Tania Maria singer 1948 Sao Luis Brazil
Tania Maria studied classical piano from the age of seven. While still in her teens, Tania recorded five albums, playing and singing. In 1974 Tania made her home in Paris where she played in clubs and also recorded for French and Dutch record labels. Tania's first appearance in the U.S. was at the 1975 Newport Jazz Festival, and in 1981 she again came to the States, did some touring, and finally settled in New York in 1983. In 1982 Concord's most successful commercial album issued was Tania's "Come With Me". Maria's singing style is a combination of jazz and lively Latin rhythms and leans heavily on Brazilian music. She often scat-sings in unison with a piano line. Her main influences were Oscar Peterson and Nat Cole. Tania's later music took on a more commercial orientation and began to include elements of rock, pop, and funk.
Dick Morrissey sax 1940 Horley England
Tenor saxophonist Dick Morrissey actually began his career on clarinet with Gus Galbraith's band when still in his teens. At that time he began playing the tenor sax and quickly established a fine reputation. Dick went to India for his first full-time gig, with the orchestra of Harry South in 1960 and 1961. 1961 was also the year Dick recorded his first album as a leader, -"It's Morrissey, Man". In the mid '60s he led his own quartet and also recorded with Jimmy Witherspoon in 1966. He was one of the founding members of the rock group "If", with which he made several recordings and made two tours of the U.S.during the '70s. After the group disbanded Morrissy moved to Sweden for about a year and then back to the U.S. where he began to play for Herbie Mann. He also did a considerable amount of work with the soul and funk band "The Average White Band". During this period Dick made recordings as the leader of other groups: After Dark, and Coda. In spite of his rock and soul playing, Dick Morrissey is one of Britain's finest jazz tenor saxophonists.
