Album Notes

A PASSION FOR SWING . . .
Vocalist and Bandleader, Susan "Sooz" Thomas, has had a passion for swing music and classic American Songbook tunes since her early adolescent years. In the mix of her parents' frequent dance parties, she listened and danced to the swing of the "Big Band" era and vocal greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. That's when the seed was planted in this future performing artist.

THE VOICE . . .
A Contralto with range that extends to Mezzo-soprano, Sooz's voice is warm in timbre with textures from smooth to feather soft to bold. She's a true "Song Stylist," who's known for her keen sense of phrasing and for her ability to communicate lyrical content with clarity and with deep feeling.

OVER A DECADE PERFORMING . . .
Sooz has over a decade of professional performing experience. She sang during the '80's and '90's in various music formats (Pop, R & B and Soft Rock) at better hotels and restaurants in the Atlanta area. Then, after spending a number of years working in the corporate world, Sooz chose to return to performing-- to sing the classic tunes hovering in her heart since her adolescence. She entered the world of popular American Jazz.

Since 2001, Sooz has appeared on stage again on a regular basis, as a Solo Artist or with her own Jazz Trio, Quartet or larger Combo. These performances have been given at a variety of upscale public venues, private functions, and numerous benefits. She also appeared in the *2002 Atlanta Jazz Festival* lineup.

THE DEBUT ALBUM . . .
In the fall of 2004, Sooz released her first album: a collection of favored tunes from The Great American Songbook, titled "Always Time To Love." The album, which features The Sooz Thomas Trio plus drums, had play on Atlanta-based JAZZ 91.9 FM WCLK radio before it was even officially released.

THE MUSICIANS . . .
Some of Atlanta's finest Jazz musicians provide the instrumental backdrop for Sooz Thomas' vocals. In "The Sooz Thomas Trio," Sooz couples her vocals with pianist Chuck Mandt and string bassist Nick Pennington. This Trio (Sooz' core musical team) has a reputation as a tight-knit combo of superb musicians. Sooz adds drums for the Quartet, with drummer Keith Runfola joining the Trio on Sooz' debut album, "Always Time To Love." There is a playful sense of fun and musical adventure as they perform together. Most important, they really do "got that swing!"

UP CLOSE AND INTIMATE STYLE . . .
Wherever she appears, Sooz Thomas always touches her audience -- often literally! Whenever staging permits, she's known to move about with her wireless microphone and sing up-close and intimately to her listeners. Sooz' unique combination of exceptional lyric delivery, a spirit moved to swing, and a heart bound to joy and compassion propels this gifted vocal artist straight into the hearts of her audience.