Jamie Shew, a vocalist, strives to express personal emotions through song. Jamie was raised in the Tri-Cities area of south central Washington State. At the age of 4, she began her musical education when she was introduced to the piano for the first time. Jamie’s desire to sing was strong throughout her childhood. However, she was always required as an accompanist. Her senior year of high school was the time her choir director offered her the chance to sing a Karen Carpenter solo. It was a turning point for her – she was hooked. Jamie received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Washington State University, and a Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University in Vocal Performance/Jazz Studies. She was a WMU graduate assistant and had the chance to work with Sunny Wilkinson, one of her favorite jazz singers. She also got the chance to record and sing with the Gold Company, a renowned vocal jazz group. Jamie has enjoyed a long and successful career as a jazz singer. She is now a regular performer with many well-known jazz musicians like Darek Olsen, Royce Campbell (Chuck Manning), Bruce Babad, Joe Jewell), Kendall Kay, Mike Scott. Jamie’s second album, “A Place For Me”, was released on Blujazz in April 2012. She is joined by her husband, Roger Shew, pianist Matt Politano and Mike Scott, as well as drummer Kendall Kay. This album features Jamie’s arrangements and a lyric from Royce Campbell’s “This Game.” The title track is also original. Scott Yanow, a renowned jazz journalist, said that Jamie Shew’s arrangements are outstanding and sound very natural. “Eyes Wide Open,” Jamie’s third album featuring pianist Joe Bagg, guitarist Larry Koonse and Darek Oles, as well as bassist Darek Okles and drummer Jason Harnell, will be out in April 2018. Jamie has a long and distinguished performance career. She is also the Coordinator of Vocal Jazz Studies for Fullerton College in Fullerton (California). There she teaches two levels of Vocal Jazz Styling and Improvisation, Music Theory and History of Rock and Roll, and sings in the Faculty Jazz Cadre high-school educational outreach program. In-demand adjudicator, clinician, and adjudicator for jazz festivals across the country, she has been the Southern California Vocal Association’s Vocal Jazz Chair and the California All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Prior to moving to Los Angeles in 2003 she was Assistant Professor of Jazz Voice, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Virginia. from https://jamieshewmusic.com
