Sable Winters
Encyclopedia
Sable Winters, is an American
singer songwriter jazz vocalist, neo-soul singer and recording artist.
at one of her final performances at an Atlanta, GA music festival in midtown Piedmont Park
, which ignited a passion for singing vocal jazz
. The quest to sing and perform lead to visiting local venues and participating in open mic throughout the area. While working full time in the 9-5 corporate world, it would take another five years before Winters ramped up to a full time pursuit of a professional musical career. A relocation to the Washington, D.C. area brought forth opportunities at Blues Alley
and other such venues until ultimately relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area
where her career began to accelerate. In 2004, joining and becoming a voting member of the San Francisco Chapter's National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) aka The Recording Academy) was a critical move toward being taken seriously in the music industry. Her volunteer efforts and contributions to the Special Events and Membership committees were key to accessing the resources necessary to effectively pursue a recording career and achieve growing name recognition.
Volunteerism proves both valuable and rewarding. Winters was twice nominated for a seat on the San Francisco NARAS chapter Board of Governors 2005-2007 (singer) and 2007-2009 (songwriter). Though not elected to office, her goal remains to evolve in her craft, record, write songs, contribute to music and recording education and show production.
, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone
and the European sensation, Edith Piaf. A jazz enthusiast, singer and cabaret performer, Winters has an appreciation of the free flowing feel of neo-soul recording artists like Erykah Badu
and Jill Scott
. As for the jazz genre, Winters cut her teeth on classic Sarah Vaughan
and the swinging beat of Peggy Lee
and Carmen McRae
. Like Vaughan, Winters prefers not to be categorized primarily as a "Jazz Singer" and enjoys the creative duality of delivering a divine song while in pursuit of sassy counter expression.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer songwriter jazz vocalist, neo-soul singer and recording artist.
Music career
In the summer of 1989, Ms. Winters was introduced to jazz and pop singer Sarah VaughanSarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
at one of her final performances at an Atlanta, GA music festival in midtown Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park is a urban park in Atlanta, Georgia, located about northeast of Downtown, between the Midtown and Virginia Highland neighborhoods. Originally the land was owned by Dr. Benjamin Walker, who used it as his out-of-town gentleman's farm and residence...
, which ignited a passion for singing vocal jazz
Vocal jazz
Jazz singing can be defined by the instrumental approach to the voice, where the singer can match the instruments in their stylistic approach to the lyrics, improvised or otherwise, or through scat singing; that is, the use of nonsensical meaningless non-morphemic syllables to imitate the sound of...
. The quest to sing and perform lead to visiting local venues and participating in open mic throughout the area. While working full time in the 9-5 corporate world, it would take another five years before Winters ramped up to a full time pursuit of a professional musical career. A relocation to the Washington, D.C. area brought forth opportunities at Blues Alley
Blues Alley
Blues Alley, founded in 1965, is a jazz dinner-and-nightclub in an alley off Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood.As of 2008, exclusively jazz musicians are booked into Blues Alley for approximately 360 nights out of the year....
and other such venues until ultimately relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
where her career began to accelerate. In 2004, joining and becoming a voting member of the San Francisco Chapter's National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) aka The Recording Academy) was a critical move toward being taken seriously in the music industry. Her volunteer efforts and contributions to the Special Events and Membership committees were key to accessing the resources necessary to effectively pursue a recording career and achieve growing name recognition.
Volunteerism proves both valuable and rewarding. Winters was twice nominated for a seat on the San Francisco NARAS chapter Board of Governors 2005-2007 (singer) and 2007-2009 (songwriter). Though not elected to office, her goal remains to evolve in her craft, record, write songs, contribute to music and recording education and show production.
Style and Influences
Winters studied great female vocalists and performers of the 30's, 40's, 50's and early 60's. These critical influences are Mildred BaileyMildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey was a popular and influential American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing"...
, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
and the European sensation, Edith Piaf. A jazz enthusiast, singer and cabaret performer, Winters has an appreciation of the free flowing feel of neo-soul recording artists like Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
and Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
. As for the jazz genre, Winters cut her teeth on classic Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
and the swinging beat of Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
and Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
. Like Vaughan, Winters prefers not to be categorized primarily as a "Jazz Singer" and enjoys the creative duality of delivering a divine song while in pursuit of sassy counter expression.
Discography
- 2003 This Is Always
- 2004 Follow That Star
- 2010 Must Mingle (release 08-21-10)
Critical Reviews
Entered into two books written by author/critic, Maximillien J De Lafayette: "Entertainment Divas, Cabaret, Jazz Then and Now: Including World's Who's Who of the Greatest Female Singers of All Time" and "Living Legends and Ultimate Singers, Musicians and Entertainers: Volume II (H-Z) of World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment"
"I have always said fame is not categorically a sign of talent and a quality signature. Luck and propaganda play a role in creating idols and icons. In countries we have never visited and remote areas of the world forgotten by our vain civilization, there are obscure and unheard of singers and artists with unmatched talent, human warmth and unique virtuosity who steal your heart and force you to rethink and assess excellence prerequisites and talent criteria. This is the very case of Sable Winters, one of the most spectacular and accomplished Jazz singers of our time. Yet, very few of us heard of Sable Winters, and only a handful of syndicated columnists wrote about her immense talent. This woman is as good as Julie London, Peggy Lee and Nina Simone. I was delight to learn that AllAboutJazz wrote a piece on Ms. Winters."
Source: Maximillien J De Lafayette
External links
- Official Website: www.sablewinters.com
- Profile of Winters on All About Jazz
- Sable Winters Music on Apple iTunes
- The Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter Nominates Sable Winters for Board of Governors Seat (2005)
- Sable Winters Performs at Club de Jazz in Santiago, *Chile - South America
- Interview: iTunes Takes On Vocalist Sable Winters