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GWEN HUGHES |
BIOGRAPHY
What happens when you put great musicians in multi-colored zoot suits and front the band with a redhead that likes to laugh?
You get Gwen Hughes & The Retro Jazz Katz!
What other band can bring together the deep-pocket swing of the 1930s and 1940s and segue effortlessly into contemporary beats like Stevie Wonder's “I Wish” and “Smooth” by Santana?
Called “The South's Sexiest Songstress” by Borders Books & Music, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution flatly states: “Gwen Hughes was swinging before swinging was cool.” A veteran on the Southeast corporate and wedding music scene, Gwen is one of the busiest bandleaders in Atlanta , along the way being named “Favorite Jazz Artist” by the readers of Creative Loafing magazine and taking her act overseas to France , Eastern Europe and Turkey .
The rest of the “Katz” are equally impressive: Arthur Turner on keyboards; Brian Hall on bass; Joe Gransden on trumpet; Wes Funderburk on trombone; and Chris Burroughs is the faithful backbeat on the drums. Collectively, these players (and Gwen) have about a century of experience between them, playing all over the world, for the last (4) Olympic Games, movie stars like Clint Eastwood, and professional clients in such diverse locales as the Cayman Islands to New York City .
Corporate and wedding clients marvel at the band's ability to take the event seriously, but not themselves. “We never stop laughing onstage,” says Gwen. “My objective has always been to have a band that enjoys each other – it makes the audience enjoy the band that much more…and it makes the music even better.”
Her point is enthusiastically supported by Gloria Stuchlik, formerly of the Emory Conference Center : “When the band broke into “In the Mood,” I think I even saw a waiter dancing! The shouts of “encore!” I heard at the end of the evening lead me to believe everyone enjoyed the evening as much as I did.”
Performance History Available upon request.
References available upon request.
THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID ABOUT GWEN AND THE KATZ
"Gwen Hughes was swinging before swinging was cool." - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
"It was a pleasure...your politeness and talent are rare and refreshing qualities." - Impressive Events, Princeton, New Jersey
""You made my wedding be everything I dreamed it would be." - Wedding Client, Atlanta, GA
"Many, many thanks for all your hard work to make our event so special." - The Nine O'Clocks, Rome, GA
"The shouts of 'Encore!' I heard at the end of the evening lead me to believe that everyone enjoyed the music as much as I did." - G. Stuchlik, Emory Conference Center
"Hughes and her band make jazz accessible and fun..." - Creative Loafing
"Thank you for making a special evening even more special." - Wedding Client, Columbus, GA
SONG LIST
VAN MORRISONBrown Eyed Girl
MOTOWNAin't Too Proud to Beg (Temptations) BEATLES Can't Buy Me Love Under My Thumb Respect MARVIN GAYE How Sweet It Is STEVIE WONDER I Wish Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding) JAMES BROWNGet Up (Sex Machine) KOOL & THE GANG Celebration ABBA Dancing Queen Sweetest Taboo GEORGE BENSON Breezin BEACH MUSIC Sweet Home Alabama (Lnyrd Skynrd) SAMPLE OF 1980s: Kiss (Prince) 1990s AND NEW MILLENIA MUSIC Get the Party Started (Pink)
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DISCO/PARTY MUSICBrick House DIANA KRALLFrim Fram Sauce LOUIS PRIMA I Wanna Be Like You DEAN MARTINAin't That a Kick in the Head LOUIS JORDANAin't Nobody Here But Us Chickens GLENN MILLER/BIG BAND Opus One BOBBY DARIN Beyond the Sea FRANK SINATRA Come Fly With Me BRIAN SETZER/MODERN SWING Rock This Town DUKE ELLINGTON Take the “A” Train ELLA FITZGERALD Don't Get Around Much Anymore SARAH VAUGHN Summertime COUNT BASIE Everyday I Have the Blues PEGGY LEE Fever FATS WALLER Is You Is of Is You Ain't My Baby BESSIE SMITH Mean Old Bedbug Blues 1950s ROCK AND ROLL Rock Around the Clock (B Haley) RAY CHARLES Hit the Road Jack STEVIE RAY VAUGHN Pride and Joy NAT KING COLE Route 66 GWEN HUGHES (swing originals) So& So TONY BENNETT Steppin Out PATSY CLINE Crazy |
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