Cecilia Monte Open Air
Submitted by Cashbox Canada
Born into a musical family, Cecilia began her music education at age four. She studied extensively in Argentina, both in conservatories and with private teachers, learning vocal technique, jazz and improvisation.
In 2009 - 2010, she furthered her jazz studies in Vancouver with vocal teachers Steve Maddock and Karin Plato. She also performed live with Karin Plato as a vocal duo. In 2011, Cecilia continued her professional development in Toronto, ON as a member of the Toronto Jazz Chorus, directed by Howard Rees. In addition, she attended the Vocal Jazz Workshops he teaches.
Cecilia also participated in jazz master Barry Harris Vocal and Improvisation Jazz Workshops in New York City, took private voice lessons with Ranee Lee in Montréal, QC, and participated at Dominique Eade’s Vocal Jazz Workshop at Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival.
Cecilia has performed in clubs and festivals across Canada. Most recently, she received a standing ovation for her headline appearance at the 2012 Vancouver International Jazz Festival. According to the Georgia Straight’s Adrian Mack, “Of the 150 or so shows presented by the Jazz Festival this year, Cecilia Monte’s night of bossa-nova at Performance Works on July 1st might have been the sultriest”.
Cecilia has recently released her first full-length CD “Open Air”. Here she exposes for the first time her original compositions as well as her own arrangements of jazz and bossa-nova standards. ‘Old Devil Moon’ is reminiscent of the sultry vocals of the 1940’s style singers, while ‘Waiting’ written by Monte shows her vocal range. Obviously comfortable singing in Portuegese, ‘Fotografia’ (Antonio Carlos Jobim) and ‘O Pato' are energetic and playful productions, while ‘Minha Cancao’, ‘O Meu Cantar' and ‘Ilusao’, all written by Monte show her versatile style of writing and her deep roots of her culture. ‘When Will You Come’, also written by Monte, has the soulful sadness of a torch singer, while the Lane/Loesser classic ‘I Hear Music’ jazzes up the CD. A personal favourite, the rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘My Favourite Things’ has a unique arrangement that changes the feel of the song to sound like a jazz standard as opposed to a movie classic.
The Argentine-born bossa-nova and jazz vocalist Cecilia Monte is currently on tour in Canada and will be teaching a Bossa Nova Singing Workshop on Sat, Sep 15 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm at Marigold Studio, 1195 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON.
There are also performance dates of :
September 18, 10:00PM – as a duet, Czehoski, 678 Queen St. W, Toronto
September 23, 8:00 p.m. – full band, Chalkers Pub, 247 Marlee Ave., Toronto
October 17 & 18, 9:00 PM – with Hendrik Maurkens & The Toronto Samba Jazz Connection, The Rex, 194 Queen St. W, Toronto
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