TALENTED JAZZ ARTISTS PERFORM FOR FREE, 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).”

“So, my song choice 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. More 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 performer, 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 entertainer 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.

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.

Smith’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.

Linda’s skills, along with an endless joy and zest for her craft, have been on display at various local venues, e.g. 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.

Guitarist, David Smith, previously studied with jazz greats, Jimmy Bruno and Martin Taylor; and locally with Barry Zweig and John Pisano. He considers Joe Pass, Pat Martino, and Wes Montgomery as major influences and deems himself, “mostly self taught.”

David is presently the guitarist for the "Ventura Jazz Orchestra," an 18 piece Big Band. You can find him playing around town with many of the top vocalists, i.e. Laura Pursell and Perlene Thurston, whom he’s proud to be accompanying at “Jazz for Justice.”
  
“Jazz for Justice” is part of the global movement in support of V-Day for One Billion Rising for Justice 2014. Risings in over 200 countries will be taking place simultaneously.

V-Day is a non-profit created by Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues.” V-Day raises money and awareness to help women who are survivors of violence, across the world.

Following the performances, Jane Fonda and Wendy Greuel will be giving motivational talks. Afterwards, join in a flash mob dance to “Break the Chain,” as choreographed by Debbie Allen. Learn the Dance at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbiVOEk1R08 ). 

There will also be belly dancing, free T-shirts while supplies last, tabling from organizations dedicated to the cause, and free parking on the CBS Studio lot (New York Street), 4024 Radford, Studio City.

Sign up/RSVP at http://www.obrlosangeles.org/one_billion_rising_for_justice_valley