classic, and the Grammy Jazz Ensemble.[2] Since moving to New York she has performed with Nichoas Payton's Television Symphony Orchestra and Peter Apfelbaum's New York Hieroglyphics Ensemble. In May 2012 she played the Apollo Theater as a soloist in Wycliffe Gordon's Jazz A La Carte, which also featured renowned performers Savion Glover and Maurice Hines. She founded her own band called the Secret Garden, and released her first recording Unfolding, a modern jazz album with some world music and folk influences.[3] She has also appeared with such groups as Van Ghost, Dumpstaphunk, and Lettuce, and has spent several years as an Artist at Large at Bear Creek Music Festival.[4]
Recordings
She recorded her first album with Secret Garden, titled "Unfolding", in October 2011 at North 6th Media Labs, which was released on her family's label, Cressman Music in late 2012. She followed her debut up with a second album, Turn the Sea, released on March 11, 2014 under her own name. The sophomore release continues her exploration of cross-pollinating jazz with more modern musical styles, resulting in a sound unique to her.[5]
References
- ↑ Richard Scheinin (August 6, 2013). "Natalie Cressman steps into San Jose Jazz Festival spotlight".
- ↑ "Natalie Cressman". Kate Smith Promotions. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ "What's on Your Playlist: Natalie Cressman". Jazz Magazine. September 21, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ Kiran Herbert (June 21, 2013). "Natalie Cressman's Graduation Day". Jazz Bands. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Turn the Sea". Retrieved January 17, 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Natalie Cressman on San Francisco Classical Voice
- Audio Interview with Chet Williamson