Madeline Eastman
Encyclopedia
Madeline Eastman is an American
jazz
singer. As one of the queens of jazz, audiences love her bold and original interpreter of the jazz canon and for her lively onstage persona. Madeline Eastman is a creative singer with an appealing voice.
At 18, while watching the movie "Lady Sings the Blues," Madeline became enchanted with Diana Ross
's portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday
. Not yet realizing how serious and dedicated she would need to be, Eastman considered becoming a jazz singer. She has listened deeply to Miles Davis
, particularly his mid-'60s quintet with Wayne Shorter
, Herbie Hancock
, Ron Carter
and Tony Williams. Among vocalists, her prime inspiration is Carmen McRae
, one of jazz's most incisive lyric interpreters. "There's the holy trinity – Ella Fitzgerald
, Sarah Vaughan
and Carmen McRae
– and for me it was really Carmen from the beginning," Eastman said.
In 2004, Ms. Eastman won 3rd place in the Down Beat Reader's Poll "Best Female Jazz Vocalist" and was recognized in Down Beat Magazine’s International Critics Poll as “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition.” Eastman has long been heralded for her vocal gifts, interpretive savvy, and irrepressible sense of adventure. She has played from Japan to Finland, San Francisco's Yoshi, the Bay Area's jazz oasis at Jack London Square, New York nightclubs, the Cotati Jazz Festival
, the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival
, and the Glasgow Jazz Festival. She splits her time between touring and teaching at Stanford Jazz Workshop
in the vocal department. She was also named Department Chair of Jazz Vocal Studies at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, CA.
She has released five CD's on her own Mad Kat label that she co-founded with vocalist Kitty Margolis
. Eastman has recorded with such luminaries as pianists Cedar Walton
, & Kenny Barron
, saxophonist Phil Woods
, bassist Rufus Reid
, and drummer Tony Williams.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer. As one of the queens of jazz, audiences love her bold and original interpreter of the jazz canon and for her lively onstage persona. Madeline Eastman is a creative singer with an appealing voice.
At 18, while watching the movie "Lady Sings the Blues," Madeline became enchanted with Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
's portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
. Not yet realizing how serious and dedicated she would need to be, Eastman considered becoming a jazz singer. She has listened deeply to Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, particularly his mid-'60s quintet with Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
and Tony Williams. Among vocalists, her prime inspiration is Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
, one of jazz's most incisive lyric interpreters. "There's the holy trinity – Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
and Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
– and for me it was really Carmen from the beginning," Eastman said.
In 2004, Ms. Eastman won 3rd place in the Down Beat Reader's Poll "Best Female Jazz Vocalist" and was recognized in Down Beat Magazine’s International Critics Poll as “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition.” Eastman has long been heralded for her vocal gifts, interpretive savvy, and irrepressible sense of adventure. She has played from Japan to Finland, San Francisco's Yoshi, the Bay Area's jazz oasis at Jack London Square, New York nightclubs, the Cotati Jazz Festival
Cotati Jazz Festival
The Cotati Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in Cotati, California, USA, since 1980. It typically takes place on Father's Day weekend...
, the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. It debuted on October 3, 1958 and was founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons.-History:...
, and the Glasgow Jazz Festival. She splits her time between touring and teaching at Stanford Jazz Workshop
Stanford Jazz Workshop
Stanford Jazz Workshop was founded in 1972 by saxophonist and educator Jim Nadel to create an environment conducive to learning, experiencing and appreciating jazz...
in the vocal department. She was also named Department Chair of Jazz Vocal Studies at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, CA.
She has released five CD's on her own Mad Kat label that she co-founded with vocalist Kitty Margolis
Kitty Margolis
Kitty Margolis is an American jazz singer. In 1989, made her well-received debut at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival. Margolis has released five CD's on her own Mad Kat label that she co-founded with vocalist Madeline Eastman.Her first studio album, 1993's Evolution, was the one that really...
. Eastman has recorded with such luminaries as pianists Cedar Walton
Cedar Walton
Cedar Anthony Walton, Junior is an American hard bop jazz pianist.-Biography:Walton grew up in Dallas, Texas. His mother was an aspiring concert pianist, and was Walton's initial teacher. She also took him to jazz performances around Dallas...
, & Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
, saxophonist Phil Woods
Phil Woods
Philip Wells Woods is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer.-Biography:...
, bassist Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.-Personal history:...
, and drummer Tony Williams.
Discography
| Year | Title | Genre | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Point of Departure | Jazz | Mad Kat |
| 1995 | Art Attack | Jazz | Mad Kat |
| 2001 | BARE, A Collection of Ballads | Jazz | Mad Kat |
| 2003 | The Speed of Life | Jazz | Mad Kat |
| 2006 | Mad About Madeline! | Jazz | Mad Kat |