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Changamire
Changamiré is a jazz vocalist and recording artist from Washington, DC. Glenn "HarrMonika Musik" Turner, pianist for the late Gil Scott Heron, was her first vocal coach and introduced her to recording. She receives vocal training from Howard University Professor, Kehembe Eichelberger.
AllAboutJazz.com writes “It’s difficult to nail down just what makes her voice so darn compelling. Maybe it’s the comfort or familiarity, maybe the confiding honesty. Whatever the case, it works exceptionally well.”
In 2001, Changamiré debuted her critically acclaimed album, Only Human, which features a 14-piece string section. It led to a 2004 DC Commission on the Arts Artist Fellowship that funded her performance at the GIFT Festival in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. She also won the Artist Fellowship in 2022 and 2023.
Since GIFT, five world class musicians accompany her in concert and studio: Count Basie alum, Lincoln Ross, on trombone and as Music Director; soulful Clifton Brockington on piano; bluesy BT Richardson on bass; drummer to the stars, Steve Walker; and the incomparable Donvonte McCoy on trumpet.
Her second album, Love, was released in 2014, and she is currently recording a Billie Holiday album. The tribute to Holiday will give a fresh perspective through obscure covers and original compositions.
With pro-quality production being a priority, she met with the late Rudy Van Gelder about the Holiday album in 2016, and he invited her to record in his legendary studio at no cost.
Changamiré is dedicated to serving community. In 2019, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC gave her the “Service Above Self Award” for developing and managing a two-day youth conference for the renown World Press Photo exhibition. In 2020 on the Clubhouse app, she co-founded The New Jazz Listener, an innovative show that converts curious listeners into new jazz fans. She has grown NJL to over 11k members, with guests including T.S. Monk, Ron Carter, Katea Stitt, Aida Brandes-Hargrove, Katja von Schuttenbach, Todd Barkan and Isaiah Collier.
Attracted to her moderating style, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hired Changamiré in 2022 to conduct an entertaining live interview with saxophonist Jimmy Greene. Later in 2022, she was selected by the Embassy of Germany to represent the United States in a jazz delegation that toured Berlin, Frankfurt and Darmstadt.
Changamiré is the recipient of a 2020 United States Artists award. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Washington, DC, 8x Grammy winner Malik Yusef's Bad Kids Klass songwriting camp and the Women's Committee of Washington Performing Arts.
Awards
2023 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities' Artist Fellowship
2022 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities' Artist Fellowship
2020 United States Artists Award
Gear
Neumann microphones (one can dream!)
Tags
Changamiré: Snapshots of Germany Refine A Self-Portrait
by Chris M. Slawecki
When vocalist Changamiré accepted an invitation to represent the US in an international jazz delegation from the German Federal Foreign Office, to tour and network with the jazz communities in jny: Berlin, jny: Frankfurt and jny: Darmstadt, she expected to discover new insights about the jazz industry and culture in Germany. But she was happily surprised by the new visions that this trip abroad brought back home to her own work. Co-developed by the Federal Foreign Office in ...
read moreChangamire: Love
by Chris M. Slawecki
With Love, Washington DC-based vocalist Changamiré follows up her self-produced 2001 debut Only Human with a new song cycle mainly co-written and produced with Lincoln Ross, who also contributes trombone to several tracks. Changamiré's songs suggest the compositional depth of Roberta Flack. But her voice is not quite so brooding, and sounds more rooted in the gospel foundation of singers such as Anita Baker. BUT it's even different from, a bit more exotic sounding around the edges than, Baker's straight-on ...
read moreChangamire at GIFT: Part 3-3 - Homeward Bound
by Changamire
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3Introduction I am Changamiré, a Jazz/R&B singer in Washington, DC, USA. This story is about my performance at the 8th Annual Georgian International Festival of the Arts (GIFT), the weekend of June 11, 2004, in the warm and charming city of Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia. I have always wanted to perform abroad, and Tbilisi was the perfect city to first partake of such an endeavor.VIPs ...
read moreChangamire at GIFT: Part 2-3 - Changamire's Gift
by Changamire
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3Introduction I am Changamiré, a Jazz/R&B singer in Washington, DC, USA. This story is about my performance at the 8th Annual Georgian International Festival of the Arts (GIFT), the weekend of June 11, 2004, in the warm and charming city of Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia. I have always wanted to perform abroad, and Tbilisi was the perfect city to first partake of such an endeavor.Changamiré ...
read moreChangamire at GIFT: Part 1-3 - Departures and Arrivals
by Changamire
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Introduction I am Changamiré, a Jazz/R&B singer in Washington, DC, USA. This story is about my performance at the 8th Annual Georgian International Festival of the Arts (GIFT), the weekend of June 11, 2004, in the warm and charming city of Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia. I have always wanted to perform abroad, and Tbilisi was the perfect city to first partake of such an endeavor.
read moreChangamire: Only Human
by Todd S. Jenkins
One of the “Queens of MP3”, the sultry Changamire emerges from the online shadows to titillate us with a wonderful offering. Changamire (the name means “like the sun” in an African language) has gradually built up a strong following on the MP3.com boards over the past few years, making her more than one of Washington, DC’s best-kept secrets. On Only Human she crosses over many lines: jazz, urban, adult contemporary. She’s a versatile vocalist with a distinctively personal sound, recalling ...
read moreAcclaimed Vocalist Changamiré Partners With The Black Restaurant Group For Album Release Party And 33rd Annual Takoma Park Street Festival
Source:
Changamire
Don’t miss the event celebrating the artist’s latest CD, Love.
It is free to the public and scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2014. Washington, D.C. – Since announcing the debut of her latest album, critically acclaimed D.C. artist Changamiré has created buzz by joining forces with Republic, the Black Restaurant Group’s newest offering. As a kickoff to the Takoma Park Street Festival, the two plan to offer fans an incredible Love-themed release party at Republic, with live performances, sensational food ...
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Critically Acclaimed Jazz Artist Changamiré Releases Newest Album, Titled "Love"
Source:
Changamire
Washington, D.C.-based vocalist Changamiré announces the release of her latest CD, Love. Her first album, Only Human, enjoyed resounding international success. Washington, D.C. — Changamiré, a Washington, D.C. jazz and R&B vocalist whose work has met global acclaim, announces the release of her newest album, Love. Fans can expect an eclectic mix of songs on the subject, sung with the artist’s signature sweet, sultry and honeyed sound. From the Pulp-Fiction-esque “If You Should Wonder" to the jazz ballad “Sunny Days" ...
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Changamire Salutes Bearden By Giving Away Fine Art
Source:
All About Jazz
Washington...Changamire, Washington Jazz/R&B singer, will host Changamire Salutes Bearden on Saturday, December 6. The event begins with a tour of the renowned exhibition, “The Art of Romare Bearden" at The National Gallery of Art, 4th & Constitution Avenue NW at 4:00 p.m. Afterwards, guests are invited to a champagne reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Zenith Gallery, 413 Seventh Street, NW, for an admission fee of $10.00 with an exhibition brochure or $15.00 without an exhibition brochure. Fine art ...
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...BUT [her voice is] even different from, a bit more exotic sounding around the edges than, [Anita] Baker’s straight-on gospel-soul — it almost sounds as if Eartha Kitt’s “Catwoman” character decided to become a jazz singer. Out of the entire universe of soul, R&B and jazz vocalists, you’d think I could find one female singer with a voice similar to Changamiré’s or a style comparable to her singing. But...not yet, anyway. — Chris Slawecki, AllAboutJazz.com
Dim lights and arousing sounds from her quintet’s bass and trumpet evoked a smooth tone for Changamiré’s nearly perfect, intimate performance, which included Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” and a befitting rendition of Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind”... pristine, untainted and angelic... — Kenneth Mallory, Afro American
Primary Instrument
Vocals
Location
Washington
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Clinic/Workshop Information
In 2020 on the Clubhouse app, Changamiré co-founded The New Jazz Listener, an innovative show that converts curious listeners into new jazz fans. She has grown the weekly NJL to over 11k members, with guests including T.S. Monk, Ron Carter, Katea Stitt, Aida Brandes-Hargrove, Katja von Schuttenbach, Todd Barkan and Isaiah Collier.
Listen in on Sundays at 4:00 PM ET and schedule a personalized show for your jazz conference, festival or education program.
Photos
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
