Clairdee vocal | Ken French piano | Ron Belcher bass | Michael O'Neill saxophone and bandleader
Heralded for her inventive artistry and magnetic stage presence, CLAIRDEE's lustrous voice and expressive delivery hearken back to a time when jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues often blended seamlessly together. Combining scene-stealing charisma with heartfelt humility and a sincere belief in the transformative power of music, she presents a repertoire of American Standards and blues set to state-of-the-art arrangements that are equally smart and entertaining.
Clairdee's soulfully alluring vocal style has been featured in concert halls, festivals and nightclubs from Monterey, Edinburgh, Tokyo, Bangkok, Toronto, Paris, Moscow, and St. Petersburg Russia — to New York, New Hampshire, San Francisco and points in between. In addition to leading her world-class touring band, Clairdee has performed with some of America's legendary jazz artists including Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Cyrus Chestnut, Ken Peplowski, and Nancy Wilson. And with her impressive ability and ease in singing a variety of musical genres, Clairdee concertizes with pops symphony orchestras and big bands and has opened for artists as diverse as David Sanborn, Johnny Mathis, and the late great Etta James.
"In the tradition of all great vocalists, Clairdee infuses her own unique style while always remaining true to the song itself." —Nancy Wilson
"I've had an opportunity to perform several times with the remarkable Clairdee. She is a wonderful, swinging singer with whom I look forward to getting together with again and again." —Dick Hyman
"Clairdee's skillful vocals and engaging stage presence charmed our multi-nation, multi-cultural audience. The sales of her recording Music Moves was the #1 selling CD among independent artists at MJF." —Tim Jackson, GM, Monterey Jazz Festival
"Sumptuous, elegantly restrained." —The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland)
"Clairdee's performances here in Scotland were so well received that foremost promoters in Scotland have clamoured for her return as have the audiences."
—George Duncan, Board Member Scottish National Jazz Orchestra; Venue Manager, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland
"Generous spirit and unpretentious sincerity." —DownBeat
"Imagination and originality." —Mercury News
"A multidimensional and versatile talent." —Hartford Courant
"Among the most skilled, appealing singers. Fine songs, beautiful voice, great moves." —San Francisco Examiner
"Clairdee is the real thing. A beautiful voice, an exceptional artist." —NPR
"A world class talent with the exceptional ability to wow an audience." —Colorado Magazine Online
"A multidimensional and versatile talent." —Hartford Courant
"Generous spirit and unpretentious sincerity." —DownBeat
Pianist KEN FRENCH has been performing jazz piano professionally for nearly two decades on the San Francisco scene and as far a field as Japan and the Atlantic seaboard. A wide variety of contexts and venues has allowed Ken to develop as soloist, accompanist, ensemble leader, and arranger. In the new millennium, Ken began collaborating as accompanist, arranger and musical director with Clairdee, an internationally rising singer. With three nationally released CDs on their ”Declare Music” label, they are gaining international recognition for the quality, passion and creativity of their recordings and live appearances.
With an extensive background in classical piano, music composition, arranging, theory, and a love of philosophy, Ken has a natural affinity and great passion for teaching. Between performance engagements, Ken may be found teaching aspiring singers at Diablo Valley College in tandem with Clairdee, teaching piano privately, or conducting vocal, piano, and improvisation workshops across the nation.
Bassist RON BELCHER travels the world bringing his rhythmically buoyant, emotionally uplifting style to the stage for a wide diversity of jazz artists. Ron has performed or recorded with Branford Marsalis, Regina Carter, Rodney Franklin, John Handy, and Pete Escovedo, as well as a literal “who’s who” of the San Francisco jazz scene. A passionate teacher and advocate for children’s education, Ron has served on the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley and has contributed to several seasons for the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures In Music outreach program. Ron‘s own studies include jazz improvisation and acoustic bass at several Bay Area colleges, culminating in a degree from Texas College, where he had the honor of membership in the East Texas All-Stars.
MICHAEL O'NEILL, a San Diego native, began studying clarinet at an early age. His first mentor was his neighbor, the great jazz and studio drummer, John Guerin. After the usual involvement with school bands and orchestras, Michael did a stint in the Air Force Band. In college, while majoring in Biology, he minored in music studying composition and arranging as well as jazz performance. After a brief career in science, Michael returned to music full time, studying saxophone with the great Joe Henderson while playing in dance bands, salsa bands and doing local jazz gigs. During this time Michael became interested in composition and formed groups to perform his original material, a trend that is ongoing today. Besides jazz composition, Michael’s interests have taken him into orchestral and ethnic musical forms. In the 1980's he began writing music for documentaries and television for which he now has a long list of credits. Jazz performance residencies as leader include 13 years at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon bay, 7 years at Cetrella Half Moon Bay and 6 years at the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood Shores. Michael has performed and/or recorded with Idris Muhammad, Joe Locke, Michael Wolff, Giacomo Gates, Geoffrey Keezer, Maria Muldaur, Eddie Fisher, Rodney Jones, Kim Nalley, Jackie Ryan, Tony Lindsay, Margie Baker, Faye Carol, Brenda Boykin, Jeff Chambers, Rob Schneiderman, Mark Levine, Frank Jackson, and many others.The Michael O'Neill Quintet featuring the great vocalist, Kenny Washington, has headlined the Monterey Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, SF Jazz, the Blue Note in Napa, Jazz at Pearl’s, Oakland and San Francisco Yoshi’s, Anna’s Jazz Island, the Jazz on the Hill Festival, the Oakland Art and Soul Festival, the San Jose Jazz Society Concert Series and many others.