Laurie Antonioli sings Joni at SFJazz, San Francisco, Mar 5

Posted August 22, 2016

A proud Bay Area native who happens to be on the short list of the greatest lyrical interpreters in jazz, Laurie Antonioli brings fresh interpretations of Joni Mitchell’s timeless music in spacious arrangements explored by a deft quintet of improvisers. As a young singer, studies with the great Nancy King in the prestigious jazz vocal program at Mt. Hood Community College in Portland stoked a fire for improvisation, and regular appearances with iconic singer Mark Murphy at his weekly gigs in Tiburon thrust Antonioli into the scene as a working professional. Since her first tour of Europe with saxophonist Pony Poindexter, she has established herself as a consummate interpreter of standards and American popular song, working with Bobby McFerrin, pianists George Cables and Richie Beirach as well as an extended relationship with tenor sax legend Joe Henderson, with whom she performed for two decades until his death in 2001. An experienced educator as well as performer, Antonioli is currently the head of the jazz vocal program at Berkeley’s California Jazz Conservatory. With a rich voice and gift for lyrical interpretation, Antonioli honors Joni Mitchell, the subject of her 2014 album Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light. More info