Natalie Cressman

Bio:

Natalie Cressman- Biography New York-based trombonist/singer/composer Natalie Cressman has won acclaim for her ability to play fluently in a variety of musical styles with maturity beyond her years. Hailed a “velveteen-voiced brass- blower” by the Denver Post, the 20 year-old has sought to stretch across stylistic boundaries with every project she takes on, each time striking listeners with the depth of her musicianship and her ability to blend seamlessly into so many different musical settings. Enamored by the music of Brazil, Cuba, India, along with the American jazz and folk traditions, Natalie’s versatility and enthusiasm for new music has propelled her into a richly diverse musical career. Growing up in the diverse climate of San Francisco, CA, Natalie had an eclectic musical palette from an early age. By age 15, she was performing regularly in many different musical situations: Salsa (Edgardo Cambon e Orquesta Candela), Latin Jazz (Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Orchestra), World Music (Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra), Brazilian (Sandy Cressman’s Homenagem Brasileira) and avante-garde Jazz (Peter Apfelbaum and the New York Hieroglyphics). Upon graduating high school, she had already performed alongside luminaries such as Miguel Zenon, Joe Levano, Ambrose Akinmusire, Eric Harland, Josh Roseman, Sheila E., Jesus Diaz, Steven Bernstein, Wayne Wallace, and Carlos Santana. In 2008, Natalie performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. In 2009, Natalie was selected to participate in the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Band of America, California All State Jazz Band, SFJAZZ high school All- stars, Jazzschool Studio Band, and Jazz Band Classic. With Jazz Band Classic, Natalie performed with guest artists Geoffrey Keezer, Ingrid Jensen and Rich Perry in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space and Lincoln Center’s Allen Room. In 2010 Natalie was selected by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) as a YoungArts Winner in Jazz. Since moving to New York to study at the Manhattan School of Music, Natalie has delved heavily into the world of composition. While performing at many venues (Birdland, Joe’s Pub, the Jazz Gallery, Terminal 5, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Miles’ Café, Kenny’s Castaways, Drom, National Underground, Le Poisson Rouge, Sullivan Hall) as a sideman with groups including Nicholas Payton’s TSO and Peter Apfelbaum’s NY Hieroglyphics, she has formed her own band to serve as an outlet for the multi- faceted music she creates. Natalie Cressman and Secret Garden have performed at some of New York City's leading venues for young musicians, including The Jazz Gallery, Caffe Vivaldi, The Shrine, Tutuma Social Club, and The Underground Lounge. Drawing on her upbringing saturated with Brazilian and Cuban rhythms, she organically combines elements of jazz, folk, Indian music, and these African-based rhythms to form a refreshing hybrid unique to her own musical life experience. Natalie Cressman and Secret Garden’s debut album, “Unfolding” will be released in August 2012. IMR Magazine gave the album 5/5 stars in an early review, stating “her voice has the capability to become as great as some of the Jazz singers we all know and love… What is fantastic about Unfolding is though it’s a jazz record, the songs are so beautiful and easily comprehendible that for a moment you don’t even realize that it’s jazz you are listening to.” In 2010, at the age of 18, Natalie was asked to join Trey Anastasio (of Phish) in his newest solo project. She spent the winters of 2010 and 2011 and fall 2011 touring the United States, playing sold-out shows in major venues with this 7-piece rock band. In TAB, Natalie plays a range of styles, including blues, reggae, funk, latin, and jazz, all under the umbrella term “jam band.” Natalie is featured on a number of improvised solos and plays double duty as a vocalist and trombonist in the band. They recently released an album, “TAB at the TAB,” a live CD from the 2010 tour on Rubber Jungle Records. With TAB, she has played at venues including The House of Blues (Boston), Terminal 5 (NYC), The Riviera (Chicago), The Fox Theater (Oakland), the Electric Factory (Philadelphia) and has headlined major music festivals such as the Hangout Music Festival and Bear Creek Music Festival.

Member Since:

December 24, 2007

Members:

SKYLIGHT- Natalie Cressman and Secret Garden (Unfolding, 2012) Natalie Cressman, Trombone; Ivan Rosenberg, Trumpet; Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Tenor Sax; Jake Goldbas, Drums; Ruben Samama, Bass; Pascal LeBoeuf, piano. GOODBYE PORK PIE HAT- Stanford Mentors, 2011 Natalie Cressman, Trombone and vocals; Matt Marantz, Tenor Saxophone; Ben Flocks, Soprano Saxophone: John Britton, Trumpet; Martin Nevin, Bass; Cory Cox, drums; Reuben Allen, Piano. REACHING FOR HOME- Stanford Mentors, 2011 Natalie Cressman, Vocals; Matt Marantz, Tenor Saxophone; Ben Flocks, Soprano Saxophone: John Britton, Trumpet; Martin Nevin, Bass; Cory Cox, drums; Reuben Allen, Piano. UGLY BEAUTY -Stanford Mentors, 2011 Natalie Cressman, Trombone; Matt Marantz, Tenor Saxophone; Ben Flocks, Soprano Saxophone: John Britton, Trumpet; Martin Nevin, Bass; Cory Cox, drums; Reuben Allen, Piano. LONG ROAD/MOTHERLESS CHILD (Peter Apfelbaum): Alex Nash, drums. Ellie Athayde, bass. Parker Grant, piano. Adam Nash, congas. Ryan Coleman, guitar. Will Rubenstein: trumpet, percussion. Ghurbir Dillon, sax, percussion. Natalie Cressman: trombone, percussion. (Recorded March 2009)

Influences:

Frank Rosolino, Joni Mitchell, Elis Regina, Sarah Vaughan, Peter Apfelbaum, Josh Roseman, Lionel Loueke, Luis Bonilla, Steve Davis, Alan Ferber, Michael Dease, Hermeto Pascoal, Jobim, Toninho Horta, Caetano Veloso, Brad Mehldau, Kneebody, Conrad Herwig, Ambrose Akinmusire, Esperanza Spaulding,Jaco Pastorius, Ivan Lins, Generoso Iminez, Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker, Dori Caymmi, JJ Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, SF Jazz Collective, Terence Blanchard, Gerald Clayton, The Beatles, Sergio Mendes, Al Grey, Rufus Wainwright, Avishai Cohen, Slide Hampton, Stan Getz, Cachao, St. Vincent, Marcus Strickland, Miles Davis, Annie Ross, Kellye Gray, Al Grey, Citizen Cope, Dafnis Prieto, Walter Smith III, Kai WindingDana Leong, Maria Shneider, Bob Brookmeyer, Thelonious Monk, Eva Cassidy, Donny Hathaway, Rico RodriguezElla Fitzgerald, The Skatalites, Stevie Wonder, and Wycliffe Gordon, to name a few.

Sounds Like:

ME

Record Label:

Unsigned