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BIOGRAPHY

ELLEN WEISS is an accomplished singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Equally comfortable in all popular styles from Broadway to jazz to R&B and rock, Ellen has dedicated her art to reaching hearts with a depth of expression that transcends genre. Ellen’s performing credits include productions of Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate, The Golden Apple, The Pajama Game and Titanic, as well as musical revues of composers Burton Lane and Frank Loesser.  She has also performed in New York City clubs such as The Bitter End, Caffé Vivaldi, The Triad Lounge, The Duplex and Don’t Tell Mama. For many years Ellen was a member of the award-winning contemporary folk music group Watersign.  Ellen’s recording credits include Watersign’s self-titled CD and vocal coaching and backup vocals on bluesman Brian Kramer’s album, Strike While It’s Hot. Ellen is also a highly regarded vocal instructor; in addition to her many private students, she has taught group classes for the McBurney YMCA, The Theatre Studio Inc., Ballet Hispanico, The Folk Music Society of New York and The Larry Singer Acting Studio.  Ellen holds a BFA degree in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University.

 

JONATHAN FINKELMAN is a New York-born guitarist.  A graduate of the City College jazz program where he studied with the Modern Jazz Quartet’s John Lewis, Jonathan has been performing and teaching in the New York area for many years.  He has appeared on television and radio with the jazz group Janela, and has performed music for numerous theatrical productions, including the American Theater of Actors’ production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, Five Moon Theatre’s production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well, and Summer Suns/Tales of Night, written and directed by George C. Wolfe.  Along with trumpeter Michael Neal, Jonathan co-led a jazz quintet that performed regularly at Riverside Church’s esteemed Chamber Music series.  Most recently, Jonathan arranged and played lead guitar tracks on singer/songwriter John Michael Hersey’s latest CD, Personal Belongings.  Jonathan holds an M.A. degree in music and for many years was on the music faculty of Hunter College.  He has published articles in The Annual Review of Jazz Studies, Jazzforschung/Jazz Research, and Soundboard.

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