“You really tore it up last night  . . .  you’re a pro.”  (Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein, regarding Jeanne’s performance at the Queen’s Lounge aboard the Noordam, February 3, 2011.)

An enthralling performer and creative lyricist, singer JEANNE GIES knows how to entice and enchant an audience:

‘Every word rings as clear as an ultimatum from a nuclear power  . . . and she has an unerring sense of when to follow the printed note and when to bend the melody.’ (Journal Sentinel)

2011 began with a bang, as Jeanne made her debut with George Wein’s Newport All-Stars on the Jazz Cruise.  April begins with a return performance at Germano’s in Baltimore, and 49 West in Annapolis.  In mid-April Jeanne tours Scotland and England with Howard Alden. Highlights of this exciting musical venture include a concert at the new Seven Jazz Club in Leeds, performances at the 606 Club, Chelmsford Jazz Club, and Woking Jazz Circle.  Jeanne is thrilled to be performing at the Norwich Jazz Party.  Vienna’s Jazzland also awaits Jeanne’s return, as well as choice spots in Switzerland, Germany, and Brazil.  

‘At peak moments  . . . Gies uses her full-bodied voice as an emotionally expressive instrument.’ (Shepherd Express)

Perhaps nothing attests to having ‘made it’ like establishing a steady gig in the Big Apple. Jeanne accomplished this early on, and can currently be seen weekly at Joe G’s (a charming underground bar in the heart of the city.)

Intimate venues like these lend themselves to the subtleties of jazz guitar, and Jeanne has sung with the best in the world.  The pure joy evolving from the creative expression of these guitar ‘conversations’ is the inspiration for Jeanne’s new CD release: DON’T THINK TWICE.  Featuring the unprecedented gathering of eight of the greatest jazz guitarists of our generation, this creative pairing is pure bliss.  7-string virtuoso Howard Alden joins friends Gene Bertoncini, Joe Cohn, Bruce Edwards, Romero Lubambo, Russell Malone, Jack Wilkins, and the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli for this adventurous and groundbreaking collaboration.

‘This first-rate album (is) by a singer who took the risk of surrounding herself with nothing but the best--and made it pay off.  We’ll eagerly await the next chapter.’

So said the distinguished author Dan Morgenstern (Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University) regarding  Don’t Think Twice.  It was just such critical acclaim of Jeanne’s first recordings (It Was You; I’ve Got Just About Everything) and PBS special (A Touch Of Jazz) that ignited her move from the comfort zone of her Wisconsin home town to the thriving, competitive jazz arena of New York City. Manhattan jazz audiences witnessed Jeanne’s sheer talent result in a steady gain of recognition and fame, while earning the right to sing with musicians of the highest rank.  It was at the famous Nola Recording Studio Jeanne recorded the much-lauded Mad About The Boy, which brought ample proof she can swing with the masters.  Fueled by the hard-driving groove of jazz greats Gerald Cannon, Montez Coleman, Bruce Edwards, Willie Jones III, Sherman Irby, Eric Reed, and the late John Hicks, Jeanne alternates smooth seduction with playful romps, firmly establishing she can ‘hang with the cats.’  Arizona University Recording Studio agreed, and selected tracks for inclusion in several compilation discs released to wild acclaim in Europe and So. Korea (In Love With Jazz-The Ultimate Smooth Jazz Collection; The Best Smooth Jazz . . . Ever! Volume 4.)  Mad About The Boy was also featured on John Hellings’ Jazz Show on Midlands BBC.

Jeanne’s steadily increasing popularity has landed her regular gigs in well-known venues including The Carnegie Club, Shelly’s New York, Iridium, The Bar Next Door, Sweet Rhythm, Jilly’s, Monte’s and many more.  Last year marked Jeanne’s debut at the legendary Smoke Jazz club, as guest singer for WBGO radio host Sheila Anderson’s book signing (The Quotable Musician.)

Jeanne conducts vocal workshops around the world, and specializes in accent elimination for singers.  For more information, see www.jeannegies.com;  contact:  jeannegies@gmail.com.