Maia Santell and House Blend
Performing
at the Tacoma Freedom Fair
JULY 4, 2015 at 12:00 - 1:30 PM
DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE BLUES STAGE
Northwest jazz and blues vocalist Maia Santell is known around the region as “The Pacific Northwest Queen of Swing.” A descendant of Seattle’s Jackson Street era of jazz, her mom, dad and uncle were prominent musicians in the Northwest music scene for forty years. Maia’s phrasing and smooth, unaffected vocal style can be attributed to her rich musical heritage, including attending Seattle’s Garfield High School, singing in jazz ensembles, musicals and dance bands, and performing at a young age in her uncle’s combo, The Frank Sugia Quartet, which featured such jazz giants as Joe Venuti, Buddy Catlett and Floyd Standifer.
With a vast repertoire of jazz, blues, swing, Latin, big band and contemporary favorites, Santell and her band, Maia Santell and House Blend, have been performing for twenty eight years, at such leading venues as Jazz Alley, Jazzbones, Muckleshoot Casino, St. Michelle Wineries, Argosy Cruises, Studio 6 Ballroom and Johnny’s Dock, among many others. With Ted Dortch on tenor saxophone, Al Alto on guitar, Derick Polk on bass, Mike Slivka on drums and special guest Jumpin’ Josh Violette on guitar, Santell puts on an energetic show that appeals to all ages.
Doug Bright of Seattle’s Heritage Music Review says, “Maia Santell is one of the Northwest's most dynamic and refreshingly believable jazz vocalists. Her voice is warm, clear and natural, and totally free of contrived theatricality. Supported by the seasoned musicians of House Blend, she offers one of the most exhilarating sounds on the Northwest music scene.”
