Debbie Duncan
I Thought About You
© 2006 FS Music (617933310221)
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Debbie Duncan's passionate vocal talents are equally moving on melancholy ballads and swinging bravado, with the Gospel and classical touches that have made her a Twin Cities favorite.
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Debbie Duncan gets to the soul of the matter in every vocal performance. She is a jazz singer, to be sure, but there is no mistaking the deep well of inspiration from Gospel, folk, blues, R&B and classical. Her five CD releases, including “I Thought About You” (FS Music 2006), are the work of a complete vocalist – one who understands that bravado and vulnerability are equally potent, and often intertwined, forms of expression. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Debbie has been one of the most revered figures in the vibrant Twin Cities music scene for over two decades. The Minneapolis Star Tribune put it this way: “Once you hear Debbie Duncan, you probably won't think of any other singer; she's that commanding.” On stage, that voice combines with a knowing rapport and razor-sharp wit that puts you right in the palm of her hand and gives you a welcome squeeze. Debbie has commanded audiences everywhere from the esteemed Guthrie Theater (headlining and opening for giants like Al Green) to Torino, Italy's “Blues Al Femminile” 2006 festival to the legendary Snug Harbor club in New Orleans. In addition to her own releases, her recording credits include work with B-3 titan Jimmy McGriff, Gospel star Oleta Adams and indie-popsters Iffy. Whether she's soothing your soul on Rodgers & Hart's “Little Girl Blue” or stirring it on “Pack Your Suitcase Blues,” there is no mistaking Debbie Duncan.
Growing up in Detroit, Debbie Duncan was raised in a jazz-savvy household. Her musical immersion, however, covered a wide range of styles. Debbie studied classical voice for 14 years, including four years at Wayne State University. She performed folk, jazz and R&B around Detroit, and even recorded backup vocals for Motor City rockers Mitch Ryder and Bob Seger. Ms. Duncan then spent several years singing in jazz nightclubs and recording studios in Los Angeles, and there is not a more competitive place to hone your skills.
Debbie relocated to Minneapolis in 1986, joining the city's premier show band, Rupert's Orchestra. She quickly became a sought-after vocalist in the Twin Cities, earning coveted gigs that included opening for Herbie Hancock at the Guthrie Theater. She received a standing ovation and an encore (rare for an opener), and City Pages reported that “she blew away the crowd.” Debbie released her first album, “Live at the Dakota,” on Igmod Records in 1993, earning the first of many Minnesota Music Awards. That same year she was the featured vocalist on the Adi Yeshaya Big Band's “A Nice One for Boo” release. Yeshaya, who has served as arranger for luminaries like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, has been Debbie's frequent collaborator over the years. Her other releases include “It Must Be Christmas” (Igmod 1995), “Travelin' at the Speed of Love” (Danti Records 2002) and the recent “I Thought About You” (FS Music 2006). Each of her CDs have received rave reviews and extensive airplay.
As a live performer, Debbie Duncan's vocal prowess and undeniable charisma have put her in high demand. In 2005, Debbie gave several concerts at the 16th Blues Al Femminile festival in Torino, Italy. The all female jazz, gospel and blues event features top talent from around the world. When Abbey Lincoln and Nancy Wilson were inducted into the American Jazz Museum (Kansas City) in 2004, Debbie was a featured performer by invitation. Debbie was named “Queen” of the LaCrosse Jazz Festival, overwhelmingly voted by attendees to return in 2005. She has been selected to open shows for an impressive list of legends, including Miles Davis, Stephane Grappelli, Lou Rawls, Al Green and Herbie Hancock. From Seattle to Washington D.C. to Paris to Vancouver, Debbie Duncan has brought down the house. On her home turf, Debbie has even received the P.O.P. (Perpetually Outstanding Performer) Award – the first one ever given at the Minnesota Music Awards.
In addition to her own critically-acclaimed releases and live shows, Debbie has been invited to join some of the greats of jazz on stage and in the studio. Her rendition of “Dr. Feelgood” on Jimmy McGriff's release “In a Blue Mood” was one of the CDs most played tracks on radio. Roy Hargrove featured Debbie when his band performed for WGBO's Coast-to-Coast New Year's Eve program. Others who Debbie has performed with include Bobby Watson & Horizon, Jack McDuff, Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bobby Lyle, Von Freeman and many more. In the Twin Cities, her diverse studio projects have included recordings by skronk jazzers Fat Kid Wednesdays and rockers Iffy.
Debbie Duncan is a devoted musical educator, and has been on the faculty of McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul for the past ten years. She has also contributed her talents to a number of causes, performing at benefits for AIDS research, domestic abuse prevention, Black College Funds, Alzheimer's research, and senior citizen’s organizations
JazzTimes magazine called Debbie Duncan “a dynamic and distinctive vocalist.” She is, in fact, wonderfully unmistakable.