March 6, 2016

Carolena Mátus is a classically trained singer and jazz artist, who spent the majority of her career living and performing in Las Vegas, NV, the Entertainment Capital of the World.  Her distinctive vocal quality, exceptional pitch and ear, combined with her artistic lyric interpretation and phrasing set her apart as a vocal musician of excellence.

In the mid-1980s, Mátus was introduced through a former band member to Frank Sinatra, Jr.  Her respect for him, along with his passion for the music and his own multifaceted talent, greatly inspired and influenced her.  Thanks to Frank’s influence, the jazz bug had bitten her; she was thoroughly hooked and her music was forever, joyfully changed.  Her formative experiences with preeminent Las Vegas jazz musicians including internationally renowned trombonist, Carl Fontana, amongst many others, are the basis for the singer she is today.  Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, Carolena continues to expand the scope of her music partnerships and has been blessed by a variety of expert musicians from Portland to Seattle, including Randy Halberstadt, John Stowell, Phil Sparks, Clipper Anderson, Michael Barnett, Bill Anschell, Darin Clendenin, Bert Wilson and Joe Baque.

Randy Halberstadt has been a major figure on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene for many years. A multi-dimensional pianist, composer and author, he is equally at home playing bebop, Latin and a host of other jazz genres. Having performed with many jazz luminaries, he has appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and abroad.

Halberstadt is among the most in-demand performers of our region. He has appeared with national artists such as Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Herb Ellis, Mel Brown, Mimi Fox, Kevin Mahogany, Sheila Jordan, Bobby Shew, Marlena Shaw and John Stowell. He is featured on numerous recordings with the top names in NW jazz, such as the Clarence Acox Sextet. He has recorded four CDs of his own, and is the author an instructional text, “Metaphors for the Musician: Perspectives from a Jazz Pianist.”

Phil Sparks is among the leading bassists in Seattle, having performed with nearly every top jazz group in the city. He records extensively with many of the Northwest’s top names, and received a special mention as a star of the Seattle scene in the Feb. 94 issue of Down Beat.

Sparks has recorded with Jerry Granelli, Barry Wedgle, Rich Halley, Francis Vanek, Jay Clayton/Jim Knapp, Juhan Lee, Randy Halberstadt, Rick Mandyck, Jay Thomas, Woody Woodhouse, Clarence Acox, Floyd Standifer, Milo Petersen, Hans Fahling, Steve Griggs, Matt Jorgenson, The Plymouth Trio, Mark Lanegan, Akbar De Preist, and Peter Ross.

John Stowell is a unique guitarist and a true original. A beloved figure on the international Jazz scene, his special take on harmony, chords and improvisation set him apart. John began his successful career in the early 1970s. Traveling the globe from Argentina to Ireland, Portland to New York, Russia to Australia, he continues to actively perform, teach and record. In the Autumn of 2011 he visited Estonia, the 20th country in which he has performed since being on the road.

Stowell is a contributing columnist for several popular publications, including “Downbeat” magazine since 1995. His album, “Through the Listening Glass,” which he recorded with bassist David Friesen, was named one of the “Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Decade” by the Los Angeles Examiner. His recording/performance credits include: Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Conte Condoli, Herb Ellis, Bill Watrous, Mundell Lowe, George Cables, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Richie Cole, Paul Horn, Tom Harrell, Don Thompson, Dave Liebman and many others.