Local jazz vocalist John Neudorf is happy singing the blues.

by Terry McNamee
Staff Writer
Grimsby Independent

John Neudorf is feeling blue these days, but only when he sings. The Beamsville native has just released his first CD, and he is starting to attract attention as one of the new voices in Canadian jazz.

"I grew up listening to rock and roll, but about 15 years ago I started getting into Chicago blues," Mr. Neudorf said.
At that time, he was a drummer rather than a vocalist. He experimented with various blues styles, but found many of the venues where the blues are performed weren't really suitable for drums, so he began singing. Today, he is making his name as a jazz singer and is known for his ability to scat, or do freestyle jazz vocals using sounds rather than words. It's a style not every singer can master, since it requires the singer to improvise and to go up and down the scale rapidly without singing off-key. Scatting was made famous by great singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and blues specialist Joe Williams. Another key to being a great jazz singer or jazz musician is the ability to "style" a song by creating a new interpretation or understanding of the music. "I'm a big fan of Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald," Mr. Neudorf said, identifying three of the great song stylists.

One of my favorite vocalists is Betty Carter.
"I saw her perform," he said. " She just left me in awe. That was definitely one of my biggest infuences."
"Ray Charles, Chet Baker and Tony Bennett have (also) influenced me."

Mr. Neudorf still lives in Beamsville, and commutes to Toronto to perform. "I've become a regular at the Montreal Bistro," he said. "It's one of the nicest jazz listening venues in Toronto." He has also performed at the Orillia and the Toronto jazz festivals, and in the summer he performs at many of the wineries across the Niagara Region.
"That basically keeps me pretty busy in the summertime," he said.

His debut CD was completed in February and has been getting air time on Jazz 91, Toronto's only all jazz radio station, and on CBC in Montreal. "The whole CD was recorded in four days," he said. "It was done at Inception Sound in Downsview." Producer Mike Francis and Mr. Neudorf did all the arrangements for 12 classic jazz numbers, most of which are from the 1950's era. Mr. Neudorf said the album is almost like a dedication to bebop trumpet player and composer Clifford Brown, but also includes a Stevie Wonder song and a "ghost" 13th number not listed on the cover.
"All the players on the CD are Toronto's best musicians," Mr. Neudorf said. The album includes Tim Szczesniak on piano, Mike Francis on guitar, Pat Collins on bass and Bob McLaren on drums.

Mr. Neudorf and his wife Kirsten, often go to New York City on weekends to hear top jazz artists such as Miles Davis and Nancy Wilson perform. "It's very inspiring," he said. "You work hard every day and try to master your art, but when you see someone with international ability, it inspires you to go at it even harder."

"I've had a lot of help and guidance from international vocalist Mark Murphy." Mr. Neudorf said he sends tapes of his singing to Mr. Murphy to be critiqued, and the singer has helped him with vocal technique and voice control.
"He seems to think that I have a style all my own, which interests him."
Mr. Neudorf has a full-time job, so jazz is striclty a partime occupation."There's just too many responsibilities for me to be the starving artist!" he laughed. His two daughters are both very musical and love jazz almost as much as he does. One of them can even scat. "She already knows all the words to the songs," he said proudly.
While his wife is not musical herself, he gives full credit to her for all her help as he pursues his dream of becoming a recognized jazz singer. "She's always been a huge supporter," Mr. Neudorf said.

His CD is available at Sam the Record Man at the Pen Centre, at concerts where he is performing, and can be purchased through his website at www.johnneudorf.com
He is currently working on a distribution deal with a Quebec company to sell his CD across Canada.

THE JAZZ SINGER

John Neudorf Releases New CD in Toronto ... In Style!

By HANK DUBEY

From the Ellicotville Special Effects

I really didn't want to go. However, I had previously ... in a moment of weakness ... told Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brian McFadden that I would. Consequently, we left Ellicottville this past Monday afternoon at about 3pm and headed north. Destination: Toronto. Objective: Attend a "CD Release Party" for John Neudorf. Many of you remember John, as he has performed at the Silver Fox Restaurant in Ellicotville during the last couple of Jazz Festivals.

OK. So, we finally arrived at the Montreal Bistro & Jazz Club at 65 Sherbourne Street in downtown Toronto a bit after seven. That gave us time to sit down and eat before John and the boys began doing their thing (playing the songs that are on the new CD). My seafood dish was wonderful. Jazz or no jazz, I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone ... great food and reasonable prices!

After the meal, I found myself having a delightful converstion at the bar with John's beautiful wife Kirsten. Suddenly, a hush came over the entire establishment ... you could have heard the perverbial pin drop. I turned to discover the reason ... the band was about to begin.

"Wow!" I muttered under my breath. The guy next to me said, "the people who come here come for the music and they respect the musicians." He should know. As it turns out, Pat Taylor is the man who puts together the huge Toronto Jazz Festival every year.

Now I've got to admit that "jazz" has been anything but my favorite musical medium; however, these fellows got my attention. From the very first note, it was obviuos we were hearing something special.

Not only was the music most enjoyable, but I learned something that night. Every now and then, John would rapidly sing words that I just couldn't make out. You've probably heard Ella Fitzgerald and the like do the samething. I always thought that rap lyrics were a take-off on this type of jazz singing. Wrong. Kirsten explained that when John was singing "scat" that he wasn't singing words, but merely syllables ... in effect, playing his instrument (which is his voice). Well, I felt better ... being able to enjoy his instrument without straining to understand the meaning of the words. (Later it occurred to me that if smeone could cpmbine the rapid fire words of rap with the scat style of jazz, they might just have something there. You could call it "razz" ... listening John?)

Anyway, congratulations to John Neudorf whose musical career will no doubt continue to flourish ... what a great voice! I'm fairly certain you'll have the opportunity to hear him in Ellicotvill during this year's Jazz Festival (May 18th through 20th); however, if you find yourself presented with an opportunity prior to that ... take it.