Andrea Wolper is a well-known jazz singer, songwriter and improviser who has a growing reputation. She is known for her unique sound, strong understanding of jazz traditions and a spirited sense of adventure. According to Tuscon Citizen, she has been called “a very original performer” and “a singer with an uncanny emotion touch for the last 50 years of jazz”. Andrea is equally at ease with the Great American Songbook and spontaneous improvisation. Andrea is a creative songwriter, arranger, and lyricist. Her original compositions and unusual arrangements for standard material, poetry, and music from many genres show a unique musical sensibility. Andrea has performed at festivals, clubs and concert halls across the U.S. as well as internationally. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, JVC New York Jazz Festival and Kitano are just a few of the New York performances. She also appeared at JVC New York Jazz Festival, JVC New York Jazz Festival. Donne in Musica Festival in Italy, Centro Cultural de Belem in Portugal, Jazz at the Cape in South Africa, Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz and Jazz on the Plazz in California, Dizzy’s in San Diego, and many other performances on concert and festival stages. Andrea’s latest recording, “Parallel Lives”, was released in 2011. It features her working group, guitarist Michael Howell and pianist Kris Davis. Ken Filiano is the bassist, drummer Michael T.A. Thompson. Todd Barkan produced her 2005 album, “The Small Hours”, (VarisOne.Jazz). It was built around her trio of guitarist Ron Affif, bassist Ken Filiano, and featured drummers Victor Lewis, Jamey Haddad and Lou Marini (flute and flugelhorn), as well as guest artists Frank London (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Frank London (“flute and flute). “The Small Hours,” which continues to be highly praised by critics, has one of her original songs, Not Sleeping in Your Arms (VarisOne.Jazz), which is currently the third-most downloaded song at AllAboutJazz.com. Andrea’s self-titled debut CD, released in 1998, was also highly praised by music industry journals. It has been featured on radio features. Andrea is part of the improvising trio TranceFormation with Filiano, renowned pianist Connie Crothers. The trio’s concert CD will be out in 2011. Objects in Mirror is a quartet that blends improvisation, compositions and text. Andrea has been a vocalist in Art Lillard’s Heavenly Big Band for ten year and has performed as a guest artist with many other small and large ensembles. Andrea is passionate about teaching. Private singing lessons are offered in her studio. She also offers coaching and essentials for jazz vocalists. She was a past president of International Women in Jazz and served as an advisor to the Jazz Vocal Coalition. Her poetry and journalism have been published in many publications. Two of her books, “Women’s Rights, Human Rights, International Feminist Perspectives” with Julie S. Peters: Routledge, and “The Actor’s City Sourcebook”, (Watson–Guptill), are among her many works. Andrea also has experience on the stage. She first moved to New York from California to attend the prestigious Neighborhood Theatre School of the Theater. Andrea is a black belt in Shotokan Karate. She is an activist for human rights and a mentor to Women Mentor Women. Andrea’s natural approach to music is a result of all these experiences. Her ability to read words allows her songs to be witty, thought-provoking, and moving. Andrea’s approach to song interpretation is influenced by her unique understanding of the intimate relationship between music and words. bio by www.andreawolper.com
