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MP3 T.J. Graham - Small Day Tomorrow
13 MP3 Songs in this album (49:19) !
Related styles: JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz
People who are interested in Natalie Cole Sarah Vaughan Dee Dee Bridgewater should consider this download.
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Born in Buffalo, New York, T.J. Graham knew early in her life, that jazz was her true passion. Growing up in an era when pop sounds of musicians such as Michael Jackson, the Commodores, Jeffrey Osborne, etc. were all the rage among her peers, T.J. found herself drawn to such jazz greats as Betty Carter, Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Al Jarreau, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Johnny Hartman and Nat "King" Cole. While T.J. cites these and other jazz greats as her major influences, she credits Ella Fitzgerald(her mother''s favorite jazz vocalist) as being her initial inspiration.
T.J., by musicians'' standards is a novice on the music scene. Even so, with two CD projects to her credit, she has performed and/or sat in with many of Memphis'' most notable jazz artists such as, Gene Rush, Donald Brown, Rene Koopman, Herman Green, Calvin Newborn, Joyce Cobb, Renardo Ward, John Lightman, Barry Johnson, Robert Horton, Lee Grinspan, Dom Fosco, Chris Ward, Richard DeLisi, Mark "Dr. Scat" Weiss, Carl Wolfe, Charleton Johnson, Billy Gibson, Al Gamble, Anthony Royal, the late James Austin (of the Platters), Irving Evans, the VA Swing Big Band and the Bill Jordan Big Band, to mention a few. She has also had the opportunity to study with nationally recognized jazz vocal greats, Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton.
Currently, T.J. performs on a regular basis with "Jazmine," a Memphis-based Jazz Quintet. As T.J. puts it, "we play a variety of music, which is interesting in itself and then there are the other lead singers and vocal harmonizing, which make "Jazmine" unique in the Memphis jazz scene." Anyone hearing "Jazmine" perform their eclectic mixture of jazz classics and original compositions, with occasional nods to Motown, would be struck by the joy and energy emanating from the sextet.
T.J. is most proud of the fact that she has acquired a wealth of musical knowledge from her music teacher, Irving Evans (pianist),who she fondly refers to as “The Maestro.” Although T.J. considers herself to be moderately talented, she feels that studying with “Maestro” Evans has elevated her to a higher level of musicianship. Beginning the summer of 2003, upon her return from the Vermont Summer Jazz Workshop, where she studied with Ms. Jordan and Ms. Clayton, she began performing regularly on Friday and Saturday nights with her music teacher, Irving Evans at a very popular upscale steakhouse in downtown Memphis. These performances were so successful that they lead to subsequent performances at local and out-of-town country clubs brunches and other functions, wedding receptions, big band invitations, and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
If you were at one of T.J.’s live performances, you would at once be drawn to her magnetic and infectious style. Her effective manner of delivering a song makes her a favorite among jazz vocalists. Those on the receiving end of T.J.’s performances are never disappointed; they are always in for a real treat, because she never fails to draw them in, making them as much a part of the show as possible. Able to perform tunes from other musical genre as well, T.J. is able to take requests and 99.9% of the time she is able to deliver. She has adopted the motto of her music teacher and mentor, Irving Evans, “Always play pretty for the people” and she always does just that!
T.J.''s infectious style and remarkably natural stage presence might come as a surprise to those who only know her as Dr. Graham. Currently a professor of Teacher Education in a local institution of higher education, T.J. has been a leader in the Midsouth education system for several years. However, when on stage, it appears that she has been around the music scene for much longer than the 3½ years that she has been regularly involved. Although she loves her status as educator, she says that she feels most comfortable on stage, especially when she is performing with master musicians, such as those local and nationally recognized musicians playing on the "Small Day Tomorrow" project, which includes traditional jazz swing and ballads; contemporary smooth jazz; and Latin songs.
Although new to the music world, T.J. is not a prodigy. However, she is definitely a songstress who will make lovers of female jazz vocal stylings sit up and take notice. She reminds listeners of all that was authentic, sultry, sensual, non-pretentious, and pure-voiced in the jazz vocalizing of such jazz greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Carmen McCrae, Billie Holiday, Anita O’Day, Nancy Wilson, June Christie, Betty Carter, etc. She is definitely one to watch on the jazz scene!
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