PREVIOUS GUESTS

TAMMY McCANN

Named the Chicago Tribune’s 2020 person of the Year in Jazz, Tammy McCann is an internationally recognized Jazz Vocalist and is currently Artist in Residence for the Music Institute of Chicago. Her powerful, sultry, and emotionally charged voice paints pictures and tells stories by merging Classical vocal technique and Gospel esthetic with Jazz to create a sound that is completely her own. Chicago Tribune’s Arts Critic, Howard Reich says McCann has, “A voice that soars in all registers, at all tempos, on all occasions... a voice that inspires wonder!”

Tammy, began her career as a Classical singer Her first music teacher was the renowned Dr. Lena McLin, the niece of the founding father of American gospel music, Thomas A Dorsey. (McLin has also been responsible for launching the careers of countless other Chicago vocalists…including Mandy Patinkin and Metropolitan Opera's Mark Rucker.). McLin realized the awesome potential for an operatic future in McCann’s magnificent vocal instrument and cast her as the lead in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”, as well as other major roles.

Tammy soon found herself on a full scholarship to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. However, a chance encounter in one of the rehearsal rooms led to a musical epiphany for her. As she was walking to one of her classes, she overheard a sound that was to change her career direction completely. Another student playing “Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk. Thus began McCann’s foray into the world of Jazz, where she quickly discovered the voice of the legendary Dinah Washington and whose sound and inflections struck an immediate chord with the young vocalist as she began her new musical journey.

Soon afterward, Tammy was on her way back to Chicago, and began making the rounds of the jazz scene there in the late 80’s. As Tammy herself describes this journey: “Jazz took me home to Chicago and into the waiting arms of the most amazing jazz mentors…Von and George Freeman nurtured me and pushed me to explore. Milt Trenier (the veteran Vegas perfo/club-owner) taught me showmanship and story-telling. Ramsey Lewis educated me about the importance of song selection, and the music business. And Henry Johnson (the Chicago guitarist who also produced her latest CD, “Never Let Me Go”) showed me the unexplored colors and layers in my voice, as well as the importance of creating a connection with the audience”. In addition, Tammy has continued to collaborate with many other great musicians and organizations, such as Les McCann, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Willie Pickens, and The Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Those years of singing “in the trenches”, as Tammy describes them, led to a European tour with her own Trio during the mid-90’s. This tour led to several follow-up tours throughout the rest of the decade. Her fluency in several languages…including Italian, French and German, secured her legions of new fans abroad. One result of her European touring was a 1996 SAAR Records/Italy recording entitled “You Like”, featuring Tammy McCann and Wonderbrass. And ultimately (and not surprisingly) Gospel music became a natural addition to Tammy’s repertoire, since her mighty and sumptuous voice was a perfect vehicle for gospel songs and compositions. Tammy created Tammy McCann and The Voices of Glory which became one of the most popular gospel acts touring Europe at the end of the decade…and she subsequently recorded another CD with this group in 2000 for Saar Records (Italy) entitled, “Praise”.

Then came time for another major teacher and mentor to enter Tammy's life and career: the late, great, Ray Charles.

A nation-wide search to fill an opening for a singer within The Ray Charles organization came to Chicago, and Tammy was invited to audition, along with hundreds of other aspiring vocalists and she won the coveted prize! The next thing she knew, she was on her way back to Europe, and a two-year odyssey (2000-2002) as a Raelette with the iconic singer and pianist. Tammy describes the experience as “electrifying…and not for the faint of heart!” But she also speaks very fondly of her musical collaboration with him: “Mr. Charles taught me that the standard is perfection, as well as the importance of treating band members with respect and equity”.

Named the Chicago Tribune’s 2020 person of the Year in Jazz, Tammy McCann is an internationally recognized Jazz Vocalist and is currently Artist in Residence for the Music Institute of Chicago. Her powerful, sultry, and emotionally charged voice paints pictures and tells stories by merging Classical vocal technique and Gospel esthetic with Jazz to create a sound that is completely her own. Chicago Tribune’s Arts Critic, Howard Reich says McCann has, “A voice that soars in all registers, at all tempos, on all occasions... a voice that inspires wonder!” Tammy, began her career as a Classical singer Her first music teacher was the renowned Dr. Lena McLin, the niece of the founding father of American gospel music, Thomas A Dorsey. (McLin has also been responsible for launching the careers of countless other Chicago vocalists…including Mandy Patinkin and Metropolitan Opera's Mark Rucker.). McLin realized the awesome potential for an operatic future in McCann’s magnificent vocal instrument and cast her as the lead in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”, as well as other major roles. Tammy soon found herself on a full scholarship to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. However, a chance encounter in one of the rehearsal rooms led to a musical epiphany for her. As she was walking to one of her classes, she overheard a sound that was to change her career direction completely. Another student playing “Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk. Thus began McCann’s foray into the world of Jazz, where she quickly discovered the voice of the legendary Dinah Washington and whose sound and inflections struck an immediate chord with the young vocalist as she began her new musical journey. Soon afterward, Tammy was on her way back to Chicago, and began making the rounds of the jazz scene there in the late 80’s. As Tammy herself describes this journey: “Jazz took me home to Chicago and into the waiting arms of the most amazing jazz mentors…Von and George Freeman nurtured me and pushed me to explore. Milt Trenier (the veteran Vegas perfo/club-owner) taught me showmanship and story-telling. Ramsey Lewis educated me about the importance of song selection, and the music business. And Henry Johnson (the Chicago guitarist who also produced her latest CD, “Never Let Me Go”) showed me the unexplored colors and layers in my voice, as well as the importance of creating a connection with the audience”. In addition, Tammy has continued to collaborate with many other great musicians and organizations, such as Les McCann, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Willie Pickens, and The Chicago Jazz Orchestra. Those years of singing “in the trenches”, as Tammy describes them, led to a European tour with her own Trio during the mid-90’s. This tour led to several follow-up tours throughout the rest of the decade. Her fluency in several languages…including Italian, French and German, secured her legions of new fans abroad. One result of her European touring was a 1996 SAAR Records/Italy recording entitled “You Like”, featuring Tammy McCann and Wonderbrass. And ultimately (and not surprisingly) Gospel music became a natural addition to Tammy’s repertoire, since her mighty and sumptuous voice was a perfect vehicle for gospel songs and compositions. Tammy created Tammy McCann and The Voices of Glory which became one of the most popular gospel acts touring Europe at the end of the decade…and she subsequently recorded another CD with this group in 2000 for Saar Records (Italy) entitled, “Praise”. Then came time for another major teacher and mentor to enter Tammy's life and career: the late, great, Ray Charles. A nation-wide search to fill an opening for a singer within The Ray Charles organization came to Chicago, and Tammy was invited to audition, along with hundreds of other aspiring vocalists and she won the coveted prize! The next thing she knew, she was on her way back to Europe, and a two-year odyssey (2000-2002) as a Raelette with the iconic singer and pianist. Tammy describes the experience as “electrifying…and not for the faint of heart!” But she also speaks very fondly of her musical collaboration with him: “Mr. Charles taught me that the standard is perfection, as well as the importance of treating band members with respect and equity”.