THE DANCE HALL PRESENTS THE CHRIS KLAXTON QUARTET WITH TAYLOR O’DONNELL

Featuring one of the Seacoast’s most capable and dynamic rhythm sections

Kittery, Maine - On Saturday April 18, 2015 at 7:30pm The Dance Hall in Kittery presents another in a series of notable jazz events with The Chris Klaxton Quartet with Taylor O’Donnell. This newly formed quartet features the vocal stylings of Taylor O’Donnell, showcasing her affinity for Brazilian Bossa Nova and Choro. O'Donnell, after moving to the seacoast several years ago, has quickly garnered an appreciative fan base and a reputation for delivering lyrics passionately and authentically in a variety of styles and settings. Her Seacoast fans have yet to hear her deliver a lyric in Portuguese!

The Brazilian program will be balanced with O’Donnell and Klaxton’s favorite selections from the American Songbook, Classic jazz canon, supported by one of the Seacoast's most capable and dynamic rhythm sections: Dave Newsam on guitar, Les Harris Jr. on drums, and Matt Hogan on bass.

Taylor O'Donnell, a Colorado native, is a contemporary vocalist who mainly uses her roots in classical vocal performance, musical theater, jazz, folk and R&B.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University, and graduated with a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami.

Her instruction in jazz/classical voice performance and pedagogy has come from teachers including
Diana Spradling (renowned jazz pedagog) Fred Hersch (Grammy award winning composer and pianist), Grammy nominated vocalists Peter Eldridge and Lauren Kinhan, and New Hampshire native, Lila Mori.  Taylor also studied composition with celebrated trumpet players and composers, Dave Douglas and Terence Blanchard during her time in the Henry Mancini Institute Ensemble at the University of Miami.

Highlights of O’Donnell’s performing and teaching career have been an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show working with producer David Foster, performing at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC, working in Miami with Grammy award winning producer Rudy Perez, working at Miami Dade College as a Professor of Jazz Voice, and singing background vocals for singer-songwriter Ben Folds.  Taylor has performed alongside Donny McCaslin, Terence Blanchard, Lyle Mays, Fred Hersch, Jamey Haddad, Janis Siegel, the Real Group, New York Voices, Sunny Wilkinson, Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, and with choral group, Seraphic Fire.  Currently, Taylor performs with various groups in the Seacoast area playing jazz and folk, and also can be seen in the up and coming soul group, Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales.      

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased at www.thedancehallkittery.org and www.brownpapertickets.com.