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Joanna Wallfisch

Described by Downbeat Magazine as "an exquisite singer-songwriter", Joanna's music conveys a beauty of a many-coloured sort that speaks to straight to the human condition. Her songs reveal personal truths about love, loss, adventure, home and hope. World Music Report described it as "quintessential heart-music by a vocalist who seems to have connected with the deepest recesses of her being emerging into brightness again with songs of haunting beauty."

Joanna is a master in the art of live vocal looping and as a multi-instrumentalist plays baritone ukulele, piano, flute, Indian shruti box, kalimba and melodica. Her music defies genre classification as she effortlessly imbues her songs with nuances of jazz, classical, art-song, and folk, carrying her "clear-eyed poetry" (Boston Globe) and "striking vocals" (Hothouse). Her songwriting extends beyond just lyrics and melody - Joanna also arranges for ensembles including string quartets, winds, a cappella voices and more.

Joanna's career has taken her around the globe. She first studied to be a painter at Central Saint Martins, London. This led her to Paris, where she sang on the bridges of the Seine with the "Rene Miller Wedding Band". Following this formative time she did a masters in jazz at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2012 she moved to New York City where she forged an indelible musical path, appearing and collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, Lee Konitz, to name a few. She released her debut album, Wild Swan in 2011, featuring Joe Martin, Sam Newsome, Rob Garcia and Art Hirahara. In 2015 she signed with Sunnyside Records who released The Origin of Adjustable Things: an intimate duo project with pianist Dan Tepfer. As a follow up to this success she recorded Gardens In My Mind, her third album of self-penned songs and arrangements, featuring the award winning string ensemble The Sacconi Quartet, and Dan Tepfer on piano. In 2018 she self-released her fourth record Blood and Bone, which London Jazz said, "overflowed with creativity and musical resources."

2019 marks the release of her fifth record entitled Far Away From Any Place Called Home, as well as the publication of her debut memoir on UWA Press; "The Great Song Cycle - Portland To LA on Two Wheels and a Song".

Joanna’s unique musical background shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical routes with her love of jazz, art-song, folk and pop, pushing boundaries of genre and stylistic expectations. Her musical heritage is something to behold. Raised by classical musician parents, Australian violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch and London born cellist Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz because she played the cello in the camp’s women's orchestra. Post liberation she became a founding member of the English Chamber Orchestra. Brother Simon is a renowned cellist and opera singer, and eldest brother Benjamin is an Oscar and Grammy nominated film composer.

The Great Song Cycle: An adventurer at heart, in August 2016 Joanna embarked on a solo concert tour of the West Coast of the USA, by bicycle. Over the course of 1,154 miles she performed 16 solo shows between Portland and Los Angeles carrying her instruments, camping gear, and everything else she needed upon her bike. In her inimitable way she turned this once-in-a-lifetime experience into a 60- minute song-cycle, a recorded album and a memoir. She has performed the live iece in theatres including: National Sawdust, NYC, Boston Court Performing Arts Centre, LA, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK, Phoenix Theatre, UK and Joe's Pub, NYC. In June, 2019 Joanna celebrates the release of her fifth album Far Away From Any Place Called Home, and her debut memoir "The Great Song Cycle; Portland to Los Angeles on Two Wheels and a Song", which is being published by Australian Publishers UWA Press.

Alongside Joanna’s musical career she is a passionate educator and takes her songwriting and teaching skills to outreach programs, schools and colleges. In 2016 she travelled to Mumbai to volunteer with charity organisation Songbound, an outreach initiative that brings the transformative power of music to some of India’s poorest and most marginalised children. She has also worked in Los Angeles with non- profit organisation Urban Voices Project, bringing music education and choir to theSkid Row Community. Joanna helped pilot an early childhood program named Family Sing, aimed at the children and parents who are experiencing homelessness. Of this work Joanna says, “bringing music to people in need keeps me grounded and inspires everything I do. It reminds me how powerful music is beyond the concert stage. Music saves lives. It saved my grandmother’s life, and I am compelled to bring my musical skills into a situation that can truly heal and inspire those who need it most, and to help them find a way through their darkest times through singing.”

NOTABLE APPEARANCES INCLUDE:

National Concert Hall, Dublin IE | Bowraville Theatre, Woodford Folk Festival, MONA, Paris Cat, AUS | London Jazz Festival, UK | Boston Court Arts Performing Centre, LA | Pizza Express, UK | Salisbury International Festival, UK | The Sunflower Theatre, CO | National Sawdust, Joe's Pub, Smalls Jazz Club, NYC | The Blue Whale, LA | Sundance Film Festival, SLC | The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK | SING! A Capella Arts Festival, TOR | Show less

Joanna Wallfisch: Blood & Bone

Read "Blood & Bone" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
February 5, 2018

Put quite simply, Blood & Bone is both the sound of a broken heart laid bare and the sonic summation of a journey toward its reconstruction. It's an album informed by the gravitas of naked truth, finding vocalist Joanna Wallfisch creating and delivering a singular blend of poise, pain, and passion with startling clarity. As with any path to discovery or healing, there are mixed emotions to be found along the way here. On the album's tied-together ...

Album Review

Joanna Wallfisch: Gardens In My Mind

Read "Gardens In My Mind" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
October 18, 2016

In questo terzo disco da leader la cantante inglese conferma a grandi linee quanto espresso nel precedente The Origin of Adjustable Things (Sunnyside, 2012). Dal punto di vista espressivo si colloca decisamente nella tradizione delle cantautrici americane d'impronta folk; accanto a lei ritroviamo il pianista Dan Tepfer e il repertorio ripropone vari brani già incisi nel disco precedente ("Song to a Siren" di Tim Buckley, “Satellite," “Anonymous Journey," “Satin Grey" e “Rational Thought"). Le novità vengono dalla presenza del quartetto ...

Album Review

Joanna Wallfisch with Dan Tepfer: The Origin of Adjustable Things

Read "The Origin of Adjustable Things" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
November 18, 2015

Dopo il debutto del 2012 con Wild Swan, la cantante inglese Joanna Wallfisch si unisce al pianista Dan Tepfer per offrire nuovi e ricercati orizzonti espressivi. Influenzata da Norma Winstone e Joni Mitchell, la Wallfisch fa venire in mente le collaborazioni della Winstone con Jimmy Rowles o Fred Hersch. La sua cifra espressiva è autonoma ma anche nel suo caso è un'alta raffinatezza a caratterizzare i percorsi musicali. Il limpido canto colloquiale disegna melodie folk con suadente romanticismo ...

Album Review

Joanna Wallfisch: Wild Swan

Read "Wild Swan" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
May 22, 2012

After immersing herself in the New York jazz scene, English singer/songwriter Joanna Wallfisch decided to return to the city in December 2011 to record her debut album, Wild Swan. A great decision—Wallfisch's soaring and expressive voice combines with superb playing from Big Apple musicians to create a fascinating and original set of songs. The young vocalist cites Joni Mitchell and Norma Winstone as inspirations. Winstone is the most obvious vocal inspiration of the two, but Mitchell's quirky approach ...

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Project Livestream Jazz: An Update—Plus All About Jazz's Binge-Worthy Content—Early April Edition

Source: Michael Ricci
April 10, 2020

With club closures, shelter in place and an uncertain future, we've pivoted our platform to collect, promote and broadcast livestream concerts to support our jazz musician friends. We've also revamped the weekly Jazz Near You newsletter to highlight livestream events as well as All About Jazz content you may have missed. To sign up for your free weekly newsletter, simply update the “Jazz Near You Subscription Settings" section on your member settings page. Project Livestream Jazz: An Update We presented ...
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"[Joanna's] crystalline voice brings to mind early recordings by that legendary songstress [Joni Mitchell] as well as the less heralded work of British jazz singer Norma Winstone." — The Wall Street Journal "The album is at once boldly individual and sublimely subtle...★★★★" — Jazzwise Magazine "When Joanna Wallfisch is one stage one can do nothing but pay attention..." — Downbeat Magazine "The London-born singer-songwriter takes flight on the opening track “When We Travel,” her voice gliding and never forced along its journey as she reflects on a 1,154-mile bicycle trip to Los Angeles from Portland, Oregon. Listeners are given a glimpse of the exquisite vocal control and range Wallfisch has at her disposal." — Associated Press

"London-born vocalist and composer Joanna Wallfisch produces a towering achievement with this new album of (mostly) bittersweet songs and rich arrangements, using a large sonic palette to dramatic and highly musical effect." — London Jazz Review (link to full article) "Put quite simply, Blood & Bone is both the sound of a broken heart laid bare and the sonic summation of a journey toward its reconstruction. It's an album informed by the gravitas of naked truth, finding vocalist Joanna Wallfisch creating and delivering a singular blend of poise, pain, and passion with startling clarity...(her band) provide a rasied platform to stand on... all join in solidarity with Wallfisch to help produce musical beauty of a many-colored sort that speaks to straight to the human condition...★★★★" — All About Jazz (link to full article) "Her tales have not only a reflective, poetic quality but a directness too, venturing into acoustic country- pop that has echoes of singer-songwriters such as Carole King or Glen Campbell... her songs, with their intelligent craft eschew MOR clichés...★★★" — Jazzwise Magazine

"This is quintessential heart-music by a vocalist who seems to have connected with the deepest recesses of her being emerging into brightness again with songs of haunting beauty. Listening to the way Miss Wallfisch seductively bends notes and sculpts phrases it is clear that there’s not a single lyrical word or note that hasn’t been fastidiously considered." — The World Music Report (link to full article) “Sublime voice. . .truly unique” — The Telegraph (UK)

A truly beautiful listen from start to finish” — PopMatters “An exquisite singer-songwriter album...Refined and elegant...★★★★" — DownBeat “Bold, dramatic and powerful” — JazzTimes “Ushering you into a magical sound world that references everything from The Third Stream stylings of Chic Corea and Gary Burton’s Lyric Suite for Sextet to the songs of Kurt Weil, and everything in between, Gardens In My Mind is an album full of beautifully crafted pieces that all make an indelible impression...★★★★" — Jazzwise “Beautiful, intimately confessional and expressive. . . a compelling journey of experimentation and adventure” — London Jazz News

“[With her] clear-eyed poetry. . .Wallfisch combines the intimate purview of a singer-songwriter with the technical liberties of a jazz improviser. Crossing boarders and flouting rules seem to come naturally to the youngest child of a renowned classical-music dynasty.” — Steve Smith, The Boston Globe “Wallfisch, a daring young jazz singer who relocated from London to New York continues to make her presence felt.” — Time Out New York “Sensitive and deep” — The New York Times “The subtle chiaroscuro effects of dynamics, dissonance or vibrato, and her focussed, crystalline delivery will melt any purist’s heart...★★★★.5” — Jon Garelick, DownBeat

“Singer and poetic songwriter Joanna Wallfisch is a breath of fresh air on the jazz scene, and on this second CD reveals her considerable talents in a most intimate duo format.” — Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes “A poetic writer with an uncommonly versatile voice” — Corinna dFW, critic for The New York Times “Joanna Wallfisch is a real discovery. Her clear and supple voice is able to convey her original compositions—and some imaginative covers—with great use of vocal color, superb diction and a strong emotional connection to what she sings. She is a first-rate musician in every way. The Origin of Adjustable Things is a remarkable, memorable and beautiful project that perfectly realizes her unique vision.” — Fred Hersch “Poised—Wallfisch’s vocal might be characterized by emotional understatement and restraint, but the performances and the duo’s intimate rapport are pretty mesmerizing...★★★" — Jazzwise

Striking vocals and creative songwriting. . .Joanna stands out as someone special” — Ken Dryden - Hot House Jazz (New York) “Wallfisch’s voice is like a glowing crescent moon” — George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly “Joanna is a vocalist taking risks and crossing musical chasms without a net” — All About Jazz

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Master of Music in Voice and Jazz Performance, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. 2010- 2012 Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Fine Art: Central Saint Martins London. 2006-2009 Diploma in Fine Arts and Illustration, École Superior des Beaux Arts, Paris. 2008 Diploma Certificate in Fine Arts: Chelsea College, University of The Arts, London 2005-2006: RESIDENCIES Banff Centre Songwriters In Residence, Banff Centre of the Arts, Banff, Canada, 2018 Banff Centre Winter Musicians In Residence, Banff Centre of the Arts, Banff, Canada, 2017 Summer Labs Artist in Residence, National Sawdust, New York City, NY. 2017 ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop, Columbia University, NY, NY, 2016 Banff Centre Fall Musicians In Residence, Banff Centre of the Arts, Banff, Canada, 2015 TEACHERS (voice, musicality, jazz, composition, sight singing) Fred Hersch, Billy Childs, Kate McGarry, Jo Lawry, Pete Churchill, Lee Gibson, Kate Baker, Tina May, Gerald White, Lesley Leighton. WORK AS MUSIC EDUCATOR / SONGWRITING AND VOCAL WORKSHOP LEADER Song Writing Faculty at Los Angeles College Of Music, Los Angeles, CA. 2018 - present Early Childhood Music Educator, Family Sing with Urban Voices Project, Los Angeles. 2018-present: bringing music to the mothers and children living with homelessness on Skid Row, DTLA. Early Childhood Music Educator, Bloom School of Music, Los Angeles, 2017-present Early Childhood Music Educator, Jules4Music, Los Angeles, 2017-present Early Childhood Music Educator, Timbalooloo, New York, 2013-2017 Voice Teacher, South Pasadena Music Conservatory, 2018 Private Voice Teacher, home studio, Los Angeles. Private Ukulele Teacher, home studio, Los Angeles. Private Songwriting Instructor, home studio, Los Angeles. Teaching Artist for Songwriting, Denver School of the Arts, CO, 2018 Teaching Artist for Voice and Songwriting, Mt Hood Community College, OR. 2017 Teaching Artist for Songwriting, Scenic View High School, Medford, Oregon. 2017 Children’s Choir Director and Teaching Artist, Songbound’s Children’s Choir, Mumbai, India 2016 Early Childhood Music Educator, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, FUNIKIJAM. 2012 Teaching Artist Early Childhood Music, WEBOP, Jazz at Lincoln Centre, New York. 2012 Teaching Artist, Spitalfields Music and the English Consort, London. 2011

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Clinic/Workshop Information

First and foremost, I love to teach. With more than a decade of experience as a professional vocalist, it is a great honour to share my knowlege with others who have a dream of singing for their lives. I love to work with vocalists of all abilities, from beginner to pro. I also work with actors who need to brush up their voices for a role. Additionally, if you are a songwriter looking for some guidance I regularly perform songwriting workshops at colleges, schools and privately, around the country. In a vocal session we will cover: Vocal Technique - range, intonation, style, strength, health Vocal Therapy - for damaged voices Vocal Coaching - for jazz, pop, rock, R&B, pure tone voice Microphone and Studio Technique Ear Training and Sight Singing Delivery, Stage Presence, Confidence In a songwriting session we will cover: Lyrics - metaphor, rhyme schemes, story Melody and Harmony - how the melody works with the chords Song Structure Arrangement Loop Pedal Skills Getting to know your loop pedal Timing and feel Arrangement and planning the song Vocal techniques - beat boxing, body percussion, harmonies and layering Bringing it to performance

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