In The News
“All About Jazz Biography”
All About Jazz (October 8, 2024)
New York City native Judy Chamberlain began singing professionally at the age of 13, shuttling between Manhattan and Coastal Connecticut... MORE »
“Name a song, and she’ll sing it. A huge repertoire testifies to singer Judy Chamberlain’s first love: jazz.”
Jon M. Gilbertson, Dallas Morning News (July 21, 2012)
Jazz singer Judy Chamberlain is a New York native, and up until about a year and a half ago, she lived in Los Angeles. Now she’s in Dallas with her husband and pretty happy to be here... MORE »
“Live: Judy Chamberlain and Bill Cunliffe ”
Don Heckman, The International Review of Music (January 11, 2009)
Judy Chamberlain is a singer who’s always a pleasure to hear. In part, because her astonishing repertoire makes every performance a fascinating journey through a century of song. But even more so because she brings such care, authenticity and musicality to everything she touches... MORE »
“CRITIC’S CHOICE”
Los Angeles Times (February 2008)
What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than hearing a singer who is almost guaranteed to know your favorite love song, no matter how obscure it may be. Add to that Chamberlain’s convincing authenticity with styles reaching from torch songs... MORE »
“A sunny day at Playboy Jazz’s free community event”
Don Heckman, Special to The Times, Los Angeles Times (June 12, 2007)
Playboy’s free community concert Sunday at Warner Park in Woodland Hills was a well-planned program of first-rate jazz, performed in a delightfully green and sylvan setting. It was a breakthrough of sorts as the festival’s first such event for jazz... MORE »
 | “Al Viola, Celebrated Guitarist, Dies at 87” All Things Considered, National Public Radio (February 25, 2007) |
Al Viola, who Frank Sinatra called “one of the world’s great guitarists,” died this past week of cancer at age 87. Viola played the mandolin on The Godfather soundtrack. Jazz singer Judy Chamberlain said, “Sinatra knew he could count on [Viola] out of all the guitarists in the world...”
“Al Viola, Guitarist Who Worked With Frank Sinatra for 25 Years, Dies at 87”
The Associated Press, New York Times (February 25, 2007)
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 (AP) — Al Viola, a guitarist who worked with Frank Sinatra for 25 years and also played the mandolin on the “Godfather” soundtrack, died on Wednesday at his home in Studio City. He was 87. The... MORE »
“Al Viola, 87; longtime L.A. studio guitarist known for work with Frank Sinatra ”
Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times (February 23, 2007)
Al Viola, a versatile guitarist best known for his long association with Frank Sinatra and his memorable mandolin playing on “The Godfather” soundtrack, has died. He was 87. “He was a chameleon and could play in any style — that was his great talent,” said the jazz singer Judy Chamberlain... MORE »
“Judy Chamberlain Review”
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Imagine starting a song without counting off the tempo or even telling one’s sidemen the name of the tune. Jazz singer/bandleader Judy Chamberlain, who has mastered the art of mesmerizing both the audience and her own band, does that regularly with her group without a moment’s hesitation.... MORE »
“JAZZ CRITIC’S CHOICE”
Kirk Silsbee, Los Angeles City Beat (May 25, 2006)
One of the first things you notice about singer Judy Chamberlain is the breadth of material she has at her disposal. A Nat Cole trifle — “Frim Fram Sauce” — and the wistful “Spring Is Here” rub shoulders with the forgotten Henry Mancini theme “Two for the... MORE »
“People Watch: Channing
says ‘hello’ at Chapman”
Orange County Register (February 7, 2006)
Dinner highlighted a yummy baked Alaska finale, while velvet-voiced Judy Chamberlain performed jazz and swing standards throughout the evening with her talented six-member back-up... MORE »
“A stellar Flory quartet”
Don Heckman, Special to The Times, Los Angeles Times (January 6, 2006)
The USC-Texas game at the Rose Bowl had to be at least partially responsible for the slimmer-than-usual turnout at Spazio on Wednesday, but those who did venture out to the Sherman Oaks jazz restaurant were treated to a display of jazz history by some of the Southland’s... MORE »
“Frank Sinatra Jazz Salute”
Harvey Barkan, LA Jazz Scene (September 2005)
Judy Chamberlain served as master of ceremonies, in addition to excellent vocals, amazingly remembering all the lyrics on the long play-list, and sharing leadership tonight with Sinatra’s remarkable guitarist for some 30 years, the one and only Al Viola... MORE »
“A Swinging Jazz Salute To Sinatra!”
Sinatra Family News (July 2005)
Singer Judy Chamberlain and guitarist Al Viola lead a jazz salute to Frank Sinatra on Tuesday August 2 with an all-star band that includes pianist Bill Cunliffe, clarinetist Steve Wilkerson, trumpeter Warren Luening, percussionist Luis Conte, bassist Benjamin May and drummer Ramon Banda... MORE »
“Judy Chamberlain Quintet at Spazio”
Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene (May 2005)
Judy Chamberlain must be channeling Miles Davis. She plays to the talents of her musicians, offering them an exciting environment in which to shine. There are no set lists. No rehearsals, no discussions. No calling out of keys, or counting off tempos. Head arrangements emanate from the... MORE »
“Eight Days”
Rebecca Schoenkopf, OC Weekly (October 29, 2004)
Judy Chamberlain is an incredible torch singer, and I say that as someone who hates jazz utterly and completely..... MORE »
“Where a ‘moribund’ genre is
alive and grooving”
Don Heckman, Special to The Times, Los Angeles Times (September 27, 2004)
Anyone who has the notion that jazz is in moribund condition should spend more time checking out what may be as close as a nearby restaurant or bistro. Take Spazio in Sherman Oaks, for example -- one of a dozen or more spots around the Southland that... MORE »
“Jackie King, Judy Chamberlain
celebrates her birthday”
Don Heckman, Special to The Times, Los Angeles Times (September 2004)
On Saturday night, singer Judy Chamberlain celebrated her birthday with a program showcasing her encyclopedic knowledge of the tunes in the Great American Songbook..... MORE »
“Promoter Profile Interview”
Music Connection Magazine (August 2004)
Aside from being a respected jazz singer herself, Judy Chamberlain is responsible for the musical zest at both Spazio and The Biltmore, and if you read the reviews lately, you’ll see that she’s got both places swinging.... MORE »
“SCR Donors, Board Share the Love ”
B.W. Cook, Los Angeles Times, Orange Coast Daily Pilot (August 12, 2004)
...a voice that is fine and mellow, phrasing that is sublime and energy that is contagious... one talented jazz singer.... MORE »
“Jazz Around Town”
Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene (February 16, 2004)
I spent this past New Year’s Eve at Spazio seeing a very entertaining all-star band, Judy Chamberlain’s Society Swing Orchestra. The lineup of musicians was impressive: Bandleader Chamberlain on vocals — including an early dinner duo set with pianist Frank Collett — joined by the great Al Viola on guitar, Ben May on bass, Steve Wilkerson on tenor, clarinet and flute, trumpeter Kye Palmer, pianist Bill Cunliffe and drummer James Gadson, who also did some vocals. Like Duke Ellington, Judy Chamberlain is a master at gathering together unique soloists and blending them into a superb ensemble.... MORE »
“Road Trip CD Review”
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide (February 8, 2004)
A talented singer based in Southern California, Judy Chamberlain has a warm voice, a versatile yet consistently swinging style, and the ability to bring out fresh meaning in even the most familiar lyrics.... MORE »
“The Judy Chamberlain Swing Band
New Year’s Eve Best Bet”
Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times (December 28, 2003)
Ask Judy Chamberlain to sing your favorite song from the Great American Songbook, and you can make a safe bet that — no matter how obscure it may be — she’ll do it on the spot, usually including the rarely done verse, while adding her own gently swinging emphasis. If she doesn’t know the tune, hum a few bars and there’s a fair chance she’ll have it ready to go for the next set... MORE »
“New Year’s Eve Jazz at Spazio”
Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene (February 1, 2003)
Spazio was jumping when I arrived at 10pm on New Year’s Eve. The popular jazz supper club, which is always quite picturesque, was decorated tastefully and a large celebration was taking place. An enthusiastic partying crowd was set to bring in 2003... MORE »
“Swinging Long Into the First Wee Hours”
Don Heckman, Special to The Times, Los Angeles Times (January 2, 2003)
The jazz buffet table was overflowing on New Year’s Eve with a bountiful menu of jazz sounds, styles and rhythms for every taste... to cap off the night, a celebratory seven-piece swing band, featuring veterans Al Viola and Sam Most with singer Judy Chamberlain, at Spazio... an evening of unusually diverse jazz, superbly illustrating the music’s extraordinary capacity to embrace elements from past and present, from genres as diverse as Brazilian samba and American blues... MORE »
“Jazz Around Town”
Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene (December 1, 2002)
During the past few years, Judy Chamberlain has become a major force in Southern California’s jazz scene. As Musical Director for Spazio, the Biltmore Hotel’s Gallery Bar and Shelly’s Courthouse Bistro, she books an average of 60 nights of live jazz in clubs every month, which helps to account for jazz’s improving health and growth on the West Coast. In addition, she performs as a versatile singer and bandleader in a variety of venues and situations... MORE »
“Chamberlain’s Singing Is To Die For… Weddings, Funerals, Bar Mitzvahs”
Steve Eddy, Orange County Register (November 10, 2002)
Well, no bar mitzvahs yet, but Orange-based songbird Judy Chamberlain sure knows how to help people get hitched in style... MORE »
“AFTER DARK: Sophisticated
lady returns to Newport”
Barry Koltnow, Orange County Register (February 13, 1998)
I was impressed — no, make that stunned — that she knew "St. James Infirmary," an old blues song that only a handful of performers would dare to sing in front of an audience. But Judy will try anything once... MORE »
“House Calls: An elegant, intimate jazz club beckons enthusiasts to San Juan Capistrano”
Max Jacobson, Special To The Times, Los Angeles Times (July 31, 1997)
Not only is (Egan House) a restaurant these days, but also it reverts to a jazz club on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, when sultry songstress Judy Chamberlain is featured... MORE »