Elli Fordyce

About Elli Fordyce

Elli Fordyce is a highly accomplished jazz vocalist and actor. A native of New York City, Elli has performed all over North America, including appearances in the New York Cabaret Convention and various festivals, to rave reviews. “Elli’s vocal ideas are full of imagination and personality ... it is clear that Elli Fordyce knows the real meaning of ‘cool’." – Brad Walseth, jazzchicago.net.

 

On the heels of Elli’s debut album “Something Still Cool” in 2008, she released her second album “Songs Spun of Gold” in 2009. “Something Still Cool” was a breakthrough recording, breathing new life into the genre. Elli brings a personality and sophistication to the material that only a mature vocalist with years of experience can; she  included classics by celebrated composers (Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Gershwin, et al) and her renditions show why Fordyce’s name belongs alongside some of the greats of our time. “Elli turns a lyric into something addressed personally to a listener … she unfolds the song and it becomes more and more romantic … it's something interesting and Something Still Cool.” – Rob Lester, TalkinBroadway.com. To call her a “singer” would be a gross understatement. Fordyces performances on “Songs Spun of Gold” have been called “evocative and relevant, inspired and inspiring.” “This album is a rare occurrence in modern jazz. In preservation of a more traditional jazz vocal style, Elli Fordyce is strong, bold and smooth as her voice dances around the classic sounds of an acoustic jazz band.” MicControl. "A must for fans of vocal jazz, this release is indeed spun of gold." ChicagoJazz.net. According to the Daily Sun News: "Fordyce is someone to behold to the listening ear. It is hard to imagine she is 73-years-old. Her voice is timeless."

 

Elli’s dazzling re-entry into the marketplace follows a series of detours. After spending time with family, a return to school and finally back on track with her music, the unexpected happened. Literally on-the-road to share her gifts, her quartet had a devastating accident on a snowy highway when the car carrying them and their equipment was totaled by crashing into a disabled truck. A successful year-long “Elli Fordyce and Her Favorite Things” tour ended abruptly leaving numerous scars. Fordyce soon stopped singing for 15 years (“not even ‘Happy Birthday,’ not in the shower”) and focused firmly on much needed healing. But her music was not over. Elli’s ginger-colored Yorkie, named Dindi after the title of Elli’s favorite Jobim bossa nova (which also means "little jewel” in Portuguese), helped to get her going again by singing it to the pup. Inspiration renewed, Elli joined a cabaret workshop taught by the brilliant MAC-Award-winning singer/songwriter, Lina Koutrakos; not long after she came under the influence of Barry Harris, renowned jazz pianist and educator, to whom she gives much of the credit for putting her squarely back on the path, a comeback inevitable.

 

And come back she has! Her first CD became an overnight sensation garnering rave reviews. Her second CD, also critically acclaimed, was selected for the 2009 Grammy Awards pre-nom list. “Ms. Fordyce has the spirit and voice of one of the blessed, the spirit and stamina of eternal song.” Bob Gish, Jazz Improv-New York

 

When Elli is not busy singing she will be adding to her acting credits, which already include work on the critically acclaimed “Chappelle's Show,” the film, “September 12” and the musical, “Guys & Dolls,” presented Off-Broadwayat The Access Theatre.

Elli Fordyce is that rare entertaining phenomenon that so many artists strive to be; the difference is that she has what it takes.

Contact:

Janet Castiel — Redwood Entertainment, Inc

212-543-9998 Janet.Castiel@RedwoodEntertainment.com

 

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Elli Fordyce's Biography

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By: fordyce
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elli Fordyce is a highly accomplished jazz vocalist and actor. A native of New York City, Elli has performed all over the New York Metro area and around the world to rave reviews. <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">&ldquo;Elli&rsquo;s vocal ideas are full of imagination and personality... it is clear that Elli Fordyce knows the real meaning of &lsquo;cool&rsquo;." -- Jazz Chicago</em></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Elli recently released her</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> debut album entitled &ldquo;Something Still Cool,</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">&rdquo; which </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">breathes new life into the genre of jazz vocals. On the CD, Elli brings a personality and sophistication to the songs that only a mature vocalist with years of live and studio experience could. On &ldquo;Something Still Cool,&rdquo; Elli delivers 13 stellar performances backed by some of the world&rsquo;s best musicians, including five duets with vocalist Jim Malloy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The album includes classics by celebrated composers, including Antonio Carlos Jobim and George Gershwin, and her beautiful renditions show why Elli Fordyce&rsquo;s name belongs alongside some of the great jazz vocalists of our time. <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">&ldquo;</em></span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Elli turns a lyric into something addressed personally to a listener &hellip; she unfolds the song and it becomes more and more romantic&hellip; it's something interesting and <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Something Still Cool.&rdquo; -- Talkin&rsquo; Broadway</span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Elli will be touring throughout 2009 in support of &ldquo;Something Still Cool&rdquo; and preparing for the release of her second CD, &ldquo;Songs Spun of Gold,&rdquo; tentatively scheduled for release in the spring of 2009. When Elli is not busy touring she will be adding new groundbreaking roles to her acting credits, which already include her work on the critically acclaimed &ldquo;Chappelle's Show&rdquo; and a role in &ldquo;Guys &amp; Dolls,&rdquo; presented by Access Theatre.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">2009 is gearing up to be Elli&rsquo;s breakout year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With relentless touring in support of her debut CD, &ldquo;Something Still Cool,&rdquo; which is already receiving worldwide airplay and rave reviews, the release of her second CD, &ldquo;Songs Spun of Gold,&rdquo; and several stage and TV acting roles, it will be impossible to not know Elli Fordyce by the end of the year. To call Elli Fordyce a &ldquo;singer&rdquo; would be a gross understatement. She is a rare entertaining dynamo that so many artists strive to become; the only difference is that Elli Fordyce has what it takes.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">To keep up to date on her live performance schedule, please visit: </span></span><a href="http://www.ellifordyce.com/"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #0000ff;">www.ellifordyce.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">To book Elli for a live performance, acting role, or public appearance, please contact:</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Janet Castiel</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Redwood Entertainment, Inc.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">212-543-9998</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Janet.Castiel@redwoodentertainment.com"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #0000ff;">Janet.Castiel@redwoodentertainment.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.redwoodentertainment.com/"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #0000ff;">www.redwoodentertainment.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"></span></p>

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