BRATTLEBORO — Open Music Collective presents a “Lady Day and Prez Tribute Show” featuring vocalist Melissa Shetler and her father, Scott Shetler, on sax.
Melissa explains why she wanted to give this concert, slated for Saturday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.:
“Family is family. Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the family you choose, but it's always family, and as such the bonds run deep.”
And whether those bonds are blood, common language, inside jokes, physical traits, or shared musical experiences, “there's little need to explain where you're coming from. With family, it's understood,” she says.
It was certainly understood among jazz royalty, including Billie Holliday (“Lady Day”) and Lester Young (“Prez”), she adds.
As the child of two working musicians, Melissa Shetler was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles. At 12, she took to the stage, singing with her mother and father in their various bands. Now a performer in her own right, her voice has matured into a sultry, smoky, bluesy style that is equally at home singing swing tunes or salsa.
Famous with her fellow musicians for her rock-solid sense of rhythm and innovative phrasing, Melissa has performed with such greats as Seleno Clarke, Mundell Lowe, Ray Barretto and trumpet virtuoso Jeremy Pelt.
Scott Shetler is an accomplished musician, sideman, and songwriter. He studied at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with legendary jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp and classical clarinetist David Kreuter.
He has toured extensively throughout Europe, Russia, and Turkey with blues, soul, jazz, and Gospel artists, and in the U.S. - including playing at Carnegie Hall with the late Gene Pitney, at the prestigious New Orleans Jazz Festival with the late Johnny Adams, and at hundreds of Red Sox games with the Hot Tamale Brass Band.
Joining them on guitar is Rudolph Vernaz-Colas, now of New York City, who works as a composer for film and theater, as a performer, and as a private guitar teacher.
Also on the bill: Jamie MacDonald, OMC's house bassist, and a drummer to be announced.
The Open Music Collective is a collection of local, regional, and national artists who come together to perform, teach, and appreciate music.