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Episode Notes From Her Website: http://www.ShanaTucker.com With a deep respect for lyrical storytelling, cellist/singer-songwriter SHANA TUCKER delivers a unique voice through her self-described genre of ChamberSoul™. Shana's melodies weave strong hints of jazz, classical, soulful folk, acoustic pop and a touch of R&B into a distinctive rhythmic tapestry. Touted by JazzTimes Magazine as a jazz talent "...whose imprint and vitality has already been quite visible...” Shana’s style and sound as been described as a blend of Dianne Reeves, Joni Mitchell, and Tracy Chapman, with an efficient complexity that is reminiscent of Bill Withers. ChamberSoul™ best describes what the listener should expect when experiencing Shana's music. "I’m intrinsically drawn to "real" instruments, with resonance, tone and depth that can sound without amplification. Whenever and however possible, I always try to set a tone of acoustic intimacy with my colleagues on stage, and also with the audience, so that the music, performers and audience feel close and tangible, no matter the size the venue." Growing up on Long Island, NY as a beneficiary of public school arts education, Shana's classical cello and singing talents awarded her a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC, where she was first introduced to jazz and other essential musical resources, on campus and around the city. While at Howard, Shana initiated her improvisation chops and honed her songwriting skills, but decided to relocate to NYC to study with master cellist Marion Feldman and complete her undergraduate studies in performance at CUNY-Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. An NPR interview about Shana's debut CD, "SHiNE" and her ChamberSoul style prompted an invitation from Cirque du Soleil to join the company as cellist/vocalist for their show, KÀ in Las Vegas, where she stayed and performed for five years before returning to North Carolina. With collaborations as the cornerstone of her artistry, Shana is currently a featured artist performing with legendary jazz saxophonist/composer Bennie Maupin; jazz drummer/composer Shirazette Tinnin and Sonic WallPaper; Grammy-nominated NuSoul collective, The Foreign Exchange. Her newest project, Women's Work, a female-led collective of jazz, soul and pop singer-songwriters and musicians representing both east and west coasts. Having opened for internationally-acclaimed artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Fischer, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Hamiet Bluett, Javon Jackson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Indigo Girls, Shana's vocals and cello are featured on several studio and live recording projects by both independent and signed label artists and producers. She also devotes a considerable amount of her time to working with students in schools & universities, community centers and summer camps throughout the year as part of her mission to promote arts education programming for students of all ages. Shana is a recipient of two Nevada Arts Council grants, including the prestigious Performing Artist Fellowship for her exemplary work as a singer-songwriter, cellist and teaching artist. She serves on review panels and advisory committees for arts organizations across the country. She is also a board member for Carolina Wren Press, a Durham, NC-based small-press organization that publishes diverse minority writers of quality fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and children's literature. A front-line advocate for arts education, Shana is a newly-designated A+ (Arts Integration) Schools Apprentice Fellow, and has been a teaching artist with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts (NC and NV) since 2015. She has also been a teaching artist with United Arts Council of Raleigh/Wake County NC and The Smith Center for Performing Arts - Las Vegas. Shana incorporates artist-in-residences, workshops and community outreach opportunities wherever in the world her performances take her. You can buy her album Shine at https://amzn.to/2STs9Ji Support Our Feature Talent by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/our-feature-talent Find out more at https://our-feature-talent.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-46397e for 40% off for 4 months, and support Our Feature Talent.
Episode 041: Shana TuckerThis is Play It Like It's Music, I'm Trevor, thanks for listening.[photos all by Jannelle Blackman]On Wednesday, May 27 of 2020 Music is not content, it's connection. The quarantine wears on, the death toll climbs and the life toll sits in limbo. I am here with another conversation today, and I'm super thankful that those of you players I know who listen to the show keep telling me you get so much out of this. It can be a damn lonely life*, but it doesn't have to be.*For cellists, especially! But not today, because I'm blessed to have Shana Tucker on the show.She's a cellist, singer-songwriter, arts advocate, teaching artist, collaborator and all-around cultural conduit. Shana is a builder-of-connections, whether she’s associating STEM concepts with backbeats or engaging a packed house through candid song-storytelling in performance. And she can really play! As a cello/singer guy I can't help but smile: Shana's unique genre of ChamberSoul™ weaves jazz, roots, folk, acoustic pop, and a touch of R&B into melodies that echo in your head for days. Plus, there's polish. She keeps busy on the road and in the studio, working with Bennie Maupin, Nicole Mitchell and The Foreign Exchange. She also worked in Cirque du Soleil, which we don't talk about at all. Why would we?She's got a band of her own. Shana is also a front-line advocate for arts education, as well as a recipient of several arts council grant awards for her exemplary work as a Performing Artist. She serves on review panels and advisory committees for arts organizations across the country.These are all big accomplishments, but what amazes me is how good she is at creating relationship around her work. We all need to get better at this, and I think Shana is a leader. She knows how to be a star and how to blend. This was so much fun, let's cut right to it.Press PLAY above to hear my conversation with Shana Tucker.Thanks for listening to Play It Like It’s Music. Thanks to Shana for spending some very generous time with us. You can find her music at Shana Tucker dot com and on all the socials.If you like this show, please tell a friend:Follow me on social media @trevorexter and talk to me on there if you have thoughts about the show.We're all contending with a mutating professional landscape, jacked revenue streams, a catastrophic global pandemic and plenty of other noise out in the culture.But you gotta keep playing.We don't draw any lines here between scenes or styles.As always, thank you for listening and remember to play it like its music.You can check out my music on bandcamp and other places. It’s all at my website, trevorexter.com. Sign the mailing list on substack to get this show sent right to you the very moment it comes out. Consider hiring me to score your piece, do some cello, teach you lessons, produce your show or back you up onstage. Music is a beautiful thing and it makes the world go round.Big love to your ears.Trevor(Did you press play yet?)...If you like this stuff, help it spread by sharing it!Hear songs: the “Trevor Exter Playlist” on SpotifySign the mailing list!Take lessons from me online!Hire me remotely for cello overdubs or to score your piece.Or to produce your podcast.Follow me on IG TW FBMore @trevorexter.compsst… sign up for emails: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit playitlikeitsmusic.substack.com
This episode of Electric Violins Shop's "Rockstar Violinist" podcast features one of our own--EVS staff cellist Shana Tucker! Sadly, we don't see as much of Shana in the shop as we'd like to these days, but that's only because as an in-demand performer, recording artist and educator she is practically always booked! Above and beyond playing the cello, Shana is also a talented singer-songwriter. With a deep respect for lyrical storytelling, she delivers a unique voice through her self-described genre of ChamberSoul™. Shana's melodies weave strong hints of jazz, classical, soulful folk, acoustic pop and a touch of R&B into a distinctive rhythmic tapestry. An NPR interview about Shana's debut CD, "SHiNE" and her ChamberSoul style prompted an invitation from Cirque du Soleil to join the company as cellist/vocalist for their show, KÀ in Las Vegas, where she stayed and performed for five years before returning to North Carolina.Shana is currently a featured artist performing with legendary jazz saxophonist/composer Bennie Maupin; jazz drummer/composer Shirazette Tinnin and Sonic WallPaper; Grammy-nominated NuSoul collective, The Foreign Exchange. Her newest project, Women's Work, a female-led collective of jazz, soul and pop singer-songwriters and musicians representing both east and west coasts. Having opened for internationally-acclaimed artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Fischer, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Hamiet Bluett, Javon Jackson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Indigo Girls, Shana's vocals and cello are featured on several studio and live recording projects by both independent and signed label artists and producers. She also devotes a considerable amount of her time to working with students in schools & universities, community centers and summer camps throughout the year as part of her mission to promote arts education programming for students of all ages. Shana Tucker is an NS Design artist and plays a 'US5' 5-string electric cello, which is the US-made predecessor to their current CR5 model. You can learn more about her at shanatucker.com. Music heard in this episode: Intro Music - "The Precious Ones” from the Shine album "No Get Back" from the Shine album "Be Still My Beating Heart" - from YouTube "In the Moment" - Single "What’s Love Got To Do With It" - Single "November" from the Shine album "Shine" from the Shine album Rockstar Violinist is the Electric Violin Shop podcast, hosted by Matt Bell and featuring interviews with the most creative and noteworthy electric strings performing and recording artists. Electric Violin Shop is the world leader in amplified strings. Shop at www.electricviolinshop.com or contact us at info@electricviolinshop.com for advice.
Shana Tucker, the originator of chamber-soul joins CreativeTalk to discuss authenticity and intention. Growing up on Long Island, NY as a beneficiary of public school arts education, Shana's classical cello and singing talents awarded her a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC, where she was first introduced to jazz and other essential musical resources, on campus and around the city. While at Howard, Shana initiated her improvisation chops and honed her songwriting skills, but decided to relocate to NYC to study with master cellist Marion Feldman and complete her undergraduate studies in performance at CUNY-Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. An NPR interview about Shana's debut CD, "SHiNE" and her ChamberSoul style prompted an invitation from Cirque du Soleil to join the company as cellist/vocalist for their show, KÀ in Las Vegas, where she stayed and performed for five years before returning to North Carolina. With collaborations as the cornerstone of her artistry, Shana is currently a featured artist performing with legendary jazz saxophonist/composer Bennie Maupin; jazz drummer/composer Shirazette Tinnin and Sonic WallPaper; Grammy-nominated NuSoul collective, The Foreign Exchange. Her newest project, Women's Work, a female-led collective of jazz, soul and pop singer-songwriters and musicians representing both east and west coasts. Having opened for internationally-acclaimed artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Fischer, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Hamiet Bluett, Javon Jackson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Indigo Girls, Shana's vocals and cello are featured on several studio and live recording projects by both independent and signed label artists and producers. She also devotes a considerable amount of her time to working with students in schools & universities, community centers and summer camps throughout the year as part of her mission to promote arts education programming for students of all ages.
Shana Tucker, the originator of chamber-soul joins CreativeTalk to discuss authenticity and intention. Growing up on Long Island, NY as a beneficiary of public school arts education, Shana's classical cello and singing talents awarded her a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC, where she was first introduced to jazz and other essential musical resources, on campus and around the city. While at Howard, Shana initiated her improvisation chops and honed her songwriting skills, but decided to relocate to NYC to study with master cellist Marion Feldman and complete her undergraduate studies in performance at CUNY-Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. An NPR interview about Shana's debut CD, "SHiNE" and her ChamberSoul style prompted an invitation from Cirque du Soleil to join the company as cellist/vocalist for their show, KÀ in Las Vegas, where she stayed and performed for five years before returning to North Carolina. With collaborations as the cornerstone of her artistry, Shana is currently a featured artist performing with legendary jazz saxophonist/composer Bennie Maupin; jazz drummer/composer Shirazette Tinnin and Sonic WallPaper; Grammy-nominated NuSoul collective, The Foreign Exchange. Her newest project, Women's Work, a female-led collective of jazz, soul and pop singer-songwriters and musicians representing both east and west coasts. Having opened for internationally-acclaimed artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Fischer, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Hamiet Bluett, Javon Jackson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Indigo Girls, Shana's vocals and cello are featured on several studio and live recording projects by both independent and signed label artists and producers. She also devotes a considerable amount of her time to working with students in schools & universities, community centers and summer camps throughout the year as part of her mission to promote arts education programming for students of all ages.
Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal welcomes independent artist and cellist Shana Tucker into the Left of Black studio at the John Hope Franklin Center. Tucker and Neal discuss her new fan-financed CD SHiNE and a style of music that Tucker calls “Chamber Soul.” Shana Tucker is a “ChamberSoul” cellist and singer/songwriter from New York currently based in North Carolina. Her music is a sultry pastiche of acoustic pop and soulful, jazz-influenced contemporary folk. Tucker’s debut solo project, SHiNE, outlines a musical journey that celebrates the major influences of everyday life: relationship, laughter, love…loss, rediscovery, and the never-ending journey towards heightened levels of peace, understanding and self-acceptance.