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"An expressive voice, at times warm and throaty, at times pure and delicate, that brings intimacy and a touching vulnerability!" "Melody has done an astounding transfer of vocal sound over to the world of Jazz...Pick up Melody's lovely CD, it's kinda sexy too!" MELODY BREYER-GRELL's Blujazz label debut CD, "The Right Time"(the CD's release party is at the renowned jazz spot, Sweet Rhythm) tells a story. While vocalizing in a traditional melodic style, her clever arrangements & simple improvisations add freshness to some familiar & lesser-known jazz & "Great American Songbook" standards. Each piece is specifically selected & ordered to create a mood an a sense of direction. Melody's theatrical background is responsible for her bent towards telling stories. Born in New York City & raised in Long Beach, Long Island, she was deemed a "natural" singer & was already at the Manhattan School of Music at 12 years old. Theater songs & classical music were her first introductions to music, but she eventually found true compatibility with "The "Great American Songbook," (voraciously listening to the late great WNEW and QEW). While at conservatory she already showed a propensity for backphrasing & singing over the bar lines in general. When she started to seriously listen to jazz, she realized she found a vehicle for her natural style of phrasing & interpretation. Melody appeared in many of New York's music room's while honing in on her skills. During that time, she listened to a wide variety of jazz singers, observing Jay Clayton, Sheila Jordan. Mark Murphy, Blossom Dearie & every local singer she could find. Sinatra, June Christie, Carmen McRae, Ella - all the great ones were in her CD player. In time, Melody found her own personal style, "a happy meeting of cabaret and jazz…full of pleasures…Melody communicates words with clarity & warmth, while letting the composer's intentions shine through." (James Gavin, critic & author.) In the past few years, Melody has been extremely busy as the musical director of the Jazz/Supper Club, "Chez Suzette." She also works as producer, & last year's show "Sing Jazz" (based on the book that is edited by Dr. Gloria Cooper) played to a full house, offering a chance to hear a wide variety of singers - Giacomo Gates, Linda Ciofalo, Audrey Silver, Miles Griffith & Seth Fruiterman - All singing these newly published tunes under the Musical Direction of Dr. Cooper, herself a singer & pianist, as well as educator. Chez Suzette was sold but Melody was immediately hired at the "Triad" Performance space and night club. Melody is dedicated to keeping a forum for jazz musicians of all kinds. "It is important to explore the entire repertoire & offer opportunities for artists. "No one can make a go of this alone." Some very exciting events are in the works in the next few months at the The Triad. The Triad is an exciting venue, with an expert sound & light system, as well as a full stage & grand piano. One especially exciting event is Sheila Jordan's 76th Birthday concert in November. This will be recorded for posterity by High Note Records. Melody also sees the humorous side to jazz. She has penned many parodies to familiar tunes & is completing a show titled "What's So Funny About Jazz?" She will be answering that question in "good time." "An expressive voice, at times warm & throaty, at times pure
& delicate, that brings intimacy & a touching vulnerability!"
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