Join us for this special performance of three young jazz vocalists with immense talent. The evening is part of the Seacoast Jazz Society's โ2025 Jazz All-Stars Series.โ
You will be entertained and heart-warmed by the energy of these young talents. Experience these three exceptional singers, Katie Seiler, Ali Golodner, and Madison LaForce, all originally from the Seacoast, as they bring a fresh perspective to jazz standards and the โGreat American Songbook.โ
Doors for this event open at 5:30 p.m.
Each vocalist will perform her own set with short breaks in between. At the showโs end they will all perform together.
The inimitable trio of Mark Shilansky, Gregory Ryan, and Les Harris Jr. will provide the music for these dynamic vocalists.
KATIE SEILER, vocals
Katie Seiler now resides in Brooklyn, NY, and has a masterโs in Jazz Music Performance from the New England Conservatory. She has been privately coached by Jason Moran, Dominique Eade, Jerry Bergonzi, Fred Hersch, Clark Terry, and others. Today Katie performs regularly as a solo and ensemble vocalist at major jazz venues in the Boston and New York areas, including Scullers, Birdland, and Carnegie Hall.
ALI GOLODNER, vocals
Ali Golodner is an up-and-coming jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger praised for her expressive tone and vocal control. She has been most inspired by the vocal stylings of Betty Carter, Sarah Vaughan, and Jazzmeia Horn. At Berklee she studied voice with Jane Monheit, Peter Eldridge, Francisco Mela, Taylor O'Donnell, and Alain Mallet, and others. She is a member of Berkleeโs โAdvanced Vocal Jazz Ensembleโ which has received multiple Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards and has her own quartet.
MADISON LAFORCE, vocals
Madison LaForce is a junior majoring in vocal performance at the Univ. of New Hampshire, and already an award-winning vocalist. Her musical style is influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Bareilles, and Esperanza Spaulding, to name a few. She has performed with the UNH Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, innovative Vocal Arts Project, and big band and jazz bands as well as the a cappella group โNot Too Sharp.โ Madison has been recognized multiple times for her vocal talent in regional, statewide, and national events.
MARK SHILANSKY, Piano
In addition to having been on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music and UNH for several years, Mark Shilansky has performed and/or recorded with major jazz artists around the country. Shilanskyโs six recordings as a leader include 2007โs โJoin the Club,โ a mostly Latin Jazz affair featuring David Bowie saxist Donny McCaslin, and 2013โs โFugue Mill,โ the eponymous debut of his Jazz/Bluegrass/Celtic project featuring violin phenom Sara Caswell, and he is featured on over 60 recordings as a keyboardist, vocalist, composer/arranger, or producer, and in performance as band member for such artists as the New York Voices, Luciana Souza, and David Thorne Scott, among many others.
GREGORY RYAN, Bass
Gregory Ryan is a New York City native who has established himself as an in-demand sideman on both acoustic and electric bass. His big supportive sound, swinging style, and complete understanding of harmony and his role on the bandstand combine to create his ability to make even the most complex modern compositions swing in the tradition of the great bass players. He performs worldwide and has appeared with Regina Carter, Billy Harper, Tom Harrell, Albert โTootieโ Heath, and many others.
LES HARRIS, JR., Drums
Les Harris, Jr., began playing drums early under the tutelage of his famous father. By the time Les was 14, he was sitting in with jazz greats Herb Pomeroy, Bob Wilber, Dave McKennna, John LaPorta, and Teddy Wilson. He became drummer with the internationally popular jazz vocal group The Ritz, appearing on seven recordings and performing at several festival throughout the world. He also toured with the Artie Shaw Orchestra and tenor sax man, Scott Hamilton, and has performed with some of the best-known artists in jazz including Milt Jackson, Phil Woods, Ray Brown, Sheila Jordan, Diana Krall and more. He recently recorded an album called โThe Voice of Clark Terryโ and teaches at UNH and other schools while continuing to perform.
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The Seacoast Jazz Society is a nonprofit organization in Portsmouth, NH, with the mission of fostering a love and education of jazz and jazz history in the community, supporting local musicians, and providing scholarships for young artists. To get on our mailing list, join, or learn more about us, go to www.seacoastjazz.org.
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