Uncommon Ground ^ Gayle Bisesi

Gayle Bisesi
Gayle Bisesi is a true jazz soprano who brings a fresh, inspiring sensitivity and a playful edge to jazz music. She creates original material that will set your soul searching and adds a new flare to jazz standards from the past. Fusing the imaginative freedom of a child with masterful technique, flexibility and a superb overall command of her instrument, Gayle will wow you with her artistry.

Watching Gayle perform, there is no doubt she commits to the music and brings this conviction to the forefront of every performance. She has been singing professionally for over 20 years and has had the honor of sharing the stage with such musical greats as: Patti Austin, New York Voices, Howard Levy, Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, Denis DiBlasio, Mark Whitfield, Conte Candoli, Hank Marr, Frank Mantooth, and Kevin Mahogany, among others.

On the international circuit, her singing has taken her to such places as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, Canada, as well as New York City.

Currently, she resides in the Chicago area while pursuing her musical career full time. She performs regularly at various establishments such as the legendary Jazz Showcase, Chicago Cultural Center, Andy’s Jazz Club, Park West, Green Mill, Hot House, Pop’s for Champagne, Fitzgerald’s, Uncommon Ground, Beat Kitchen, to name a few.

When not on the road with her jazz ensemble, Gayle is active doing jingle/voiceover work, singing with various local bands - primarily the Bobby Schiff Band and dedicates time to being a voice teacher, clinician, mentor and musical life coach.

Gayle teaches at her own studio “Vocal Voyage” and at the Bloom School of Jazz. She offers private voice lessons as well as workshops on “Exploring Your Musical Depth.” “As a music educator, I teach people how to deepen the musical passion within themselves through self exploration - emotionally, physically and spiritually - the WHOLISTIC approach to singing.”

“My earliest memories of music were in my home and at church, growing up in Decatur, IL. My mom would sing and play music all the time. If you were talking to her and said lyrics to a song she liked, she would start singing before you could finish your sentence. Music just flowed from her!”

Gayle first set her sights on music at the young age of 3. “Mom said my stage was the living room couch. My microphone - the vacuum cleaner hose.” Gayle’s love for music continued and by age 9 she moved from the couch to the stage touring all over Illinois as a featured soloist with a local Decatur ensemble. The following year Gayle’s parents signed her up for voice lessons at Millikin University.

Throughout her childhood, Gayle was exposed to singing many kinds of music including classical, musical theater, pop, and folk. But it was not until 1987 that her hidden passion for jazz was uncovered. “I remember auditioning for the MacArthur Jazz Band and something inside me just sat up and a strong connection was made. This music was so powerful and exciting to me.” Her work won her the coveted Downbeat award for Best Jazz Vocalist.

Having led an active musical life thus far, Gayle sought out Elmhurst College where she earned her degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education, graduating in 1996. While in college, she was recognized by the MENC (Music Educators National Conference) as Outstanding Classical Vocalist in the collegiate chapter, as well as being named Outstanding Jazz Soloist at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. “This was a special time in my life. I really took to studying the greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong,... and the list goes on. They taught me that one of the greatest gifts a vocalist can give the audience is to tell a story and have fun doing it. Each song has meaning, a story. A connection is made between the head and the heart.”

“To me, singing jazz is a soulful release - an opportunity to unveil, expose, and bare my true self. Am I vulnerable? Yes, but what’s music without revealing your heart?” Gb

Buy Gayle Bisesi CDs: