Friends and musical collaborators since they met as students at the California Jazz Conservatory in 2009, vocalists JUA and Andrea Claburn were the first two singers awarded the CJCÕs coveted Mark Murphy Vocal Scholarship, given to Òa vocal student who demonstrates exceptional creativity and artistic promise.Ó Since their days at the CJC, Andrea and Jua have each gone on to release critically acclaimed albums Ð JuaÕs ÔColors of LifeÕ and AndreaÕs ÔNightshadeÕ Ð and perform at prominent venues across the country, both together and as headliners in their own right. The two vocalists reunite at their original Bay Area stomping grounds with quartet of local luminaries to celebrate ValentineÕs Day with new original compositions, duets, and favorite standards that capture every facet of this thing called love...
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Friends and musical collaborators since they met as students at the California Jazz Conservatory in 2009, vocalists JUA and Andrea Claburn were the first two singers awarded the CJCÕs coveted Mark Murphy Vocal Scholarship, given to Òa vocal student who demonstrates exceptional creativity and artistic promise.Ó Since their days at the CJC, Andrea and Jua have each gone on to release critically acclaimed albums Ð JuaÕs ÔColors of LifeÕ and AndreaÕs ÔNightshadeÕ Ð and perform at prominent venues across the country, both together and as headliners in their own right. The two vocalists reunite at their original Bay Area stomping grounds with quartet of local luminaries to celebrate ValentineÕs Day with new original compositions, duets, and favorite standards that capture every facet of this thing called love. Vocalist/composer/arranger Andrea Claburn was born in Baltimore to a classical pianist mother and jazz aficionado father and raised in the classical tradition, studying both piano and violin and playing in orchestral ensembles before turning to vocal jazz. A conservatory-trained musician, AndreaÕs musical depth shapes her exceptional vocal style, with a Òhighly instrumental use of her voiceÓ that is Òriveting to hearÓ (Lynn RenŽ Bailey). As a composer and lyricist, she breathes life into new songs as well as old, writing and arranging contemporary jazz standards and lyricizing a wide range of instrumental material from Ellington to Metheny; ÒI still think like an instrumentalist, because thatÕs where everything began for me.Ó Raised and educated largely in Northern California, Andrea earned a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) from the California Jazz Conservatory, where she was mentored by some of the finest jazz artists on the West Coast, and in 2010 was awarded the Conservatory's highest vocal honor, the Mark Murphy Vocal Scholarship. In August, 2015 Andrea became a member of the vocal faculty of her alma mater, where she teaches private lessons in vocal technique, performance, and musicianship. Her debut album, Nightshade, a collection of her own original compositions and arrangements, was released in January, 2017 to wide critical acclaim and named one of the 10 best albums of the year by Andrew Gilbert, C. Michael Bailey, and Mike Jurkovic. Just over ten years ago, Jua Howard was making quite a name for himself in neo-soul circles, crooning in velvety tenor tones reminiscent of Luther Vandross and Donny Hathaway in clubs from New York City to London. ÒAnticipation,Ó his 2007 self-released debut CD of mostly original ballads, was picking up play on Smooth Jazz and R&B stations. Yet Jua, who uses only his first name professionally (Swahili for ÒsunÓ), was having second thoughts about his musical direction. While living in the Washington D.C. area and working for Howard University, Jua gigged as a background vocalist with the legendary Blackbyrds, the band best known for such 1970s hits as ÒWalking in RhythmÓ and ÒHappy Music.Ó ÒJazz was clearly a big part of their foundation,Ó he says of the Blackbyrds. ÒSinging with them made me think seriously about pursuing a career in jazz.Ó During the summer of 2009, Jua moved to the San Francisco area and enrolled at BerkeleyÕs California Jazz Conservatory. As one of the inaugural students in their Jazz Vocal program, he became the first recipient of the ConservatoryÕs Mark Murphy Vocal Scholarship, named for the late, legendary jazz singer. In June 2014, Jua emerged as a unique and highly emotive jazz vocal stylist with the release of his sophomore recorded project ÒColors of Life.Ó Jua currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he continues songwriting, performing and working on his next project.
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