CYNTHIA HOLIDAY

Female

United States

Profile Information:

What instrument do you play?

JAZZ VOCALIST

Who influenced you to listen to jazz

MY FATHER, CALVIN HUGHES...A JAZZ TRUMPETER AND BAND LEADER

How did you find out about the WDCJN?

I received an email from someone

My Website

http://www.cynthiaholidaymusic.com

Where are you located?

NEW YORK

Tell us about yourself

Cynthia’s gifted vocals and natural inclination for jazz is firmly attributed to her upbringing in Newark, New Jersey where music filled her home on any given day. Her stepfather Calvin Hughes, a jazz trumpet player, led his own band, Calvin Hughes and the Swinging Gents and performed with such jazz greats as Count Basie, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Big Maybelle.

Cynthia is rooted in paying respect to music icons she remembers hearing as a child. “My father mostly played the music of jazz musicians like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and West Montgomery. My mother played jazz vocal albums like Dakota Staton’s “Late, Late Show” and Sarah Vaughan’s “Vaughan and Violins” …I sang along with them all. And then, there is the Gospel music I clapped my hands to at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark…it’s all a part of the music mix of who I am today.”

Cynthia began singing in 1990 with a band called “Kiss & Tell”, singing jazz and R&B covers. Eventually she began to study jazz vocals with the late pianist Duke Anderson and more recently with her current music director, Radam Schwartz. “My development as a jazz vocalist is attributed to lessons taught by the masters in class and on the bandstand. Early in my career, being Calvin Hughes’ daughter afforded me the privilege to sit-in with some great musicians like the late Earl May, Harry Whitaker, the Bob Harris Orchestra and others. Today, I continue to study my craft and give countless props to the musicians in my band who I learn from and admire.”

During the past few years, Cynthia has performed in a variety of settings, opening for Azar Lawrence at the 2009 Hartford Jazz Festival, guest appearing with the Les Paul Trio at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, featured vocalist at the 2010 International Women In Jazz Concert and performing live with her band on NBC TV 4, Early Today Show (April 2010).





Cynthia’s debut CD is called “Cynthia Holiday…All The Way” and was initially teamed with producer John Snyder. Guest artists include renowned pianist Cedar Walton, bassist David Williams and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Ms. Holiday’s core band of highly acclaimed jazz musicians include Radam Schwartz, B3 Organ; Wayne Henderson, drums; Julius Tolintino, Saxophone; Gerald Hayes, Saxophone; Joe Brown, Jr. Drums; Geary Moore, Guitar and the late Andy McCloud, Bass. The project was eventually completed under the direction of producer, Eulis Cathey.

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