Fresno City College had the privilege of having renowned modern jazz singer, Gretchen Parlato, perform an intimate concert on Wednesday in the FCC Theatre. The Grammy-nominated singer has earned international acclaim with her extensive jazz career, which takes her around the world, most recently to Fresno. She certainly has music in her blood, with a bass player father (Dave Parlato) who worked with Frank Zappa, and a trumpet player grandfather. This week she had one-on-one time with the FCC community. “If you’re a music person this will change your life,” FCC music instructor and jazz enthusiast Mike Dana said of having Parlato in our midst.
Through connections and communication with Parlato’s booking agent, Dana jumped at the chance to invite her to FCC. Her visit consisted of a Jan. 23 free vocal clinic and a Jan. 25 evening concert.
The greatest benefit of a jazz artist such as Parlato holding workshops on campus is that FCC music students are able to talk directly with her, asking questions about touring, education and furthering a music career, says Dana
“Things Gretchen may say might be better for students,” Dana said, as he stated that students will value what a “peer” says, due to the closer proximity in age. Dana brings as many jazz artists to campus as he can, to have them work with and encourage students.
After establishing connections with students during the vocal clinic, Parlato was able to feed on the energy while on stage during her performance.
“Who was here yesterday?” Parlato asked the crowd inside the FCC theatre on Wednesday. After some cheering and clapping she continued, “You guys had a good cool vibe. Seems like you brought that with you tonight. Thank you,” she said.
Parlato was accompanied for her West Coast tour by three jazz artists from her New York “pool of musicians,” as she calls it. Sam Harris on piano and keyboards, Harish Raghavan on bass, and Mark Guiliana on drums.
The band maintained a relaxed atmosphere as they began the evening with a song from Parlato’s new album, “The Lost and Found.” After the first few songs she told the audience she’d be doing songs from her previous album and songs by “jazz greats” as well.
Parlato and her band performed with their eyes closed for the majority of the time. Through her singing, she enables audience members to see what she sings about and feel what emotions carry the song. Such was the case with “Clouds,” in which she sings, “I’m waiting, wanting, longing for a chance to love, a chance to be, the only one your heart could ever need.”
Parlato also announced her performance of Paulinho da Viola’s “Alo, Alo,” in which she also played a percussion instrument from Ghana – resembling small wooden spheres connected by strings which she swings back and forth on her hands. For other songs she used an Afro-Brazilian percussion instrument called caxixi – formed by a closed and flat-bottom weaved basket containing seeds inside that make sound by being shaken.
Having someone of her musical level has been important for the music community on campus. Parlato remains down to earth while she encourages audience participation during the show, most notably in a song “co-written” by a 5-year-old boy named Magnus. The chorus he wrote was simple enough that Parlato stopped after beginning the song to teach the audience the chorus.
“Actually I’ll teach it to you now so you can join in,” she said. The unique part of that performance was when the band played at a lower volume to highlight the audience’s singing, creating a unified experience.
Parlato was as accessible while performing as she was after the show when she met with students and signed autographs for those excitedly waiting in line.
“You are such an inspiration!” one enthusiastic student said.
“It’s awesome. The energy from yesterday is very supportive. A lot of young energy, there were middle schoolers too,” said Parlato of the crowd she connected with on both days of her visit.
After Parlato’s visit to FCC, she and her band have an Arizona tour date before heading back to the East Coast for a Feb. 14 show.