TALENTED JAZZ ARTISTS PERFORM FOR FREE "JAZZ FOR JUSTICE" CONCERT, FEBRUARY 14, 6:15-7:30PM, CBS STUDIOS

Singing sensation, Cathy Segal-Garcia, is honored to showcase The Song, an original composition from her CD recording, “Secret Life.” She’ll be performing it with one of her unique groups, a 7-piece a capella ensemble, whose forte is vocal improvisation. http://ca1189.wix.com/fish-to-birds.

Cathy chose this particular tune because its theme is “a reach out for awareness and action, subjects which are a driving force behind most actions in my life.” She’s excited to “contribute The Song and its calling to this awesome event!”

Cathy has been singing professionally for about 50 years, starting when she was a young child coming from a musical family in Boston. Her teen and college years were in the middle of a tremendous time in music; Motown, Woodstock, bebop, modern jazz. She attended the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, and then moved to CA.

Known as a “musician’s singer,” Cathy has been widely respected for her singing, composing and business abilities all over the world. She has eight CDs under her own name, in varied styles of jazz. More at www.cathysegalgarcia.com.

When not traveling nationally and internationally, Cathy performs consistently in the community: every Sunday 6-9pm at A&W Restaurant in Granada Hills, every Thursday 5:30-9:00pm downtown at the L.A. Athletics Club, and the first Friday of each month 7-9pm at the Artisan Cheese Gallery, Studio City.

Jody Jaress, as reviewed in Cabaret Scenes Magazine and JAZZ LA, has a vocal style likened to that of Shirley Horn, Julie London, and June Alison, i.e. “rich, sultry and uniquely interpretive.”

Jody intimately reveals, "If it weren't for the encouragement from the wonderful friends I found in the music community, and their belief in my abilities, I may not be here today sharing my story about being true to your self... your heart, your own beliefs, your passion(s).”

“My song selection written by Cy Coleman in the 50's, Why Try To Change Me Now, speaks to me as a person who has finally come to accept and enjoy my uniqueness.... and as a mother whose daughter Michele, lost her 'life', at age 31, as a result of loosing 'herself' to someone else's desires."

Jody opened for some of the great headliners in the mid 60’s (Harry Belafonte, the Ink Spots, Louis Armstrong, Dinah Shore, and Melissa Manchester) as a singer and dancer at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. In between shows, she would run across the street to the New Frontier to jam with the Ink Spots who invited her to join them whenever she could.

Jaress spent 5 years entertaining and traveling with the USO and was awarded the prestigious USO pin for her dedication and years of service to our armed forces.

Featured at LA jazz clubs such as Tom Rolla's Gardenia, Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill, The Stage, Jax Bar & Grill, The Smoke House, Sportsman's Lodge, Catalina’s Bar & Grill, Jody was also a soloist at the Dini Jazz Awards 2008 and 2010, honoring notables Herb Jeffries, Linda Hopkins, and Howlett Smith.

Currently Jody, along with her friend Linda A. Smith (see bio below), organizes and hosts a live jazz, blues and pop show every second Saturday of the month from 10:30am-2:30pm at the NoHo Farmers Market, North Hollywood. Visit her at: www.jodyjaress.com

Smooth, sultry, singer, Laura Pursell, lights up the room and invigorates any audience privy to her gift. A native of Nashville, TN, she grew up in a house filled with classical and country music (her father is session pianist/composer Bill Pursell).

An ice skater since the age of 9, Laura spent her youth listening to Rachmaninoff and skating to the tunes of Karen Carpenter, Frank Sinatra and every cut on the soundtrack for “A Chorus Line.”

A born entertainer, Laura moved to LA, immediately joined the Company of Angels, LA’s oldest Repertory Theatre, and studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas.

Forever leaning toward jazz, Pursell has had the fortune to work and record with some of the best players in the business, e.g. Barry Zweig, Ron Anthony, Doug MacDonald, Jon Mayer, Joe Bagg, Earl Palmer, George Gaffney, Ross Tomkins, Carl Saunders, and Andy Martin, to name a few.

Laura has recorded four solo CD’s and is a regular featured performer at Vicky’s in Palm Springs and Barone’s in Van Nuys. She is gearing up for another round of recording in March, with her Dad handling all the arrangements. Info at: www.laurapursell.com

Singing is Linda A. Smith’s passion. She’s a true inspiration, starting later in life to pursue her dream by taking private lessons with incredible vocal couches – Bill Burger, Dini Clark, and Howlett Smith; and workshops with The World Stage in Lemiert Park, Cathy Segal Garcia, and Peisha McPhee.

Linda’s favorite composers and lyricists include Cole Porter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ray Evan, Jay Livingston, Sammy Cahn, Johnny Mandel, George and Ira Gershwin, and Johnny Mercer. She relishes performing songs by Barbara Streisand, Carole King, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Wilson, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, Nancy Wilson, Nate King Cole, Sarah Vaughan.

Along with an endless joy and zest for her craft, Linda's skills have been on display at Artisan Cheese Gallery, Cinegrill, Catalina Bar & Grill, Jazz Bakery, Hilton Hotel (Universal City), Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill, Sheraton Universal, The Smokehouse, Sportsman’s Lodge, The World Stage. She also toured in Japan for three years.

Linda disclosed the difficulty in picking a piece about female empowerment. She decided on Secret Love, because “Many of us have dreams that we don’t pursue for a myriad of reasons, e.g. too old, too tall, too short, unsupportive family, they’ll think I'm silly or foolish. I had those feelings and therefore, can relate on a personal level.  To have the courage and freedom to step out and go for it is extremely empowering.”

Perlene Thurston knows her way around a song and infuses her interpretations with personal insight, joy and pleasure.  She has often been described as "the real deal."  She’s been involved in the Southern California jazz scene for over 25 years, and has had the good fortune to perform with some of the finest musicians in the industry, which recently included a featured appearance with jazz greats Bruce Forman on guitar, Chris Conner on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums, at the popular Viva Cantina.

For her “Jazz for Justice” solo, Perlene decided on Otis Redding’s Respect (made famous by Aretha Franklin), because “to my knowledge this was among the first popular songs considered to be the voice of an empowered female who knows her worth and clearly states her desires in an imbalanced relationship.”  

According to Perlene, the lyrics depict a woman unafraid to express her wants, needs, and what she expects, yet isn’t receiving from her partner. “The irony is that Respect was written by a man conveying a woman's perspective. But then, some men could also be singing this to their mates!” 

Highlights of Perlene’s successful career: Touring Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii  and Viet Nam with the Overton Berry Trio through the USO; Sharing the stage with world famous bassist Henry "Skipper" Franklin and his trio (Theo Saunders or Jane Getz on piano, Mel Lee on drums) at the 66 California Jazz and Supper Club, Ventura; opening for Toni Tennelle at the Hilton Hotel, Anaheim; and performing at Loew's Hotel, Santa Monica, with the Daniel May Trio, where she was named "the best kept secret in L.A." and the "Purr-fect vocalist." 

From 2004-2007, Perlene was a Santa Barbara Jazz Society (SBJS) favorite and represented during their Concert Series, Jazz Appreciation Month, with the SBJS All Stars, and at the Santa Barbara Festival of Arts and Jazz with Peter Clark’s Trio. On April 27, 2014, she will once again be presented by the SBJS at Soho in Santa Barbara with her group “Pure Pleasure”.

Around town, Perlene's initial collaboration with local piano ace, Karen Hernandez, at J.P.'s Lounge and the Money Tree, led to several appearances at Chadney's, the Universal Sheraton, Monteleone's, and eventually to weekend shows at the Smoke House in Burbank. 

Perlene has been featured several times with the Bill Berry Quartet at Miceli's; Ca' del Sol Italian Restaurant and Bar with pianist Marty Harris; and as a regular at Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill, Cafe 322, Left Coast Wine Bar & Gallery, Tavern 101, Artisan Cheese Gallery and the Oyster House in Studio City.  

Danielle Skalsky is excited to contribute to this remarkable happening. She believes her selection, Strip Me, has a very simple significance.  “Everyone has a story they want to be heard. This is an anthem to those who haven't gotten their message out yet. It’s an empowering pep talk.”

Danielle has had a long love affair with music, is a professional singer/ actress, and a recent native to Los Angeles.  

Having grown up listening to Audra McDonald, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston and Kristen Chenowith, Danielle's music preferences tend towards the dramatic.  Her style, like her personality, is upbeat and big. 

Look for upcoming gigs at Vitello's and The Federal Bar. Check her out at www.danielleskalsky.com.

Argentinian multilingual composer/vocalist, Anita Robles, has been performing/recording for over 20 years in English, Portuguese, and Spanish with iconic figures such as Placido Domingo, David Garfield, Ronnie Gutierrez, Luis Miguel, John Pena, Otmaro Ruiz, Rocio Durcal, Daniela Romo.

Anita has been referred to as, “the most energetic, sexy Latin Jazz Singer to grace the stage,” by saxophone player/keyboardist Larry Williams (Michael Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones).

Anita admits, “I’ve been fortunate to work with numerous notable legends in Pop, Jazz, and Latin genres. I studied their subtleties, techniques, and joie de vivre. I was mimicking every Ella Fitzgerald riff from the time I was a child…and I’ve paid my dues.”

Professional songwriting began in 1995 after the well-received release of UCanDoIt with the esteemed Vinka Band, comprised of Aaron Serfaty, Rico Belled, Marcelo Caceres, and guest artists Vinnie D’Onofrio, Dan Lutz, Larry Williams.

Publisher Maximo Aguirre signed Anita in 2002 because of the powerhouse Spanish pop self-titled demo, Canciones De Amor Sin Terminar. She moved from Los Angeles to Miami on a lengthy contract, appearing with her Latin Jazz Band at the Cardozo Hotel, Miami Beach and other venues owned by Estefan Enterprises.

In addition to touring Latin America and the U.S., Anita has recently performed at the Baked Potato, Café Cordiale, Café Largo, Genghis Cohen, the Key Club, Tobacco Road, in Earth Day and Fort Lauderdale Jazz Divas festivals.

Anita’s Latin Jazz CD, “LATINA SUAVE,” (2007) is a magnificent mix of BossaNova, Jazz and Tango, with hints of fresh sophisticated pop colors. In the last three years, she has completed profound studies in the field of Music Therapy. Her new project includes spiritual and meditation material with inspirational sounds. It’s available to the public at: www.anitarobles.com.