Leader Post Thursday, August 27, 2009
Regina Vocalist Gets Personal
Bev Zizzy's first CD will soon be available for a song - $20 to be precise. The Regina vocalist is preparing to launch the recording entitled Woman in Black on Sept. 12. All 14 tracks are original compositions.
"It has been a huge amount of work, but it feels really good," she says. "I'm very proud of it."
The title track is the first selection on the CD.
"The lyrics to Woman in Black are autobiographical, because I wear a lot of black," she says.
"I typically perform in black. I can't come up with five different time in the last eight years when I haven't worn black (while singing).
"Maybe it's the jazz singer in me that likes the classic look. I like the depth that it provides because there's some intrigue to it. I'm not doing the Johnny Cash thing, but there's something to it. It's kind of a persona that I've developed over the years."
The CD is dedicated to her daughter, Tesalyn Zizzy-Mustatia, who died in 2002 at 18.
"One third of the songs are inspired by Tess." Zizzy says. "Every song isn't a dirge. It isn't a funeral album. I listen to some of the songs and I'm bopping'. A couple of songs are tear jerkers, one in particular.
"It's dedicated to her with a great deal of sentiment. Writing these songs was a healing process, no question. I'm very appreciative of having that as an outlet to get through the grieving process, but it's all about making this something good. It's about how you become a better person because of the pain you've gone through."
Zizzy refers to her music as "acoustic soul", with heavy jazz and blues influences. She has been concentrating on those genres since 2003.
The following year, Zizzy, who teaches English at Winston Knoll Collegiate and is in her 30th year as an educator - received an Inspiring Teaching Award from her alma mater, The University of Regina.
There were more accolades in May, when Zizzy was the recipient of the Jacqui Shumiatcher Arts Award at the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.
At the time, she was busy applying the finishing touches to Woman in Black, while also preparing to launch her website (bevzizzy.com) which has been accessible since the weekend.
The next noteworthy event on her agenda is the Woman in Black release concert. which is set for Sept. 12 at Le Bistro (3850 Hillsdale Ave.). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. From 8:30 to 9:30 Zizzy will perform each selection from her CD.
The $25 admission charge includes a copy of the CD, plus hors d'oeuvres.
For the first hour after the doors open, a quartet consisting of Ross Purse (bass), Bob Firnesz (trombone), Dennis Hendricksen (keyboards) and Ted Warawa (guitar) will entertain the crowd. Those four musicians are members of the 'round midnight jazz ensemble, with which Zizzy regularly performs.
Following the launch, the CD will be available at Bach & Beyond (Golden Mile Centre), Cobb Swanson Music (2924 13th Ave.) and Long & McQuade (1445 McIntyre Street).
Woman in Black will also be accessible on iTunes, or by visiting Zizzy's website.
In the case of all purchases from bevzizzy.com, she will donate $2 to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which assists AIDS victims in sub-Saharan Africa.
* All That's Jazz appears every second Thursday. If you have a comment or information about a performance, contact Rob Vanstone by telephone (781-5216) or email (rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com)
Regina Vocalist Gets Personal
Bev Zizzy's first CD will soon be available for a song - $20 to be precise. The Regina vocalist is preparing to launch the recording entitled Woman in Black on Sept. 12. All 14 tracks are original compositions.
"It has been a huge amount of work, but it feels really good," she says. "I'm very proud of it."
The title track is the first selection on the CD.
"The lyrics to Woman in Black are autobiographical, because I wear a lot of black," she says.
"I typically perform in black. I can't come up with five different time in the last eight years when I haven't worn black (while singing).
"Maybe it's the jazz singer in me that likes the classic look. I like the depth that it provides because there's some intrigue to it. I'm not doing the Johnny Cash thing, but there's something to it. It's kind of a persona that I've developed over the years."
The CD is dedicated to her daughter, Tesalyn Zizzy-Mustatia, who died in 2002 at 18.
"One third of the songs are inspired by Tess." Zizzy says. "Every song isn't a dirge. It isn't a funeral album. I listen to some of the songs and I'm bopping'. A couple of songs are tear jerkers, one in particular.
"It's dedicated to her with a great deal of sentiment. Writing these songs was a healing process, no question. I'm very appreciative of having that as an outlet to get through the grieving process, but it's all about making this something good. It's about how you become a better person because of the pain you've gone through."
Zizzy refers to her music as "acoustic soul", with heavy jazz and blues influences. She has been concentrating on those genres since 2003.
The following year, Zizzy, who teaches English at Winston Knoll Collegiate and is in her 30th year as an educator - received an Inspiring Teaching Award from her alma mater, The University of Regina.
There were more accolades in May, when Zizzy was the recipient of the Jacqui Shumiatcher Arts Award at the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.
At the time, she was busy applying the finishing touches to Woman in Black, while also preparing to launch her website (bevzizzy.com) which has been accessible since the weekend.
The next noteworthy event on her agenda is the Woman in Black release concert. which is set for Sept. 12 at Le Bistro (3850 Hillsdale Ave.). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. From 8:30 to 9:30 Zizzy will perform each selection from her CD.
The $25 admission charge includes a copy of the CD, plus hors d'oeuvres.
For the first hour after the doors open, a quartet consisting of Ross Purse (bass), Bob Firnesz (trombone), Dennis Hendricksen (keyboards) and Ted Warawa (guitar) will entertain the crowd. Those four musicians are members of the 'round midnight jazz ensemble, with which Zizzy regularly performs.
Following the launch, the CD will be available at Bach & Beyond (Golden Mile Centre), Cobb Swanson Music (2924 13th Ave.) and Long & McQuade (1445 McIntyre Street).
Woman in Black will also be accessible on iTunes, or by visiting Zizzy's website.
In the case of all purchases from bevzizzy.com, she will donate $2 to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which assists AIDS victims in sub-Saharan Africa.
* All That's Jazz appears every second Thursday. If you have a comment or information about a performance, contact Rob Vanstone by telephone (781-5216) or email (rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com)