Star Eyes

Star Eyes

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
In talking with Ms. Bender, it's clear she's not from New York. Her offbeat, quirky personality may come as a surprise to fans who have not met her in person. Conversations are interspersed with a bright smile and infectious laugh. Originally Ms. Bend er never intended to be a singer, after attending college on numerous theatre and academic scholarships, she came to New York t o be an actress. "I used to stare at a wall of photographs of stars that hung in the theatre building and wish I were them," M s. Bender mused, "but after I started singing in jazz and cabaret clubs in New York I was hooked! Like Shakespeare said, life is a stage, so I try to enjoy every minute of it." Many people might contend they enjoy every minute of when she is onstage, a mong them her fans include Woody Allen, renowned photographer Andrew Eccles, Will Friedwald (author of biographies on Frank Sin atra and Tony Bennett), David Hajdu (contributor to the New York Times), jazz composer and banjoist Eddy Davis and cabaret star Blosso m Dearie.

Ms. Bender's audience is bound to keep growing with the release of her debut CD. Cites Bender, "I love to see a room full of p eople digging jazz, especially when they may never have been to a jazz concert before. In terms of defining my audience, I'm n ot sure if I really can do that because I've performed for college students who really got into it as well as serious jazz buff s who were very enthusiastic. The age range of my audience seems to be pretty wide, which is why I'm convinced jazz is not dea d." One particular incident really struck a chord with Bender, "I taught music in a NYC elementary public school one year, and some students were chatterboxes. One way I always got the kids to behave was when I would sing to them. I know they liked ra p music a lot, but it seemed to me they liked jazz just as much."

Another interesting tidbit about Ms. Bender is that she has something in common with TV anchorman Peter Jennings--they both lik e jazz and are featured in the October 2001 issue of Jazziz magazine. The feature juxtaposes sexy album photographs of Bender with a photo of her at a protest holding a sign that says "Wynton show respect, women musicians don't forget." Apparently memb ers of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, who receive hefty $100,000 annual salaries, have never included women and hiring is d one solely by word of mouth. Cites Bender, "Since Jazz at Lincoln Center accepted $20 million in public funds, we're hoping Wy nton Marsalis will help put an end to the segregation of men and women in the world of professional big bands." After looking at Bender's sexy photographs in Jazziz magazine, Marsalis may wish she was a jazz instrumentalist. In any case, if you're hip you'll dig listening to the fabulous jazz vocalist Joan Bender.

Product Description
It's been said "You can't judge a book by its cover," but in the case of the album "Star Eyes," you can judge the music on this CD by its cover. Joan Bender is beautiful, and it is safe to say her jazz vocals on this album are even more so. Like a brea th of fresh air into the jazz scene, this double-album of 16 songs (on 15 tracks) contains a variety of jazz standards, bossa n ova tunes and originals that display Ms. Bender's unusual amount of vocal versatility. First on the list is her spectacular sc atting, reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O'Day on the Cole Porter standard "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." Secondly are h er delightful interpretations of Brazilian bossa nova classics such as "Summer Samba" and "My Little Boat" that are in the clas s of the great Brazilian vocalist Astrud Gilberto (of "Girl from Ipanema" fame). Third is the cool jazz phrasing she evokes on "Time After Time" with inflections similar to Chet Baker and Blossom Dearie. Fourth, and most impressive, is her sense of swi ng on t he tracks of "Cherokee," "Lullaby of Birdland" and "Bird Alone" that many die hard jazz fans into Sarah Vaughan and Abbey Linco ln will savor. The influence of legendary singers on Ms. Bender is apparent, and she adds layers of feeling and her own style into the mix. Perhaps Ms. Bender has more than "Star Eyes." Perhaps she just might be the definition of a star.

Star Eyes,Joan Bender,Original Cast Record,A jazz vocal album with standards done in a range of styles, from bossa nova to swing and even a nod to the bebop scat of Ella. She's obviously been influenced by the likes of those before her: Ella, Astrud Gilberto, Sarah Vaughan, and Anita O'day,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Jazz Music: Star Eyes

Jazz Music: