"Like Open Arms to a Lost Soul"

"Parris In The Springtime"
by Beth Peerless
(for Coast Weekly)

Somehow, the sound of jackhammers blasting away outside of Rebecca Parris'
Seattle hotel room could not drown out what she had to say as we conversed
over the phone the other day. The outgoing jazz singer fell into her own
rhythm, powerfully direct, ever at ease and full of wit, not unlike her
singing style.

The Boston area native has embarked on a three-week West Coast tour, which
brings her to Carmel at The Jazz Store for two nights. Her shows here have
been a popular event in the past, bringing out jazz aficionados who enjoy her
rich swinging style and her ability to get down low with the bass and then
soar effortlessly to a soft and heavenly high note. Recognized for her
ability to interpret the standards with a highly personal touch, Parris has
been referred to by Tim Hodges, program director for San Francisco's KJAZ
radio station, as "The perfect combination of power and passion...THE jazz
songbird of the '90s."

"I love the best to find the tacks on the old standards," she says. "I'm in
the communication business. I want the audience to understand...My most
important goal is to communicate with them, and to share an emotion, to share
an idea with them and to have their feedback, whether they understand me or
not. To quote a stale phrase, 'I'm a people person.'"

Her musical past is filled with every style imaginable, beginning at age 6 in
musicals with her father in summer stock through rock, opera, R&B, blues and
into jazz where she is now firmly established. Locally, she has impressed
audiences on the Main Stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival and served as artist
in residence, participating in clinics there and as part of the MJF
Educational Program. In the intimate setting of The Jazz Store, the dynamic
performer has touched everyone in the room with her delivery that's both
brassy and sensitive. A veteran of the jazz scene, she has called luminaries
such as Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McCrae, Shirley Horn and Mark Murphy friends.

Her backup band includes another friend and favorite bassist Scott Steed,
drummer Eddie Marshall and pianist Joe Gilman. A performer who is always on,
Parris is a delight to behold, her choice of material chose to fit her mood.

"Brazilian music will always be a passion with me," she says in response to
what her set list will be. "You'll always hear that in my set. The music is
like open arms to a lost soul.

Last Revision Date: 4/1/01
Webmaster: DragonRyder Originals, Inc.
Copyright (C) 2001, Rebecca Parris