Pictures from Amanda's one woman show "It's About Damn Time" and "Chanteuse" (Live at The Empire Plush Room)
Photos by Colin Hussey
Influences
The fabulous women from 1930's - 60's movie musicals.
The great entertainers: Ella, Elvis, and Wayne (Oh yes, Mr. Newton)
Sounds Like
A little bit Ann-Margret, a little Ella, a touch of Bette Midler, a dash of Ethel Merman, a drop of sex, and a heaping of attitude (thank you Miss Anita O'Day).
Amanda at The Rrazz Room in San Francisco 6 June 2009. "The Best is Yet to Come"
Amanda at The Rrazz Room in San Francisco 6 June 2009. Performed as featured guest of Russ Lorenson in the debut of his Saturday late night show. Here she sings Mel Torme's "Midnight Swinger" and Dizzy's "Night in Tunisia". Swing is definitely in the house!
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Amanda @ The Rrazz Room, San Francisco - June 2009 "Through the Courtesy of Love" with the Kelly Park Trio and Terrence Brewer, guitar. Featured guest with Russ Lorenson at his ongoing late night Saturday show @ The Rrazz Room.
Bio:
Amanda King is a classic chanteuse of straight-ahead jazz who relishes performing little known gems of the 30’s and 40’s as well as Great American Songbook standards. With a smoothness of voice and surety of style plus rousing cheers from her fans and wonderful reviews from the critics, it’s clear that she is a woman who has found her purpose and is destined to shine ever brighter with passing time.
"AMANDA KING was one of the last performers to appear at San Francisco’s once favorite cabaret, the Plush Room, before the doors closed forever in early 2008. The show was a total success. Amanda then went on to record Chanteuse, a collection of popular songs from the ‘30s and ‘40s now referred to as the [Great] American Songbook. This treasured material has Amanda’s name written all over it. Her tone is rich and sexy, her phrasing is smooth, the delivery balances carefree passion with subtle humor. Amanda King is the right girl for the very best in American songwriting." Seán Martinfield, San Francisco Sentinel
In December 08, Amanda performed with the prestigious San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. She sang Gershwin tunes arranged for the orchestra by Bay Area jazz icon Jeff Neighbor (who also happens to be her regular bassist). A sterling series where the critics loved the arrangements - and Amanda!
Throughout 2008 Amanda appeared at clubs around San Francisco and the Bay Area including a packed house at the late, great jazz club Jazz at Pearl’s. A vibrant and lively performer, Amanda’s appearances are met with infectious enthusiasm at every venue. In July, Amanda made her debut at the Fillmore Jazz Festival a legendary music vehicle for San Francisco’s thriving jazz scene. She was an instant hit! In May, she was featured as the lead in Duke Ellington’s rarely performed jazz opera (his only one) “Queenie Pie”, produced by the Oakland Opera Theatre. Her performance combined her theatrical and musical smarts, and she garnered wonderful reviews.
“Amanda King performs Queenie in a blond wig, exuding lots of stage presence and powerful vocal skills. In the middle of her range she sounds a bit like Ella. She also has a light, full high voice which she uses in her shipboard lament about missing New York, and a low, low voice set way deep in the chest and solid gold in placement. My only complaint was that most of the songs she sang were very short, almost conversational in tone. I longed to hear her sing on, to tell us the story, verse and refrain.” Jaime Robles, Berkeley Daily Planet
She comes from a solid theater background having performed in scores of productions, musical and dramatic. After several appearances in showcases throughout San Francisco, she developed a devoted following. That group quickly grew when she performed her acclaimed one-woman show "It's About Damn Time!" in the fall of 2007 at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco.
“This singer was a suberb (sic) performer. I expected a louder, brassier voice, and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Her choice of material was delightful, and her delivery was pitch-perfect. I was SO glad I had taken a chance on this unknown (to me) singer.” p.g. cabaret appreciator (Goldstar.com online review)
After the success of that show, Amanda leapt feet first into singing and was invited to perform in the Castro Street Fair, an annual San Francisco festival started by Harvey Milk. With a last minute opportunity to perform at an historic cabaret venue, she mounted a show that was to become the basis of her first CD. That show, “Chanteuse”, at the famous Empire Plush Room in January 2008 met with great acclaim and since that performance her voice, her following, and her musical expression have grown enormously.
“King at the Empire Plush Room was in her perfect element. The singer is a true throwback to the golden days of nightclubs… The audience was watching a more seasoned performer on the Plush Room stage. King has found new confidence and her voice has taken on many new horizons…and the thrilling “Black Moonlight” was so masterful that I never wanted it to end. The arrangement had enough power to send a rocket to the moon.” Lee Hartgrave, BeyondChron.org
This CD, her first, celebrates the music she loves. Working with her regular trio of outstanding jazz artists Shota Osabe, Jeff Neighbor, and Micha Nur Patri, this labor of love came into being over several sessions at the famous Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Her trio played masterfully, especially Shota who performed his magic on Bill Evans’ personal Yamaha C9, a deeply sonorous instrument. Voice, piano, bass and drums all perform as one, and it is so evident when you experience their magic.
With this new talent, most definitely the best is yet to come!
Hello Amanda Thank you for being a positive force in this world. Music is one of the few things left that still has the power to bring people from different cultures together in harmony. Always feel free to contact me.
Hello Amanda Thank you for being a positive force in this world. Music is one of the few things left that still has the power to bring people from different cultures together in harmony. Always feel free to contact me.
Hi Amanda, Thank you so much for sharing your gift of song. I appreciate your kind words about my music, too. My new website is just up & running as of today. Take a look at: www.Jeudi.biz Best, Jeudi
Hello from Ruthie Foster! Thank you for the friend request! Please visit www.RuthieFoster.com for exclusive fan content, tour info, merchandise and more!
Bonsoir Amanda! C'est très sympatique de ta part de penser à moi! J'aime beaucoup Makin' Whoopee c'est très bien fait, tu le chantes bien et ça me rappelle des souvenirs d'Amour perdu.....Je t'embrasse très fort! Jean-Marie
Hi Amanda! Thanks to be my friend and for the beautiful and relaxing music. Just keep the music beautiful. I wish you all the best you can hope, Sandra
Hi Amanda! I'm sorry for being late to answer! Your message me much affected, and I liked what you told me! You're a good musician and a great singer! My group is new and I had a lot Working to find a major distribution, and for you I can not te promise myself because I do not know how I'm going to work! I embrace you very hard and soon!
