I recently had the opportunity to catch jazz singer Sony Holland in concert at the 2009 San Jose Jazz Festival. After the performance and fan fest in the lobby area with Ms. Holland signing autographs and visiting with fans, I sat down and had a chat with the singer. She was happy to grant me an interview and it was a pleasure talking with her. She is soft-spoken and warm with an easygoing personality.
How does it feel being back in the bay area performing at the San Jose Jazz Festival?
It feels like coming home. Over the past 6+ years I grew to love the Bay Area. It was great fun being part of the San Jose Festival this year.
It has been a couple of months now since you've relocated to Los Angeles. Are there any differences between the Bay Area and LA jazz scenes?
LA is a much larger area and, hence, there are a few more venues. There are many players here who originally came from the Bay Area so there's a connection between the scenes. The first step for me has been to get out to the clubs to hear the musicians. There are a lot of great players and singers here.
Tell us about your typical workday from sunrise to sunset.
Every day is different, but I make sure to get in several hours of singing. On non-gig days there is so much work to do like memorizing new lyrics/melodies, searching for new material, contacting venues, answering emails, etc. I try to get in a workout and read a few articles from the New York Times, the L.A. Times and the SF Chronicle too. At night I really enjoy checking out other singers and musicians whenever I can.
Being independent, is it difficult balancing the creative and business aspects of your career?
Yes, yes, yes! I do the leg work myself. Having moved to Los Angeles I am looking for representation in an attempt to be able to concentrate more on the music.
You have performed in every imaginable setting from the streets of San Francisco to the Park Hyatt in Tokyo. What were some of the highlights?
The highlights for me have included building a fan base which is crucial in order to stay in this business. On the performing side, being outdoors at Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf and also working in Asia for extended periods of time has helped me build my chops. Without that I wouldn't be half the performer I am today.
You and your songwriter/composer husband Jerry Holland perform frequently as a duo. Do you plan to produce a CD as a duo in the near future?
Recording together is one of our (many) goals.
Are you working on any new projects right now?
I'm currently gathering songs in the hopes I will be able to record another project.
On September 19, you will not only be performing at the Jazz Arts Group of Fargo-Moorhead but also presenting a master class at Trollwood Performing Arts School, where you spent your summers while attending high school. Can you tell us a little about your upcoming show and what it means to you to be in your hometown giving back to the community?
I am excited to be going back to Fargo, which is where I went to high school. I'll have the opportunity to see some old friends and family as well. I'll be doing standards from the Great American Songbook with the big band as well as a few standards with their quartet. After leaving the Fargo/Moorhead area I had no idea where I might end up. Since leaving I've been working in Nashville, San Francisco and Los Angeles and Asia.
You currently have three CDs available, with "Swing, Bossas, Ballads & Blues" being your latest, which was recorded at Skywalker ranch with Grammy award-winning recording engineer Leslie Anne Jones. This particular CD clearly displays a diverse repertoire of songs. With jazz being the staple, do you plan to branch out even more into different genres?
It seems like nowadays many "jazz" artists are recording not only standards from the GAS but they are incorporating songs from more contemporary writers i.e. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, etc. I think it is important to sing songs written by all the great writers. Basically, if it's good material I'll record it. Everyone wants to put a label on jazz and pop tunes, but for me there are good songs and there are the other kinds.
Your quartet consists of master musicians that include Benny Watson, Seward McCain, David Rokeach and Jeff Buenz. These talented players have backed you over the past several years in various venues to include Yoshi's, the Rrazz Room, Jazz at Pearl's and many festivals and private gigs. Can you give us a little insight as to how their musicality as a whole complements each performance?
Not only are these cats great players, but they are refreshing people to work with. They all have experience accompanying vocalists, which makes my job a whole lot easier.
You and Jerry will be back in San Francisco on August 20 performing as a duo at one of your favorite North Beach haunts: Café Divine. What is it about your shows there that you most enjoy?
We like the venue so much there because of the owners and their staff. Café Divine is a very relaxed atmosphere and you feel that immediately when you walk through their front door. They treat us well.
Outside of your friends and fans, what is it you miss most about the Bay Area?
I miss my friends and my fans. The beauty of the Bay Area is captivating, but without the people in my life there it wouldn't mean much.
Finish this sentence: When I am not singing you can find me...
Working on my career.
Last but not least, any guilty pleasures?
Oh my yes...
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Sony Holland performs on Thursday, August 20, at Café Divine, 1600 Stockton Street (on Washington Square), in San Francisco. Call 415.986.3414 or visit the Café Divine website for tickets or more info.
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