LOS ANGELES (Lunaria Jazz Club press release) - The Hydeus Kiatta Quartet is back by popular demand bringing with it the beautiful and original crossover compositions of composer and jazz vocalist Hydeus Kiatta to the intimate settings of Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club on Thursday, July 15 at 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Pianist Derrick Finch, bassist Ryan Cross and drummer Chris Steel will join Ms. Kiatta in this evening's double-set performances.
[Hydeus Kiatta can really sing: everything from scat vocals ala
Dizzy Gillespie... to warm, melodious Ellington ballads... - Palisadian Post
Back by popular demand, The Hydeus Kiatta Quartet returns to Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club for another double-set engagement on Thursday, July 15 at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The evening's program will feature original songs from Kiatta's self produced debut album "On the Ground I Walk" (Noir Records/2001), some of her favorite jazz standards in addition to new compositions from her soon to be released second album.
The Hydeus Kiatta Quartet is led by singer/songwriter Kiatta and includes the local talents of pianist Derrick Finch, bassist Ryan Cross and drummer Chris Steel.
Vocalist/composer Kiatta combines her deep passion for music and the arts with her love for humanity and the world's cultural diversity and strives to bring healing and power to people through her music. Her self-produced CD, "On the Ground I Walk," is described in the San Francisco Examiner as "a collection of nine hauntingly beautiful tunes that crossover a tad from jazz into R&B and world with some Middle Eastern influences." Her smooth, powerful vocals and earthy improvisations led her songwriting, composition and arranging styles in a direction comparable to Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones, Ani Di Franco and Joni Mitchell.
Born in 1972 and raised on the Monterey Peninsula, Kiatta began performing at the age of three. In high school, she began to study and explore such legendary jazz and R&B practitioners as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dianne Reeves and Stevie Wonder.
Growing up in a folk music household while exploring the current sounds of jazz, R&B and soul, combined with her part Lebanese and Czech/Bohemian and European ancestry, all worked to firmly established Kiatta's roots into a multi-dimensional musical blend.
Kiatta sang with jazz combos, a cappella groups, big bands, jazz and classical choirs as well as musical theater troupes throughout her high school and college years. While still in high school she toured England, was selected as one of the featured jazz singers to sing with the Central Coast Honor Jazz Choir at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, CA., performed at New York's renowned Carnegie Hall, and traveled to Faaborg, Denmark to perform in a high school musical theater production of "Den Fransk Revolution." During these years she was exposed to the vocal music of the Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and many others. Later, with her own quartet, Kiatta traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark for club dates that included Den Blaa Hund, Cafe Funke, and Cafe Svejk (scheduled as part of the Copenhagen Jazz Festival calendar).
In 1990, Kiatta moved to San Francisco to study voice and music at San Francisco State University where, in 1995, she earned BA degrees in both Music and International Relations. For five years, she consistently performed in the Bay area as the leader of her own band. Last year, while juggling a demanding schedule, she managed to relocate to Los Angeles. With her soulful personality, insightful lyrics and original compositions, Kiatta's live performances promises to make her a powerful new presence in the Los Angeles musical community.
Derrick Finch – Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1972, jazz pianist Finch is considered the pianist of the modern jazz era. He played his first professional gig at the age of 16 and studied music and African American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh while performing with both local and international performers. He earned his Bachelors degree and eventually moved to Miami, Florida where he earned a Masters of Music degree from the University of Miami. Finch has shared the stage with such luminaries as William "Keter" Betts, Curtis Lundy, and Roy Hargrove. His touch, accuracy and harmonic voicing show the strong influences of Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.
Ryan Cross – Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Cross earned his Bachelor in Music at the University of Southern California while keeping his focus on jazz studies. As an acoustic/electric bass and cello player, he studied with John Clayton and performed with Ralph Moore, Phil Ranelin and Red Holloway. Cross traveled the world and played the Montreux Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival. He composed the score for the Showtime Movie "Crossover," recorded music and made appearances on such television programs as "Friends," "Jag" and "The Big Time". Cross recently wrote and arranged songs for Gregg Poree's soon to be released album.
Cover charge: $10.00 at the door. Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club is described as Southern French and Northern Italian, paired with cool to piping hot jazz. Lunaria is located at 10351 Santa Monica Blvd. For more information, please call (310) 282-8870 or go online at www.lunariajazzscene.com.
Media Contact: Renee Johnson, Publicist
Phone/Fax: 310-571-9212
Email: [email protected]
