Vanessa Rubin

Vanessa Rubin
Background information
Born	(1957-03-14) March 14, 1957 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	Telarc, RCA, Novus

Vanessa Rubin (born March 14, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American jazz vocalist and composer.

Biography

Rubin was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents from Trinidad and Louisiana, and grew up in a musical household. She achieved her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Ohio State University. She received a standing ovation for her performance of "God Bless the Child" while competing in the Miss Black Central Ohio Contest, which convinced her that her true calling was to sing in the jazz tradition. This Billie Holiday masterpiece has since become her "official" theme song.

Rubin returned to Cleveland, where she began singing in many of the city's clubs and hotels and performing with the best of the city's musicians. She also formed and managed her first group, consisting of organ, guitar, vibes and drums. Soon after she moved to New York City in 1982, she performed at Sweet Basil and the Village Vanguard with the Pharoah Sanders Quartet. She then began to study with pianist Barry Harris at his Jazz Cultural Theatre.

Since that time she has worked with Kenny Barron, Lionel Hampton, the Mercer Ellington Orchestra, Cecil Bridgewater, Etta Jones, Toots Thielemans, Steve Turre, Cedar Walton, and Grover Washington, Jr. More recently she has completed international tours with Herbie Hancock, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Jazz Crusaders.

Selective discography

Year	Title	Genre	Label	Billboard
1991	Soul Eyes	Jazz	Novus	9
1993	Pastiche			10
1994	I'm Glad There Is You: A Tribute to Carmen McRae			22
1995	Vanessa Rubin Sings
1997	New Horizons	R&B, Jazz	RCA
1999	Language of Love	Jazz	Telarc
2001	Girl Talk