I like Bill Frisell, Mike Campbell, Chrissie Hynde, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Stravinsky, Tchaicovsky, Sippie Wallace, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, AC/DC, Willie Nelson, U2, The Clash, John Lennon, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Scissor Sisters, White Stripes, The Who, Lucinda Williams, Gelsey Kirkland, Margot Fontaine, Nureyev, Judith Jamison...Ben Harper, Prince, Ozzy Ozbourne, Corrosion of Conformity, The Killers, Johnny Cash, Jeff Buckley,Tom Waits
"Silence" off of Clearing was a first take recording. New Millenium Music became interested in the song for film. "Silver Springs" is a live performance with Scott Sawyer. The tune was written by Stevie Nicks.
" Perfect People" "Pretty as a Picture" and "Limelight" are collaborations with legendary Grammy-nominated producer John Custer. They are all unedited roughs. I'll be in the studio soon with John doing a full length CD.
Thanks for listening!
Ghezzi debuted her first recording in April 1997, Taking No Prisoners, a mix of r&b, blues, originals & soulful rock. Her 2nd recording, "Clearing" was released in July 1999.
There is a strong family history of music: her father was a professional guitarist, working with big bands and accompanying Judy Garland, and her mother a professional singer.
Ghezzi began performing as a singer in 1997, but has a long history of performing as a dancer. She is a former professional ballerina, choreographer, director & teacher and trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she graduated Dean's list, Pennsylvania Ballet and School of American Ballet (NYC), Joffrey Ballet (NYC), among countless others. Since the age of seven, Ghezzi has performed on stages all over the world, winning scholarships & awards from SAB, Harkness, and Joffrey Ballet (NYC), for her electrifying work. At the age of sixteen, she was already an apprentice with The N.C. Dance Theater. She brings her abilities to command and excite audiences to her powerful performances as a vocalist since 1990.
Ghezzi is also a songwriter. She has received a Certificate of Achievement Award from Billboard Magazine for her song Taking No Prisoners, reaching the top 100. The Alliance for Aids Services (Carolina) has awarded Ghezzi and her band for their generous contributions, performing and fundraising since 1998. Ghezzi has had several of her songs forwarded to Millenium Music for film.
Ghezzi lives in Raleigh, NC. She works with producer John Custer and writes and arranges music with guitarist Scott Sawyer.
Vocalist Ghezzi and guitarist extraordinaire Scott Sawyer pack a solid blues punch on this fine outing. Ghezzi's a powerful, riveting singer who commands attention on uptempo tunes (her original "Limelight") and slower classics like Sippie Wallace's "Women Be Wise." Sawyer delves deep into his blues-soaked Chicago roots, equally at home on rockin' blues or coolly perfect weepers like "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out." This is a great disc, one deeply respectful of the blues tradition while brimming with fresh takes on old classics. Highly recommended. - Gene Hyde (Spectator Magazine, 12/4/97)
(Chapel Hill News, Wed June 2, 1999) Ghezzi releases second CD and sparks the interest of a national label
By ALAN R. HALL, Correspondent
CHAPEL HILL -- If you are one of the fortunate few who have the premiere CD by Ghezzi released in April '97, then you have heard the song that earned Ghezzi a Certificate of Achievement Award from Billboard Magazine.
This song is the title track of that first CD, "Take No Prisoners." Ghezzi's second CD, "Clearing," will be released Saturday, and the group is celebrating with a bash at Tobacco Roadhouse in Durham...
Ghezzi is many things. The name refers to the group, the lead singer, and the songwriter. Carolyn Ghezzi has created a way to pursue her dream of being a singer/songwriter after many years performing and teaching ballet. She has done just about everything there is to be done in ballet: perform, teach, choreograph, direct and produce.
Local jazz artist Lois Dawson joins Ghezzi on a classic Mose Allison blues commentary. "Everybody Cryin' Mercy" runs in a deep blues vein, and the duet by these two dynamic vocalists is enough to make you cry. This one takes top honors as "Best of the Best" on this CD.
"WOWWWWOWOWOW!! The CD (Clearing) is unbelievably great - I was floored when I heard "Pale Blue Eyes"You have a winner on your hands -- Kitty Kinnin (WFXC/WFXK radio personality)
..."Mighty Tight Woman, get me a strawberry soda and a moon pie, jelly roll killed my daddy drove my mama stone blind. Help me get down and back up again. Ok she eats and breathes the blues back out. This is my favorite tune. She makes you believe it. Smooth as chocolate cream pie on the git fiddle son. Somebody dig up Muddy Waters and let him know. Breakaway, Now this is where she sounds like, Patti Smyth. And God help me who let Carter Minor out of the box yelling and hollering never was so good, between Ghezzi and Carter, Somebody give this one the air play it deserves, this is the single for sure. Son that is very Ry Cooder guitar there just love it... -- Strobe
"Ghezzi's vision is SO in focus...... As a listener you are immediately
transported to where she needs to take you. And if you are among the fortunate to work with her in the studio, it's one serious yet pleasurable trip. Quite the artist, that Ghezzi......." -- Kenny Soule (session/touring drummer: Nantucket, Dag, Mary McBride, Popa Chubby, Walter Trout, Go There, etc.)
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I don't want people who want to dance,
I want people who have to dance.
-- George Balanchine
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"Ghezzi's voice is like a fine Renoir"- Peter Hoyle, Director of Education NJ Opera Theater
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Ghezzi, Thank you again for dedicating "Angel" to me. I love your version and I am deeply honored. I hope things are going okay and that you can get back to your music soon! --Richard
Beautiful reading of Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground". Willie would be proud of that gorgeous vibrato. The guitar arrangement is also lovely.
Well I am very sorry to hear about that, Ghezzi. I wish you nothing but the best and I hope that whatever is difficult in your life gets better soon. Much love to you, always.
I'm sorry I've been so delinquent in writing you...a series of unfortunate events has kept me off the computer for a while, but I wanted to tell you that I got the CDs a few days ago, and I can't begin to thank you enough for them. I absolutely can't wait to sit down and give them both a serious listen...it will be the only fun and worthwhile thing I'll be doing this weekend!!
Again, Ghezzi, thank you so, SO much for your generosity. I love your music, and I can't wait to immerse myself in it further. I'll write you again this weekend and let you know how I liked them (although I'm sure you already know that I will)!
Appreciate the kind words on "Line". Thank you. So kind.I really like what I've heard of your stuff. Been a bit crazed, but am planning on coming back for a far more in depth listen.
thanks so much for your sweet comments and for loving my music! Check on myspace BIO latest news about CD..Hv a terrific rest of the summer and stop by any time - always a pleasure! You'r ROCK! with love, PolinaJ
Amazing music! Glad to have met you. I have my third show coming up at Aries.... it may not be as extravagant as the Berkley and Brewery shows but we'll do what we can. I would like to see you perform as well. Very talented you are. Would love to chat it up with you and Scott sometime.
"Silver Springs": spare and clean, hypnotic and eminently moving with a top-shelf vocal as usual. The guitar/vocal interplay keeps the song moving. Well done.
Silver Springs is AWESOME!!! I LOVE IT!!! Thanks for sharing!!! It's so great that you and Scott have music in your lives and can share that together. It makes every song even MORE SPECIAL. I would love to come out and hear you guys sometime. Keep me posted when you have another show and let's get together SOON!!! Love, Terri
Ghezzi, Just listened to "Atlantic City." It's great! I find it amazing that this was a rough take. Incredible. As always, I love your voice and the inflections you add to the lyrics. --Richard
What a phenomenal arrangement of The Boss's "Atlantic City". The jazzy arrangement emphasizes the film noir quality inherent in the song. Your superb vocals bring everything home. A real wonder, I could see the back alleys and smell the ocean.
Thanks so much, Ghezzi! I'm so glad you like it and, as usual, honored to be compared to Grace and Kate. :) Hope you are having a wonderful Monday, my friend.
