Jon M. Gilbertson, Dallas Morning News (July 21, 2012)
Singer Judy Chamberlain 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 »
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... MORE »
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 »
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...”
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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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 »
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 »
Spazio was jumping when I arrived at 10 p.m. 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 »
Don Heckman, Special to the LA 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 »
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 »
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