Carol Welsman
Encyclopedia
Carol Welsman is a Canadian jazz
vocalist and pianist. She is the granddaughter of conductor/composer Frank Welsman
and the sister of composer John Welsman
. She has been nominated 5 times for the Juno Award
.
's Berklee College of Music
and majored in piano performance. She studied voice in Europe.
In 1990 she returned to Toronto
and joined the Jazz Performance Faculty at the University of Toronto
and in addition to giving private lessons developed a jazz vocal improvisation ensemble.
Since then she has been teaching classes, clinics and workshops at colleges and universities both in Canada and the US.
In 1995 she issued her first CD "Lucky to be me", with jazz standards and her own song "This Lullaby", which she presented on September 11, 2004 on the Larry King
show commemmorating 9/11. The song was also adopted by Celine Dion
on her 2004 "Miracle"
CD as "Baby, Close Your Eyes".
Welsman also wrote lyrics for several singers e. g. for Ray Charles
, and Nicole Scherzinger
of the Pussy Cat Dolls. Together with Herbie Hancock
she co-hosted the 2000 Billboard
Jazz Awards.
Her 2009 CD, “I Like Men” - Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee
, was voted Top 5 Album Pick of the Year 2009 in USA Today
.
On April 30, 2010 she appeared on Marian McPartland
's Piano Jazz
and was interviewed by guest host Jon Weber
.
Carol Welsman's native language is English and so are most of her songs, but she also sings and teaches in French and a few of her songs are in Portuguese.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
vocalist and pianist. She is the granddaughter of conductor/composer Frank Welsman
Frank Welsman
Frank Squire Welsman was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer and music educator. He began his career as a concert pianist, but ultimately earned his place in Canadian history for establishing Toronto's first symphony orchestra of any standing, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra which was active...
and the sister of composer John Welsman
John Welsman
John Welsman is a Canadian composer. The grandson of conductor Frank Welsman and the brother of jazz singer Carol Welsman, he studied music composition privately with Samuel Dolin and Milan Kymlicka. He is best known for his film and television scores which he has written for production companies...
. She has been nominated 5 times for the Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
.
Artistic career
Carol Welsman attended BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
and majored in piano performance. She studied voice in Europe.
In 1990 she returned to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and joined the Jazz Performance Faculty at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and in addition to giving private lessons developed a jazz vocal improvisation ensemble.
Since then she has been teaching classes, clinics and workshops at colleges and universities both in Canada and the US.
In 1995 she issued her first CD "Lucky to be me", with jazz standards and her own song "This Lullaby", which she presented on September 11, 2004 on the Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
show commemmorating 9/11. The song was also adopted by Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
on her 2004 "Miracle"
Miracle (Celine Dion album)
Miracle is a concept album credited to Canadian singer Céline Dion and Australian photographer Anne Geddes, released on October 11, 2004. It's Dion's 12th English album and 33rd in total...
CD as "Baby, Close Your Eyes".
Welsman also wrote lyrics for several singers e. g. for Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, and Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, model, and actress. Scherzinger is perhaps best known for being the lead vocalist of the Pussycat Dolls....
of the Pussy Cat Dolls. Together with Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
she co-hosted the 2000 Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Jazz Awards.
Her 2009 CD, “I Like Men” - Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
, was voted Top 5 Album Pick of the Year 2009 in USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.
On April 30, 2010 she appeared on Marian McPartland
Marian McPartland
Margaret Marian McPartland, OBE is an English-born jazz pianist, composer, writer, and the host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on National Public Radio, NPR.-Early life:...
's Piano Jazz
Piano Jazz
Piano Jazz is a weekly one hour radio show produced and distributed by National Public Radio. It began on June 4, 1978 and has always been hosted by jazz pianist Marian McPartland. It is the longest running cultural program on NPR. The show features a single guest, and usually consists of about an...
and was interviewed by guest host Jon Weber
Jon Weber
Jon Weber is a New York City and Chicago-based jazz pianist and composer whose compositions and performances have met critical and popular acclaim in many countries around the world...
.
Carol Welsman's native language is English and so are most of her songs, but she also sings and teaches in French and a few of her songs are in Portuguese.
Albums
- 1995: Lucky to be me (Welcar Music)
- 1997: Inclined (Welcar Music)
- 1999: Swing Ladies, Swing - A Tribute to Singers of the Swing Era (Welcar Music)
- 2001: Hold Me (BMG Music Canada)
- 2003: The Language of Love (produced by Oscar Castro Neves, Savoy)
- 2005: What'cha Got Cookin' (Ludlow Music, Columbia Records, Japan)
- 2007: Carol Welsman (Justin Time Records, International Release)
- 2008: "Memories of You" - A tribute to Benny GoodmanBenny GoodmanBenjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, with clarinetist Ken PeplowskiKen PeplowskiKen Peplowski is a jazz clarinetist born in Cleveland, Ohio, known primarily for playing in the swing music idiom. He is sometimes compared to Benny Goodman in terms of tone and virtuosity...
(Japan Release - Muzak Records/Welcar Music) - 2009: I like Men – Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee (produced by Jimmy Branly and Carol Welsman, Welcar Music)
Featured
- 2009: Bande Originale du film L'enfance de l'Art - Film Soundtrack by Romano Musumarra (GM.Musipro) (three tracks)