Kitty Margolis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sheila Jordan, Nancy King, Kurt Elling, Nancy Wilson, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, Patricia Barber, Diana Washington, Abbey Lincoln, Madeline Eastman, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Kristin Korb, Eva Cassidy, Clairedee, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Diana Krall, Rebecca Paris, Denise Perrier, and many, many more…
Introduction
Susan Rancourt is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She honors the jazz genre with warmth, intelligence and wit - always with a deep respect for the masters.
Susan connects with the audience with a style that is both hip and elegant. She has a unique combination of sophistication and ‘down-to-earthness’ that audiences love.
Says Grammy nominated producer, Bud Spangler: “Susan Rancourt brings a lot of warmth and spirit to her singing. She's a woman whose love of jazz is evident in every phrase.”
Jazz vocalist, Denise Perrier: "I truly enjoyed your singing Susan; best of luck on your new debut recording. You connect with the audience with loads of heartfelt emotion."
Current Summary
Susan recently completed a demo CD at Bay Records Recording Studios and at What’s For Lunch? Recording, working with Bud Spangler. Together with sidemen Randy Porter on piano, John Wiitala on bass and Vince Lateano on drums, she recorded 5 tunes, which can be heard and downloaded on myspace.com/susanrancourt.
History and Formation
Susan was born and raised in Maine and was introduced to the great music of Jazz and the American Songbook as a child. Often asked to sing at family and community gatherings, she developed a solid, confident stage presence at a young age.
Susan was lucky to have three music mentors in high school who introduced her to the likes of Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Betty Carter, etc. She read every liner note and dug every musician listed. She built her listening chops by expanding to Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Cannonball Adderley, Big Bands (Ellington, Count Basie, Paul Whitfield, Benny Goodman), The Jazz Messengers, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner and many, many others. Susan listened and learned. She focused on one instrument at a time to begin to understand the whole.
On a dare from her sister, Susan auditioned with Vocal Instructor Freda Masse, retired from the Metropolitan Opera Company. At 16, Susan was the youngest student Freda had ever accepted and she spent two years of intense training on vocal technique.
The classical training certainly helped toward her vocal development but she always knew her true calling was in jazz. At 18, Susan was accepted into Berkelee College of Music in Boston as a voice major.
After a detour from music, Susan resumed her studies and performing thanks to friend, Zoe Ellis. Zoe, the accomplished and popular Bay area vocalist, encouraged Susan to follow her passion for singing. She discovered the Jazz School, quickly entered the Bay Area jazz scene and has never looked back.
Musical studies:
Susan studies privately with Kitty Margolis
Influences include:
Kitty Margolis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sheila Jordan, Nancy King, Kurt Elling, Nancy Wilson, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, Patricia Barber, Diana Washington, Abbey Lincoln, Madeline Eastman, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Kristin Korb, Eva Cassidy, Clairedee, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Diana Krall, Rebecca Paris, Denise Perrier, and many, many more…
Fan Quotes Include:
"Your voice is gorgeous! Such a rich, rich quality ... very impressive."
"I just love Susan Rancourt's voice ----- you know that full of emotion kind o'statement!”
"I had a great time! Listening to your beautiful voice and watching your awesome stage presence provided food for my soul."
Bay Area Musicians
I am grateful to the clubs in the Bay Area that support developing artists. Through them, I've had the privilege of sharing the bandstand with some of the Bay Area's best jazz musicians. They have been, without exception, kind, supportive and encouraging.
Summary/Closing
“This music is gorgeous, wry, urbane, sophisticated, funny ... absolutely beautifully written. It is an honor and a privilege to perform these songs and to talk with jazz cats who have kept the tradition alive and cookin'. Their generosity is greatly appreciated.
Hello from New Calédonia in South-Pacific... Thanks for the add... Please say a warm hello to the great Denise Perrier from me... Best Regards, Michel. http://www.michelbenebig.com http://www.michel-benebig.com
haha...things are good here too...i was just babysitting for a neighbor and now im home. im about to hop in the shower and then go to bed. does nona know about the motorcycle yet?i hope not, it would drive her nuts! tell aunt annette that everyone has a myspace but her! it a sign that she should get one too! lol.
Hi Susan thanks for sending the cd. Well done! It was great to meet you at JazzCamp and hope to hear you live in the future. Keep on, my friend. all the best kate
hey sue! how are things going there without me? i wish i was still there...but i had to come home sometime. those 2 weeks went by way too fast! i cant wait until next summer...we have to go on that road trip :) i still cant stop laughing about silence is golden. talk to you soon ~♥marina
