|
Please click on the category you wish to choose from the options
below
| |
|
Ayanna And The
Soulmates |
|
Ayanna
and the Soulmates are an exciting Phoenix based Funk/Jazz/R&B/blues Dance band.
Already preparing for a Winter Tour they have just completed the recording of their latest
CD "Looking for a Home, too". It's a nine-song tribute to the man who
wrote all the songs, Little Buster (Eddie Forehand).
"Looking
for a Home, too" features Ayanna Hobson on lead with background vocals by Chris Hiatt
who also plays guitar. Rich Alfano plays Bass, John Flores the drums with guest
appearances by Dean Murphy on guitar and Katherine Quiniff as backing vocalist. John
Cazan plays organ, guitar and also engineered the album. Also in attendance were
regular members of 'the Soulmates', Darryl Wight on bass, Matt Roe on lead guitar, Donny
Walker on rhythm guitar and Giovanni Settonni/Richard Reed on drums
Ayanna's
career has been skyrocketing in the U.S. over the last 2 years. Over a two week period her
CD 'LOOKING FOR A HOME TOO', was played on over 800 Commercial Radio Stations and 500
College Stations.
Profile:
Ayanna Hobson (As solo Artist)
Jazz/Blues
Vocalist Ayanna Hobson was raised on a Musical diet that consisted of many of the greats
such as, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and Sarah Vaughn
to name a few. Her powerful vocal style, with an operatic four and a half octave range,
has often been compared to that of Cleo Laine and Sarah Vaughn, her jazzy vocal stylings
to that of Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter.
As a child her musical training included playing Viola, Cello and singing in various
Choral Groups, Ensembles and Church Choirs. In California Ayanna and her Acoustic Jazz
Ensemble appeared extensively in Clubs, Art Galleries and Concerts throughout San Diego,
Los Angeles, and San Francisco in addition to other smaller cities in California. Her
Hawaiian Group 'ROOTS' gave renowned performances throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Ayanna has also been featured as Lead Vocalist for Glenn Horiuchi’s free-form Jazz
Ensemble 'MAIN FORCE', in San Diego California ,and for the Dennis Proctor 'JAZZ QUARTET',
on Tour throughout Italy. Ayanna’s hard driving energy has been known to blister the
fingers of the most accomplished musicians and work audiences into a frenzy.
Ayanna was born in McNary, Arizona, raised in Southern California and has relocated from
Maui Hawaii, to Phoenix Arizona, where she is currently Singing R&B-Blues-Soul-Jazz
Music in the local Clubs with her Group, 'Ayanna and the Soulmates'.
Ayanna has just recently completed recording her latest CD “Looking for A Home,
Too” a Tribute to her Collaborator New York's Blues and Soul Legend, Buster (Little
Buster) Forehand.
PERFORMANCES AT:
Celebrity Theatre (Phoenix Arizona), Maui Jazz Festival (Hawaii), Jazz Festivals in ROME,
MILAN, VENICE, SICILY, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO, PHOENIX.
AFFILIATIONS:
'Jackson Street Band', 'Acoustic Jazz Ensemble', 'James Newton' (Jazz Virtuoso), 'Main
Force', 'Dennis Proctor Jazz Quartet'.
MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS:
"Ain't Misbehavin", "Don't Bother Me", "I Can't Cope",
"Showboat", "On This Island", "For Colored Girls Who Have
Considered Suicide".
AYANNA HAS OPENED SHOWS FOR:
Dizzy Gillispie, The Four Tops, The Platters (J.C. Parrish), The Temptations, B.J. Thomas,
Little Buster & The Soulbrothers, Eddie Harris, Lamart Johnson, Mary Wells, The
Marvelettes.
AWARDS:
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE, "AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT" (Original Composition 'MIDNIGHT
LULLABY'), SAN DIEGO REP/ACTORS GROUP "BEST ACTRESS", "BEST SUPPORTING
ACTRESS"
AYANNA & THE SOULMATES: (AYANNA'S CURRENT BAND formed in 2000)
DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP:
The Band consists of 5 Instruments, Guitars, Bass Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, in addition to
Ayanna's 4.5 octave Vocal range.
MUSICAL GENRE:
R&B,Soul,Blues,Jazz.
TELEVISION & RADIO PERFORMANCES:
KPNX T.V. Channel 12 Phoenix Arizona,"THE TODAY SHOW", KTVK T.V. Channel 3
Phoenix Arizona,"GOOD MORNING ARIZONA", KJZZ 91.5 FM RADIO Mesa Arizona, Blaze
Latane "ACOUSTIC JAZZ RADIO SHOW", and Bob Corritore "THOSE LOW DOWN BLUES
SHOW".
LIVE PERFORMANCES:
City of Tempe Cultural Festival,Tempe Az., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Az.,The Blue Note,
Scottsdale Az.,The Orbit Jazz Club Phoenix Az., Doc & Eddy's Tempe Az., Lake Pleasant,
Phoenix Az., Papa Deux, Peoria Az.,The End, Glendale Az. SugarDaddy's, Scottsdale Az., The
Brokers, Scottsdale Az., The Redfish, Scottsdale Az., Barwinkles, Phoenix Az., Fever
Blues, Phoenix Az.
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES:
Deshong Perry, Entertainment Producer KPNX T.V.Phoenix Az."THE TODAY SHOW",
Jeanie Ford, News Anchor KPNX T.V.Phoenix Az,"THE TODAY SHOW", Blaze Latane,
Music Director, KJZZ 91.5 FM. Phoenix Az, Bob Corritore Radio Personality, KJZZ 91.5 FM.
Phoenix Az, Donny Walker TRS MUSIC PROMOTIONS, Buster Forehand(Little Buster).
PRESS REVIEWS:
"AYANNA Is Amazing! Not Since I First Saw JAMES BROWN, B.B. KING and LITTLE BUSTER In
The 1970's Have I Been So Taken By An Artist. Her Talent, Delivery And Charisma Is Second
To None, Making Her A Force To Be Reckoned With, It's Time For ARETHA To Pass The
Crown!!", Donny Walker, SENIOR PARTNER ARTIST DEVELOPMENT TRS MUSIC PROMOTION,
PHOENIX ARIZONA. "AYANNA & THE SOULMATES CD 'Looking For A Home Too', Is The Most
Soulful Music Ever To Come Out Of Phoenix", Bob Corritore KJZZ 91.5 FM RADIO, PHOENIX
ARIZONA. "The Great Success Of An Afternoon Of Fine Music, Is Due To The Calibre Of
Performance Provided By AYANNA & THE SOULMATES", Wydale Holmes, FINE ARTS
CO-ORDINATOR CITY OF TEMPE ARIZONA." The Songs, Music and Lyrics of AYANNA & THE
SOULMATES CD 'LOOKING FOR A HOME TOO' all tell a story, and AYANNA'S vocals are just as
dynamic as one of my favourite Entertainers KOKO TAYLOR", Bill Wagner KZUM 89.3 FM,
LINCOLN NEBRASKA.
CD RELEASES:
"I WISH FOR LOVE" Music/Lyrics, Co-Produced by Ayanna Hobson.
"LOOKING FOR A HOME TOO" Music/Lyrics Buster Forehand, Produced and Arranged by
Steve Kleinberg & Ayanna Hobson.
Many thanks to Steve Kleinberg of 'Little Buster Records' for providing me with
this Information on Ayanna and the Soulmates and also for allowing me to use his
photographs. Anyone wanting to find out more about Ayanna should visit the 'Little
Buster' Website visit the following link
http://www.little-buster-records.com/
|
