"Her voice sets her apart from any other vocalist on record today. A mood
that transcends the ordinary, that in one moment exudes warmth and is
poignant, in another driving hard and swinging."
Shirley Horn

"What a wonderful singer"
Tony Bennett

"Rebecca Parris reminds me musically of Carmen McRae
with the diction of Margaret Whiting."
Dizzy Gillespie

"Rebecca Parris has a warm, vibrant sound and sings
with great feeling and intelligence."
Joe Williams

"Best of all, she sings with power, conviction, originality, total believability.
She is that rare bird: the true jazz singer with the soul of an entertainer."
Fred Bouchard, JAZZTIMES

"But for me the real magic comes from Rebecca Parris, who...tears me up with
her absolutely gorgeous rendition of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life". Rebecca
has a personality and stage presence stronger than any I've seen since Dizzy."
Robert Tate, JAZZ Now Magazine

"...Parris can claim several of the virtues to which many singers aspire: a
personal, confident sound, flawless intonation and an often dominant jazz
feeling. Rebecca Parris deserves the attention of anyone looking for
fresh innovative vocal concepts."
Leonard Feather, L.A. Times

"The perfect combination of power and passion. Rebecca Parris is
THE jazz songbird of the 90's."
Tim Hodges, Program Director, KJAZ, San Francisco.

"Only now and then does there appear the real article...the singer with a great voice,
consummate musical skills and a natural stage presence and dramatic
delivery that makes a song's works and lyrics spring to life."
Owen McNally, Hartford Courant

Biographical Thumbnail

She has sung everything from rock to Sondheim, held her own in tightly orchestrated vocal jazz ensembles, and worked as a soloist in every setting imaginable, from big bands to duets. Whatever the occasion, during whichever phase of her career, Rebecca Parris has always been right on the musical target, nailing the groove. With her days of wandering the musical landscape behind her, she’s now singing in the jazz idiom, presenting her dynamic style through her unique interpretation of standards, ballads, blues, Latin and contemporary tunes.

The career of this remarkable talent was launched at age six, singing in musicals with her father in summer stock. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Rebecca still lives just south of Boston. Her New England fans consider her their own special star, but her smooth and passionate vocals enrapture and captivate audiences wherever she performs. Whether it’s the main stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival, or the International Floating Jazz Festival out of Germany, Rebecca has amassed a plethora of teaching and working venues throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to touring for the past decade as a solo artist, she has performed and shared the stage with an impressive list of jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, "the" Count Basie, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Gunther Schuller Orchestras, Joe Williams and others.

Ms. Parris’ prior albums have garnered airplay and stunning accolades both on a national level and on the overseas market. In a review of her work, Jazz Times writer Fred Bouchard writes, “Best of all, she sings with power, conviction, originality, total believability. She is that rare bird: the true Jazz singer with the soul of an entertainer.”

Watching Rebecca Parris perform is more than going to a club to hear “good music”. She is a gifted and accomplished performer, embracing the audience with her engaging and passionate vocals, witty humor, and the ability to leave people with a sense that they have truly been touched by the lyrical delivery of her ballads and the spirit of her skillful and versatile standards. Owen McNally from the Hartford Courant says it quite succinctly: “Only now and then does there appear the genuine article - the singer with a great voice, consummate musical skills and a natural stage presence and dramatic delivery that makes a song’s works and lyrics spring to life.”

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