Judy Bady
Label: Kult Records
Artists Genre: Dance
Judy Bady, a native of Benton Harbor, Michigan, is a
powerhouse performer whose musical repertoire spans
the breadth of jazz, blues, gospel, rhythm and blues,
rock and roll and contemporary American pop. In 1986,
Judy met pop-jazz superstar and multi-Grammy winner
BOBBY MCFERRIN while at his concert in Kalamazoo,
Michigan. During that concert, Judy noted that during
his improvisations, the singer seemed to choose only
male members of the audience. "Do you have a problem
with women?" she asked the star, and
he humorously responded that "He didn't have a problem
with her yet!"
McFerrin quickly improvised a scat tune and Judy sang
along. McFerrin was so impressed with Judy's range and
vocal skills that he momentarily shifted the spotlight
to her. "Somebody get Judy a job as a singer," he told
the audience following her mini-performance that
night. The following year, McFerrin spotted Judy in
his audience again and sang with her, this time
"Amazing Grace." Later that evening, he took her aside
and advised her to pursue her singing career and to
leave Kalamazoo.
Judy took his advice and moved to New York in November
1988 and delved into the local artistic scene. Judy
did another impromptu duet with McFERRIN at the 1992
JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL at Newport, Rhode Island. In
December
1993, McFERRIN invited her on-stage for several songs
at the famous BLUE NOTE jazz club in NYC. In June
1992, after hearing her demo, noted bassist JAY
LEONHART invited Judy to sit in at his jazz brunch at
the BLUE NOTE Jazz Club. In April 1993, LEONHART again
asked Judy to sing a number during his set at the BLUE
NOTE Jazz Club's tribute to BILLY ECKSTINE. After
hearing her, the audience clamored for more. In
November 1995, Judy was invited to join jazz great and
Grammy winner JON HENDRICKS vocal group.
Judy attended William Paterson University of New
Jersey and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music
Studies. While attending the school, Judy was named
the 1994 Winner of the Down Beat® Student Music Award
for Jazz Vocal Soloist, College Category. She won the
same award in 1995. In the 1996 Down Beat® Student
Music Award Competition, Judy was chosen as
Outstanding Performance Winner in the Jazz Vocal
Soloist, College Category. Judy's consecutive Down
Beat® awards were historic. Prior to Judy, no other
musician, (neither vocalist or instrumentalist), had
accomplished such a feat since the inception of the
William Paterson College Jazz Program--nor since.
Her jazz vocal instructor was Vivian Lord-Alge. Judy
was also a multiple Dean's List student at the school
and was awarded a Willowbrook Jazz Festival
Scholarship from the school. Also in 1995, Judy and
her duo appeared in the school's famed summer Jazz It
Up! Series. Judy also performed with JON FADDIS,
Director of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, along
with the WPC Summer Big Band during that same
series.
In 1998, Judy was awarded the Bronze Medal in the 1998
Savannah Onstage International Arts Festival/American
Traditions Competition For Singers. Gene Downs of the
Savannah Morning News stated that Judy was "an heir
apparent to Shirley Horn." Judy was a vocal and music
theory instructor at the Newark School of the Arts and
a visiting artist at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield,
New Jersey.
In Fall 2000, Judy began pursuing a Master of Arts in
Jazz History and Research at Rutgers
University-Newark. Judy was also awarded a Ralph
Johnson Bunche Distinguished Graduate Fellowship by
Rutgers University. Following her second appearance at
the Cape May Jazz Festival in Cape May, New Jersey,
Chuck Miller, Program Director at WRTI-FM in
Philadelphia said, "Finally a REAL jazz singer with
great depth and a huge spirit. Ahhhh!" George Kanzler
of The Star Ledger said, "BADY has a contralto voice
suggestive of both Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan in
its rich, resonant tone." Mark E. Gallo of
www.jazzreview.com, says, "Her approach is somewhere
between Abbey Lincoln and Leon Thomas and just as
powerful as either." Judy is also featured in the
international award-winning documentary, "JAZZWOMEN:
THE FEMALE SIDE OF JAZZ," directed by Gabriella
Morandi. Judy also had one of her poems on the late
jazz vocalist Carmen McRae published in the March,
1995 issue of Jazz Times and publishes her own
newsletter entitled The Original Woman's Jazz, Etc.,
Newsletter®.
Judy has performed and recorded with tenor
saxophonist/composer BILLY HARPER, who said, "That
Judy Bady!!. . . Makes one's heart swing!! . . . Makes
one want to sing!!" Judy recorded music that Harper
composed for the theatrical production, "Whispers Want
To Holler," which was performed by the Kuntu Repertory
Theater at the University of Pittsburgh in 2002.
Judy's other recording and performance collaborations
include with alto saxophonist/composer OLIVER LAKE and
his STEEL QUARTET on his Christmas CD, "Have Yourself
a Merry . . . ," and Lake said, "Judy Bady is an
exciting and consummate jazz vocalist;"
pianist/composer FRANCESCA TANKSLEY on "JOURNEY;"
pianist/composer MISHA PIATGORSKY on "AYA: MAMA GOT ME
THINKIN;" Paul Serrato & Co. on "NEXUS,"and Tom Burns
on "ORNATE WHISTLE." Judy has also performed with
tenor saxophonist/composer RENÉ MCLEAN, and
pianist/composer DOUG CARN, baritone
saxophonist/composer HAMIET BLUIETT, pianist/composer
JOHN HICKS, and pianist/composer HILTON RUIZ.
Judy has recently recorded her own CD entitled
"Blackbird." Further information regarding the CD
release will be upcoming.
Additional information on Judy Bady can be obtained
by
JUDY'S BIOGRAPHY
Judy Bady, a native of Benton Harbor, Michigan, is a
powerhouse performer whose musical repertoire spans
the breadth of jazz, blues, gospel, rhythm and blues,
rock and roll and contemporary American pop. In 1986,
Judy met pop-jazz superstar and multi-Grammy winner
BOBBY MCFERRIN while at his concert in Kalamazoo,
Michigan. During that concert, Judy noted that during
his improvisations, the singer seemed to choose only
male members of the audience. "Do you have a problem
with women?" she asked the star, and
he humorously responded that "He didn't have a problem
with her yet!"
McFerrin quickly improvised a scat tune and Judy sang
along. McFerrin was so impressed with Judy's range and
vocal skills that he momentarily shifted the spotlight
to her. "Somebody get Judy a job as a singer," he told
the audience following her mini-performance that
night. The following year, McFerrin spotted Judy in
his audience again and sang with her, this time
"Amazing Grace." Later that evening, he took her aside
and advised her to pursue her singing career and to
leave Kalamazoo.
Judy took his advice and moved to New York in November
1988 and delved into the local artistic scene. Judy
did another impromptu duet with McFERRIN at the 1992
JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL at Newport, Rhode Island. In
December
1993, McFERRIN invited her on-stage for several songs
at the famous BLUE NOTE jazz club in NYC. In June
1992, after hearing her demo, noted bassist JAY
LEONHART invited Judy to sit in at his jazz brunch at
the BLUE NOTE Jazz Club. In April 1993, LEONHART again
asked Judy to sing a number during his set at the BLUE
NOTE Jazz Club's tribute to BILLY ECKSTINE. After
hearing her, the audience clamored for more. In
November 1995, Judy was invited to join jazz great and
Grammy winner JON HENDRICKS vocal group.
Judy attended William Paterson University of New
Jersey and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music
Studies. While attending the school, Judy was named
the 1994 Winner of the Down Beat® Student Music Award
for Jazz Vocal Soloist, College Category. She won the
same award in 1995. In the 1996 Down Beat® Student
Music Award Competition, Judy was chosen as
Outstanding Performance Winner in the Jazz Vocal
Soloist, College Category. Judy's consecutive Down
Beat® awards were historic. Prior to Judy, no other
musician, (neither vocalist or instrumentalist), had
accomplished such a feat since the inception of the
William Paterson College Jazz Program--nor since.
Her jazz vocal instructor was Vivian Lord-Alge. Judy
was also a multiple Dean's List student at the school
and was awarded a Willowbrook Jazz Festival
Scholarship from the school. Also in 1995, Judy and
her duo appeared in the school's famed summer Jazz It
Up! Series. Judy also performed with JON FADDIS,
Director of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, along
with the WPC Summer Big Band during that same
series.
In 1998, Judy was awarded the Bronze Medal in the 1998
Savannah Onstage International Arts Festival/American
Traditions Competition For Singers. Gene Downs of the
Savannah Morning News stated that Judy was "an heir
apparent to Shirley Horn." Judy was a vocal and music
theory instructor at the Newark School of the Arts and
a visiting artist at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield,
New Jersey.
In Fall 2000, Judy began pursuing a Master of Arts in
Jazz History and Research at Rutgers
University-Newark. Judy was also awarded a Ralph
Johnson Bunche Distinguished Graduate Fellowship by
Rutgers University. Following her second appearance at
the Cape May Jazz Festival in Cape May, New Jersey,
Chuck Miller, Program Director at WRTI-FM in
Philadelphia said, "Finally a REAL jazz singer with
great depth and a huge spirit. Ahhhh!" George Kanzler
of The Star Ledger said, "BADY has a contralto voice
suggestive of both Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan in
its rich, resonant tone." Mark E. Gallo of
www.jazzreview.com, says, "Her approach is somewhere
between Abbey Lincoln and Leon Thomas and just as
powerful as either." Judy is also featured in the
international award-winning documentary, "JAZZWOMEN:
THE FEMALE SIDE OF JAZZ," directed by Gabriella
Morandi. Judy also had one of her poems on the late
jazz vocalist Carmen McRae published in the March,
1995 issue of Jazz Times and publishes her own
newsletter entitled The Original Woman's Jazz, Etc.,
Newsletter®.
Judy has performed and recorded with tenor
saxophonist/composer BILLY HARPER, who said, "That
Judy Bady!!. . . Makes one's heart swing!! . . . Makes
one want to sing!!" Judy recorded music that Harper
composed for the theatrical production, "Whispers Want
To Holler," which was performed by the Kuntu Repertory
Theater at the University of Pittsburgh in 2002.
Judy's other recording and performance collaborations
include with alto saxophonist/composer OLIVER LAKE and
his STEEL QUARTET on his Christmas CD, "Have Yourself
a Merry . . . ," and Lake said, "Judy Bady is an
exciting and consummate jazz vocalist;"
pianist/composer FRANCESCA TANKSLEY on "JOURNEY;"
pianist/composer MISHA PIATGORSKY on "AYA: MAMA GOT ME
THINKIN;" Paul Serrato & Co. on "NEXUS,"and Tom Burns
on "ORNATE WHISTLE." Judy has also performed with
tenor saxophonist/composer RENÉ MCLEAN, and
pianist/composer DOUG CARN, baritone
saxophonist/composer HAMIET BLUIETT, pianist/composer
JOHN HICKS, and pianist/composer HILTON RUIZ.
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