Roseanna Vitro salutes Sarah, Carmen, Ella & Joe with David Janeway Trio

Singer Roseanna Vitro has had great success with her strikingly soulful tributes to Ray Charles (1997’s Catchin’ Some Rays) and Bill Evans (2001’s Conviction). Her collection of radically re-imagined Randy Newman originals like “Last Night I Had a Dream,” “In Germany Before the War” and “Sail Away” provides sterling arrangements by pianist Mark Soskin and stirring performances by violinist Sara Caswell. Another triumph by the bluesy Jazz Ambassador.

– Bill Milkowski

Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. In 2012 she received a Grammy nomination for Best Vocal Jazz Album for The Music of Randy Newman.

Roseanna Vitro is the product of two distinct cultural strains: Her father, who ran the Flamingo nightclub, divided his music affinities between the pluck of Frank Sinatra and the homeland finery of Italian opera. Her mother sang country and gospel songs by way of the church.

In recent years Vitro has distinguished herself as an educator, clinician and columnist. Her work with young singers has helped launch jazz’s next generation, while her writings and interviews in Jazz Times – bannered as Voices In Jazz – illuminate the magic (and hard work) behind the greatest vocalists of our times. Additionally, her website-blog JVoice reaches a global audience of vocalists and those who support the art of singing.

Roseanna Vitro will salute Sarah, Carmen, Ella & Joe with the David Janeway Trio featuring Cameron Brown & Tony Jefferson at Jazz Forum, Sun., March 3 at 4 & 6pm.