OPB | Feb. 25, 2013 7:15 a.m.
Shumani Massa, Lincoln High Schoolsenior and vocalist for the Portland school's award-winning jazz group Ensemble One, says music is in her genes — her grandfather was the head trumpeter for Louis Prima. Recently, Shumani spoke withKMHD's Deborah DeMoss Smith about jazz in her life.
1. How did you decide to get involved in jazz? It wasn't actually my decision since I didn't sing jazz until this year. Last year I was in Lincoln's production of Company by Stephen Sondheim, and Mr. Barnes [my jazz teacher] was conducting the pit and he heard me there, so he asked me if I wanted to sing. That's how I got started in this, because I didn't really have any practice in it before, but it fit really well with my voice. I've been singing my entire life in choirs. I've also been in a capella groups for three years and those are really different types of music.
2. You speak the language of jazz; how does that language speak to you?
I think it's kind of unique because there are only about 30 kids in our Lincoln jazz class and most kids I know really don't listen to jazz that often. They might hear it on the radio once in awhile, but usually they're listening to more popular music — so it's nice when we have school assemblies or something and the jazz band will perform. I'll sing and it really gets people excited. They see me out there. They know me. They hear the music and they're like, "Wow, this is really cool; we really like this." It's really a fun way of bringing people together.
I think it's kind of unique because there are only about 30 kids in our Lincoln jazz class and most kids I know really don't listen to jazz that often. They might hear it on the radio once in awhile, but usually they're listening to more popular music — so it's nice when we have school assemblies or something and the jazz band will perform. I'll sing and it really gets people excited. They see me out there. They know me. They hear the music and they're like, "Wow, this is really cool; we really like this." It's really a fun way of bringing people together.
3. What song would you sing for someone who wasn't familiar with jazz?
One of the ones we do a lot is "Autumn Leaves" because it's a standard a lot of people know and even if you don't, it's a really beautiful song — so everybody responds well to it. We added a really interesting intro and outro to it that makes it a lot more dynamic, so people really like that part.
One of the ones we do a lot is "Autumn Leaves" because it's a standard a lot of people know and even if you don't, it's a really beautiful song — so everybody responds well to it. We added a really interesting intro and outro to it that makes it a lot more dynamic, so people really like that part.
Read more: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/five-questions-for-jazz-vocalist-shumani-massa/
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