Michelle Manzo

A very promising singer who is dedicated to jazz, Michelle Manzo has a warm voice, a four-octave range, she puts her heart into every word she sings, and she has a very individual sound. Born and raised in Miami, Michelle remembers hearing Cuban folkloric music while she was growing up. “Our family used to get together and play percussion instruments and chant; it was a spiritual ritual. Michelle, who is mostly self-taught on piano, started off singing in church and in school.

She sang show tunes and a capellas all through highschool. After attending Miami Dade College for music and enrolling in the University of Miami School Of Music, in 2003 Michelle decided to move to New York. Michelle Manzo has performed at the Cape Cod Jazz Festival, Raue Performing Arts Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The National Arts Club and sings regularly at the Zinc Bar and many other venues throughout New York. Among the musicians who she performs with are Ray Santos, Victor Jones, Gene Bertoncini, Les Paul, Ron Affif, Robert Rodriguez, Mike Rodriguez, Art Hirahara, Marco Panascia, Elias Bailey, Tommy Moromoto, Kim Clark and Dan Aran.

She has also worked with Spanish rock, Salsa and Merengue groups. She won an award at a songwriter’s festival in Taiwan for a song that she wrote based on a Buddhist poem. And recently was chosen to sing the world premiere of two new Dave and Iola Brubeck compositions. Michelle also narrated and sang in the children‘s audio book that was written on Celia Cruz. Michelle has a Bachelors in Fine Arts in music from the City College of New York where she received a full scholarship. Now after being based in New York City for the past 5 ½ years she is returning to her hometown.

She will continue to fulfill her musical commitments in New York while developing new ones in Miami. Michelle looks toward the future with optimism she is currently recording a contemporary latin album with tinges of jazz and R&B. “Michelle Manzo, who has a very appealing voice and a real feel for jazz, clearly has a great future ahead of her. We’ll be hearing a lot from her.” – Scott Yanow, jazz journalist and author of nine books on jazz.