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Toni Jannotta

Toni Jannotta, a native of Los Angeles, has been performing locally and abroad for the past 30+ years. She has three vocal jazz CD's ("Just Jazz," "Jazz at the Ranch," and "Is It Magic?"), one documentary film ("Voices of the Homeless"), and her original children's book with accompanying jazz suite with storytelling, ("My Little Heart, Ruthie") in 2017.

Her CDs are produced and recorded under her label, Aerie Records, with "Just Jazz" and "Jazz at the Ranch" distributed worldwide by TCB Music, The Montreux Jazz Label, in Montreux, Switzerland. "Is It Magic?" and "My Little Heart, Ruthie" can be found on the web via CD Baby. "My Little Heart, Ruthie" is also sold as a hard copy picture book via Book Baby, or for one-stop shopping on Amazon. Her most recent original songs, "Gypsy Girl," and "How've You Been?" can be found on all streaming platforms.

Toni started as a dancer, struggled as an actress, studied music, played violin, and finally fell back into what she has always loved: Jazz. She writes on the piano, is a songwriter/lyricist, and became a composer thanks to her musical suite with storytelling, "My Little Heart, Ruthie."

As a producer, Toni presented the Back to Blues & Jazz Festival in the Santa Monica Mountains as a benefit for the environment. As a singer, she has also appeared vocally on the soundtrack of small films using her improvisational skills.

Toni has been seen in L.A. nightclubs such as the Baked Potato, Le Cafe, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and in our National Parks at the Peter Strauss Ranch in Malibu. Internationally, Toni has played the Wigan Jazz Festival and Feast of Jazz in Preston, Northern England, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Jamaica, and has toured the Netherlands, Southern Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Awards

Earth Charter and the Arts award for the documentary, "Voices of the Homeless," given by Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions; Cultural Arts Fellowship, given by the City of Ventura Artist in the Community Partnership Grant, given by the Ventura Arts Council; Best Children's Album "My Little Heart, Ruthie" - Clouzine International Music Awards; Global Music Awards Bronze Medal "My Little Heart, Ruthie;" Global Music Awards Bronze Medal "Gypsy Girl."

Toni Jannotta: Jazz At The Ranch

Read "Jazz At The Ranch" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
February 1, 2002

From the Strauss Ranch in the Santa Monica mountains, Toni Jannotta is showcased nicely in this live recording. Jannotta sings with clarity (a recurring theme in this writer's reviews) and she treats the melody with the respect it deserves. The ensembles soloist's are allowed plenty of room to express themselves and the sound quality of the disc is extraordinary, making it a most pleasurable listening experience. The centerpiece of this CD is: “The Very Thought Of You" ..This brightly done ...

"Toni's voice soars on the breezes like a bird flutters through the sky." O's Jazz Magazine "Jannotta owns a natural voice quality that makes you feel that you've been listening to her all your life." L.A. Jazz Scene "Jannotta sings with clarity . . . and she treats the melody with the respect it deserves." All About Jazz ". . . she can leap high octaves in a single bound and handle lickety-split vocalese lyrics with aplomb and perfect intonation." 52nd St. Jazz "The girl is real authentic." Jazz Nu, The Netherlands "She's definitely not just another lady jazz singer

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I have been teaching in Los Angeles and Ventura for the last 30 years both privately and in groups. I have also given vocal improvisation workshops in Northern England as part of the Preston Feast of Jazz and Blues Festival. Favorite teachers: Lee and Sally Sweetland, Los Angeles; Armand Hoffman, Los Angeles; Banff Centre School of Fine Arts, Alberta, Canada, in the musical theatre department.

My favoriate students are the non-professionals who want to sing but have been demeaned or diminished by the people they looked up to. That is why I started producing mini-lessons on my Vocal Instruction page. Check it out below.

Recent Releases
Soundcloud Audio

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

My Little Heart, Ruthie by Toni Jannotta

https://soundcloud.com/toni-jannotta/gypsy-girl-1? si=66c2bad4a66e465eb79e534ca4cf53b3&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_camp aign=social_sharing