Album Notes

SUE MASKALERIS is a singer/keyboardist, composer/lyricist and arranger/producer of jazz and Brazilian jazz, who has performed extensively throughout the New York area as well as abroad. Sue placed 2nd worldwide in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Composition Competition in 1998 for her song, "Scat!" and that same year took First Prize in the Billboard Song Contest, world category, for her "No, But I Wish..." That song recently reached #1 worldwide on the jazz vocal charts of mp3.com.

She has won eleven Bllboard Certificate of Achievements for her songs. She was also a winner in JAZZIZ magazine's "Keyboards on Fire!" Talent Search judged by Dave Brubeck and Bob James. Her self-produced instrumental "Pajamasamba" appeared on their CD sampler and website as well, and in their 1995 special quarterly issue. Sue has also won ASCAP Popular Awards annually for a decade.

Two of her songs received nationwide airplay covered by other artists: "Younger Dreams" by Nancy Monroe (MJA Records), and "Tom'samba" by Tom Briggs (SaturnDisc). Sue also sang, played and arranged the latter, and appeared on another cut. The CD received glowing reviews in Cadence and Pulse magazines. She also sang vocalese on John Shaw's "The Water Gypsies" (Aisha Records)with Ignacio Berroa, Don Friedman and Guilherme Franco.

Many of Sue's songs have been aired on WBGO-FM and WNYE-FM, as well as WKCR, WNYC, WFMU, WSAV and WPKN. She was also profiled on cable tv programs "The Best Kept Secret," "Success Stories," and "What's Ailing/Healing America."

Sue has accompanied legendary singers Annie Ross and Abbey Lincoln; worked with bassists Harvie Swartz, Mike Richmond, Ron McLure, David Finck; drummers Portinho, Mark Walker; reedmen Ralph LaLama, Roy Nathanson, Loren Schoenberg, Jed Levy, Steve Slagle; guitarist Marc Ribot, hornmen Wayne Andre, Barry Rogers and Don Elliott, among many other great players.

Her groups have performed at the JVC Jazz Festival, the Kool Jazz Festival, the Women's Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center and the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. Sue's original quartet has played at Iridium, Birdland and many other Manhattan jazz clubs. Her trio performed at Hannah's East in Savannah, GA. She has appeared solo or duo at Knickerbocker's, the Village Gate, and many others, as well as throughout Sweden.