Josephine Livoti - debut CD ’Bright Moments’

Josephine Livoti, a New York-based jazz vocalist, announces the release of her independently produced debut CD ’Bright Moments’ on her label Sefina Music Enterprises. She will play the CD release concert Sunday, April 23rd at Saint Peter's Church, NY, with James Weidman, piano; Paul West, bass and Greg Bandy, drums. They accompanied her on her recording. Josephine's well-rounded repertoire includes songs from the Great American Songbook and compositions by jazz and Brazilian masters. Her dynamic trio plays with precision and adds creativity and soulfulness to Josephine's warm and rich vocal tones.

Josephine's vocal influences include Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter and Brazilian vocalist Elis Regina. Today, Josephine's creative inspiration for her singing comes from jazz and world music instrumentalists whose musical expression blends the old with the new, and who look to the world for their audience.

Josephine has performed with jazz masters isuch as Howard McGhee, Richard Davis, and Roland Hanna at such notable New York venues as the Blue Note, the Jazz Center of New York, and Saint Peter's Church (the "Jazz Church"). She has also been featured at The Greenwich Village Jazz Festival and the JVC Jazz Festival in New York City.

She began her career in music as an alto member of the New York Choral Society. There she developed a love for the works of Bach, especially hearing his compositions improvised in jazz settings.

Her music education includes jazz studies with Harold Danko, Hal Schaefer and Herb Buchanan; and cabaret and popular music studies with Elly Stone. At Mannes College of Music she studied voice with Marian Thompson, and received her diploma in Classical and Contemporary Music Studies, majoring in vocal performance. She has studied drama with Bill Hickey and musical theatre with Rita Gardner at the Herbert Bergoff Studio. Her interest in comedy led her to Chicago City Limits in New York City, where she studied comedy and improvisational theatre.