Joyce Cooling is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. She is most well-known for her colorful style and body-moving sound. Joyce Cooling is a popular and dynamic contemporary jazz guitarist. She is soulful, original and funky. Joyce Cooling has released seven albums, five of which reached the Billboard Top 100. Two #1 radio singles, six top ten and thirteen charting singles are her credits. She also has multiple music awards, including the Gibson Best Jazz guitarist of the Year and the Jazziz Reader’s Poll Best New Talent. Cooling was nominated for the California Music Awards as well as the Oasis Awards. She also received the Gavin Contemporary Jazz Artist Award. Cooling has shared the stage with jazz legends Joe Henderson, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Cooling’s top-10 single, Mm Mm Good, featuring Al Jarreau, and Christmas holiday tracks, The Christmas Song, with Lee Ritenour, and her original single “It’s Feeling Like Christmas” have helped propel her to new heights in popularity and showcase her musical versatility. Joyce Cooling is a major attraction at jazz festivals all over the globe. Global Cooling is their seventh studio album and was released in April 2009. It has received raving reviews and critical acclaim worldwide. Global Cooling reached #1 on the Smoothjazz Indie charts, and was #2 on Amazon. It stayed there for more than three months. The CD remained in the TOP 10 on the TOP 50 Radio Charts for several weeks. “Dolores in Pink,” the single that won the #1 spot on Canada’s 2009 Cafe Jazz Review, also stayed in the top 10. PhoenixFM also named Global Cooling the Album of the Year for 2009. Cooling also won international praises for Revolving Door (2006) Narada/ Blue Note, This Girl’s Gott To Play (2004) Narada Jazz), Third Wish 2001 GRP/ Verve, Keeping Cool (1999) and Playing It Cool (1997). The charting singles include “Mm Mm Good,” Callie,” “Expression,” and “Mildred’s Attraction,” among others. Cooling, now based in San Francisco is a New Yorker who was raised in a home that was “filled music.” He was also influenced by Joe Henderson, Abbey Lincoln and Miles, as well as Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. Ravel, Stravinsky and Bach are some of his musical influences, along with Hermeto Pascoal and Elis Regina. Cooling says, “I like good music.” Cooling says, “There are no boundaries with my music.” “My teenage years were spent at the Village Vanguard and other Manhattan Jazz clubs. Although I was not yet 18 years old, the Vanguard bartender saw my passion for the music and allowed me to hang out on the steps. Everyone heard me! It was amazing and I was hooked.” Cooling, a self-taught guitarist, learned to play by ear. She has a unique style of fingerpicking that gives her playing a distinctive sound and feel. Cooling said, “I have always played this way. It wasn’t conscious. I just found it easier and more natural to sing the song and then play it. Also, I wasn’t comfortable using a pick. I couldn’t tell which string I was on so I just tossed the pick and tried to guess.” Joyce Cooling is a National Advocate for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Joyce has performed at numerous NAMI regional and national events across the country. NAMI receives a portion of the proceeds of the CDs she sells. Visit www.joycecooling.com
