Lisa Bell's Crescendo is perfect for large or small venues, and their style of music can be tailored for any occasion. Personnel include the core quartet of lead vocalist, piano, bass and drums, and Crescendo can add or subtract from there. Saxophone, flute, percussion and guitar are also available. The ensemble plays traditional jazz standards often with a "twist" of modern and retro sounds. They also perform pop and rock standards from Joe Cocker to the Beatles with a jazz motif for a truly unique sound and entertaining evening.
Like a breeze on a summer day, contemporary jazz provides a respite from life's complications. Lisa Bell wafts cool with the best of them, but keeps us from permanently drifting into the stratosphere with charming doses of wit and spice. While the theme of Lisa Bell's second album, released in 2005, may be familiar (It's All About Love), her style shows she is one of the new breed of female jazz singers doing it her way. You know it's a new era for jazz singers when you hear Lisa because she writes much of her own material, mixing in influences from modern jazz, roots rock, pop and Broadway.
Her contemporary eclecticism is fully in evidence during her unique live performances which feature her original music as well as compelling modern arrangements of traditional jazz standards. Her 2007/2008 festival show also features jazzy versions of classic rock tunes from the likes of the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Green Day and The Animals. Lisa is currently booking festivals across the country and internationally for the 2007/2008 season.
Lisa's core band includes keyboardist John Armstrong, bassist Michael Friedman (Nelson Rangell, Dotsero), drummer Larry Thompson (Dr. John, Dotsero, Wind Machine, Brian Savage) and saxophone/flute Bob Rebholz (Tom Jones, Peter
Kater, Chris Daniels & The Kings). Festival bookings can range from 4-8 pieces with guitar, trumpet and background singer available in addition to the core band.
A few highlights of Lisa's performing career include the opening act for the 2004 JVC Winter Park Jazz Festival, and opening for guitar legend StanleyJordan in 2005 and 2007. Lisa can be found performing at jazz clubs throughout
Colorado and at major festivals such as the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Taste of Colorado and the City Park Jazz Festival (where she performed in 2005 for an audience of 5,000+). Lisa has recorded with pianist/organist Bill Payne of Little Feat, Grammy nominated saxophonist Nelson Rangell and award-winning Canadian smooth jazz trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach.
