"Great vocals and stellar musicianship"
Reviewer: "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" radio show on WVOF"Céline Berman and the fine cast of musicians on this CD have hit the mark. Céline's voice is to be treasured. Our radio show has made this release a staple. Can't wait to see Céline and her band tour this way."
Artist : Céline Berman
Album : Jazztrack Featuring Céline Berman
Label : Go Do Be Jazztrack
Year : 2001
Review by : John Gilbert
Nothing could be finer than some tunes from Carolina. Canadian born Céline Berman, residing now in North Carolina has assembled a fine cast of musicians to back her exciting (and ultra hip) vocal message."Oleo" Sonny Rollins' bop inspired piece is given added dimension with Berman's rapid fire rendition. This is a great tune presented 'å coup sur' ...Berman is on dead red all the way, making this song get off the ground with ease and style.
Scatting smoothly, Céline's "Lady Is A Tramp" is performed as cooly as a South Beach cocktail (and) a bit of her French accent peeking through makes it even more delightful.) "Isn't It Romantic" is done at a tempo way down and it works beautifully..Pinky Winters comes to mind in Berman's interpretation of this classic standard. Elegance and grace along with clarity of tone give this old chestnut a brand new life. Romance rules the day on this one.
This recording showcases Céline Berman and Jazztrack in all its urbane resplendence...This disc is a pleasant surprise and North Carolina is lucky to have such a swinging vocalist and ensemble in its cultural environment.
Five Stars *****
CD Review - Celine Berman & Jazztrack - "Go-Do-Be"
Reviewer: Sharon Lee Grace
Fantastic vocals and energy, musicians just as accomplished
I am also a jazz vocalist, in the process of stepping out after many years. Ms Berman's timing, vocal ability, diction and tonality is one of great talent. She is in my opinion in the league with Ms Ella, Ms Vaughn, yet she is as original as apple pie, bravo!! I wish her much success. Such a talent should not go un-noticed.
Five Stars *****
December 15, 2008
ATTN: Celine Berman & Jazztrack,
Carey Fraser has submitted the following client feedback for Gig ID# 463600
Customer Feedback:
It was such a delight having Celine Berman & Jazztrack play at our company's holiday party! The band was prompt, professional, and incredibly talented. They created the exact kind of ambiance I was looking for, and a number of guests made it a point to let me know how impressed they were with their performance. I would absolutely recommend Celine and her band to anyone planning a social event!
Customer Ratings:
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Celine Berman & Jazztrack in terms of their:
Professionalism? 5
Overall Talent? 5
Handling special requests for your event? 5
Would you recommend Celine Berman & Jazztrack to a friend? 5
Your overall satisfaction with Celine Berman & Jazztrack? 5
Memories of Ella
Celine Berman’s jazz harks back to her idol
NORMAN NIGHTS | By Cathy Swiney
Lake Norman Magazine - April 2006Celine Berman can scat with the best of them.
Strongly inspired by jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, Berman’s satin smooth voice can break into rapid “do-be-do” nonsense syllables with such ease and talent that she has drawn comparisons to her idol.
Versatility is the strong suit for Berman and her band, Jazztrack, which started a decade ago.
Depending on the venue, the Matthews-based vocalist can do everything from being part of a duo, which includes either a keyboard or guitar, to fronting an eight-piece big band that includes an assortment of horns.
“I like to perform for people who enjoy more of the ‘50s jazz,” says Berman, whose husband, Charles, is a bass player. “People have lived through them. I often hear, ‘Oh, I remember my grandmother singing that as a lullaby’ or ‘That was my mom and dad’s wedding song.’”
Originally from Montreal, Canada, where she took music lessons starting at age 5, she moved to North Carolina in 1989. Singing music from jazz to show tunes is her full-time focus.
She enjoys performing songs from greats such as Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Billie Holiday. Her 522-song list includes favorites such as “How High the Moon,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Moonlight in Vermont.” She also performs songs in Portuguese and her native language, French.
“I take elements and make it my own using my own voice timbre and own accent,” she says. “It’s all part of color.”
Charlotte-area audiences are taking notice and showing their appreciation for her clean sound. Last year, readers of Creative Loafing magazine voted her the best local female artist. The year before, she and the band were voted best supper club jazz.
Berman will perform at Splash Food and Wine in Cornelius on April 21 and 26. For more information, contact Berman at (704) 821-7351, or visit the Web site, www.jazztrack.com.
Featured Artist: Jazztrack & Celine Berman
CD Title: Go Do Be
Year: 2001
Record Label: Jazztrack
Style: Jazz VocalsFor a vocalist one of the weighty ingredients to a successful delivery of a specific performance is aspiration. Aspiration to pour ones full spirit and fire into a tune as it bleeds forward and connects with the listener. Thus defining the distinguishing factor between entertainment and mediocrity. Celine Berman embraces this philosophy and delivers that entertainment under her own label (Jazztrack) with her debut project GO-DO-BE. In short, GO-DO-BE is very cool and a pleasure to experience.
Taking from Berlin, Rogers, Kern, Ellington, among other greats, Ms. Berman presents a very pleasurable flavor to these standards. In studio with Ms. Berman are Jon Thornton, Tim Gordon, Matt Yarborough, Ryan Weaver, Charles Berman, and Brian Sullivan. All compliment her style and grace through out the studio recording.
As a bilingual vocalist her rendition of Trenet’s Que Reste T’il de Nos Amours is stunning and delicate. The piano intro filtered with the strings delivers the mood of the piece the way it was meant to be.
We can only hope in the future she produces an original or two. It would be of great interest to see how she takes her talents to the next level.
An enjoyable listen, give it a play or two.....or three!
Karl H. Stober
International freelance columnist and broadcaster
Charlotte Hospitality News - Spring, 2004
Music to Fit the Right MoodCéline Berman & Jazztrack is an exciting and energetic band that provides music for all types of events - whatever the tone or ambience of the occasion. Céline Berman & Jazztrack can provide the perfect entertainment to fit the mood.
Céline, the leader and vocalist of the band, is often asked "Can you provide background music?" And with her resounding "Yes!" comes the invariable comment, "I thought that a band's vocalist demands the spotlight during the whole event," a myth she likes to quickly dispel as to her own band, Jazztrack.
Jazztrack does its homework prior to an event. The band members meet with event coordinators and listen to their expectations. They then draw up a contract in which those expectations are clearly stated and agreed to by both parties. As a result, Jazztrack always knows how to adjust their performance to meet the needs of their audience, whatever the event. Céline Berman & Jazztrack know how to set the perfect mood.
What are the types of events for which Céline Berman & Jazztrack provide background music? Cocktail hours, socials, membership dinners, wine-related events, after-convention gatherings, after-golf tournament socials, team-building events, happy hour / evening socials, and the like. Settings vary from hotel ballrooms and landscaped plazas to country clubs to a variety of halls catering to corporate events, such as inns and estates.
To best ensure availability and a worry-free and totally satisfying experience for you and your guests, please allow as long a lead time as possible when securing Céline Berman & Jazztrack.
When your business, firm or corporation plans an event and wishes to secure one of the best professional live bands in the area, call 704-821-7351 or email jazztrack@hotmail.com
CD Review/Celine Berman/''Go, Do, Be''
''The power of words & the human voice, to evoke emotion which helps us take in our own subjective musical experience.'' A current day philosopher: (ME!!....chuckle, chuckle) said this in trying to rationalize the mellifluous, & pleasing vocalise of one Celine Berman, jazz vocalist extraordinaire.
The all true frequent uncritical acceptance of a descriptive rendering of a song's lyric tends to blind listeners to the true nature of a song. Celine's treatment of her covers ''opens one's eyes'' as it were to the infinite variety of emotional timbre that nature imbues into the human voice. Celine conveys the actual meaning of her music & song by words alone. Isn't this the way it's supposed to be?
George W. Carroll/The Musicians' Ombudsman
CD REVIEW
"Great disc. Nice treatment of classic set."
Reviewer: David McGuirt"Céline Berman & JAZZTRACK deliver a keeper with this recording. The tunes are classic jazz; the treatment is fresh yet respectful of tradition. The musicians are top-notch and the arrangements tasteful. A wonderful voice from which we'll undoubtedly be hearing much, much more. Buy it, play it, enjoy....Go...Do...Be...."
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Oct 17, 2007 Fridays at the Plaza closes out its season this week with classic jazz vocals from Celine Berman and Jazztrack. Berman draws her material primarily from the American Songbook, the canon of jazz literature that includes such composers as Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers with Oscar Hammerstein and Lorenz Hart, Duke Ellington and others. Berman, who was recently named best female vocalist by the Best of Charlotte and best supper club jazz artist by Creative Loafing, varies her concerts with beach music, light rock, country, bossa novas and contemporary songs. Expect to hear a lot of the music made popular by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Diana Krall, Etta James, Nat "King" Cole, Antonio Carlos Jobim and more. Critic George W. Carroll, aka "The Musicians' Ombudsman," referenced Berman's "... mellifluous and pleasing vocalize" in naming her a "jazz vocalist extraordinaire." He wrote, "The all too frequent uncritical acceptance of a descriptive rendering of a song's lyric tends to blind listeners to the true nature of a song. Celine's treatment of her covers 'opens one's eyes' ... to the infinite variety of emotional timbre that nature imbues into the human voice. Celine conveys the actual meaning of her music and song by words alone. Isn't this the way it's supposed to be?" A native of Montreal, Canada, who has been living in North Carolina for almost 20 years, Berman is bilingual, which enables her to perform the classic songs of Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour and other international legends. Her repertoire, in fact, includes more than 500 songs. Berman said she especially loves the songs of the '40s and '50s — "How High the Moon," "At Last," "Cry Me a River," "Fever," "Sweet Dreams" included. Jazztrack also has received excellent reviews. Members have formerly played with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman bands, Sarah Vaughn, Bernadette Peters, Joe Williams, Bill Conti and other well-known performers. Critic David McGuirt noted that the band's treatment of classic jazz "... is fresh yet respectful of tradition. The musicians are top-notch and the arrangements tasteful." Berman and Jazztrack have recently released a CD, "Go-Do-Be." Celine Berman and Jazztrack will close the 2007 Fridays at the Plaza series Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Plaza.
Céline, Your
singing the other night brought back memories. I believe the songs you
sung were right for our crowd. I liked it when the crowd joined in when
you sang “ Good Night Irene “. I know I was singing as loud as I could. Robert E. Cowan
Thanks Celine - we loved the music and I thought the night went just perfectly. Thanks to you and your band for being such a special part.... I appreciate all your hardwork with the coordination - I wouldn't have changed a thing.
Meg Bennett
Céline, How wonderful of you to take the time to write all those kind words. I was stunned you were so aware of what was going on - you obviously stayed involved while so many other entertainers tune that sort of thing out. With that age crowd loud music would have been a distracter. The guests all loved your voice and the piano. I was so pleased at the end of the evening that I had selected you. I so appreciated
you learning those two songs for my parents. I could not believe how
well the "program" made way for the intro of the two songs.
My mother was distraught that she did not get a chance to tell you how
much she enjoyed your talent. She told me on several different occasions
that she started to make her way over to you and then was stopped by
a well-wisher. Warmest Regards, Nancy
September 27, 2007 Celine Berman/JazzTrack
Thank you for helping make my southern wedding so special with your beautiful voice and music on June 23, 2007. Everyone was raving how great you were! From the wedding music, to the reception, your team was right there--playing and performing with such grace and style. You have such a wide range of music and a true gift. Thank you for sharing that. From our initial meeting, I knew I would not have to worry about a thing! You are a true professional. The music was perfect for our wedding and I would recommend you to anyone. Thank you!
Hey, I have been suffering from Celine Berman withdrawal...so I need a schedule so I can come see you. I miss hearing you! Plus, I ran into an avid jazz fan in Charlotte, and she wanted to see you as well, so I told her I would get your latest schedule and get back with her. Reta Medlin
Celine, We thoroughly enjoyed having you and your band play for our event. Your sound perfectly complimented the atmosphere, and we had many guests comment on how fantastic you were! We
will definitely keep you in mind for future Garden events, and I appreciate
you driving from Matthews to be a part of our party. It was a great
night and luckily the rain held off! October 12, 2007 Outstanding!!! What a great band. From the planning to the event, you were a pleasure to work with and an outstanding sound. Top notch professionals. Thanks to Celine and the band for a wonderful night! Amy Barber
March 14, 2008 Celine,
August 14, 2008 By IVY MOORE
One of the most acclaimed jazz vocalists in the Carolinas comes to Sumter for an encore performance at Fridays at the Plaza this week. Those who love the music of Tin Pan Alley and the American Songbook will be particularly interested in the concert by Celine Berman and Jazztrack. The music begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Rotary Centennial Plaza. Although Berman's repertoire is drawn primarily from the American jazz canon, she is equally at home with show tunes, beach music, light rock, bossa nova and contemporary music. However, it is her interpretation of the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers — with both Oscar Hammerstein and Lorenz Hart — that has drawn her greatest critical and popular acclaim. Expect to hear plenty of tunes made popular by the likes of Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, Billie Holliday, Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole and others. Fitzgerald is one of her favorite vocalists, Berman said in a recent "Take Five" interview with the online magazine, "All About Jazz." When asked about her favorite recordings, the jazz singer replied, "`Ella in Berlin' - I love her delivery of songs, regardless of the memory blanks she had with some of the lyrics. She is so joyous and natural and obviously having great fun with her musicians and her fans. I love Ella." The Celine Berman and Jazztrack concert is scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Plaza at the corner of Main and Liberty streets. In case of rain, the concert will move to the Sumter City Centre, adjacent to the Sumter Opera House.
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