Biography

I'm a singer/songwriter/composer/arranger. I've been singing and writing music and poetry since I was a kid. My Dad was into jazz so I grew up on the old standards and learning how to scat - improvisation is key to jazz and it suited me. When I was singing in smoke-filled clubs years ago, I lost my voice for a while and found my other voice. I'm now a jazz baby with a classically-trained lyric soprano chaser. Operatic training really strengthened my vocal chords and expanded my range so now I'm free to sing almost anything I like, though my voice isn't as high and light as it once was.

Musically, it's an exciting time because of all the cross-pollination of genres, instruments, and cultures. I speak several languages and have studied the traditional music from more than one continent so it's a real joy to see more people intermingling different cultural influences.

My own background is intermingled from the get go (african and european diaspora mixed with native north american) so I appreciate people who are open-minded. I am usually a soloist but also love singing in a group. I like to work with people who like to experiment, who aren't rigid artistically, and who live for the excitement which takes place when minds collide. I like working with other singers, poets, songwriters, composers, and instrumentalists. I have a lot of performing experience but not in the past few years.

[ smiley]

Blog rss

Live Benefit Show in Memory of my Sister-in-Law on Friday, January 8th! January 5, 2010
Carla's Friday Improvs back on track - January 1, 2010! January 3, 2010
Recovered from tech difficulties (at least temporarily!) and happy to be back smiley
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Carla's Friday Improvs CANCELLED for today December 25th, 2009! December 25, 2009
Computer problems again!
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Carla's Friday Improvs 12/18/09 December 18, 2009
Good show with good music - sorry for those who had to deal with the technical difficulties!
Comments (3) | Read more »
Carla's Friday Improvs starts today at 2PM PST! December 11, 2009
New name, new logo, same show for the most part smiley
Comments (1) | Read more »
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Music rss

Title Genre Released Plays
Fado Improv (2/5/10) A Cappella Feb 6, 2010 40
Dika Flow (a tribute and a thank you) Music Videos Feb 5, 2010 97
Sometimes (for Randolf) Collab Alternative Feb 4, 2010 78
Daphne Redrawn Classical Feb 2, 2010 129
Fado Explicit A Cappella Jan 28, 2010 201
Why? (MellyOMatic Mix) Collab Jazz Jan 26, 2010 140
Loving You Is Not the Best Idea Explicit Spoken Word Jan 25, 2010 166
The Crucifixion A Cappella Jan 23, 2010 157
I Don't Feel A Thing Other Jan 21, 2010 158
Lake Merritt at Night Explicit Alternative Jan 18, 2010 161
Winter Boy (Buffy Ste. Marie Cover) A Cappella Jan 16, 2010 172
Cause I Love You A Cappella Jan 14, 2010 184
Summertime in Richmond Collab Jazz Jan 4, 2010 241
One Rock From Canada (Improv) Collab Classical Jan 3, 2010 200
Flamenco Mood (version 1) Ambient Dec 29, 2009 228
The Christmas Song (homage to Mel Tormé) Holiday Dec 24, 2009 286
Come Along With Me A Cappella Dec 18, 2009 295
Delay Play 12/18/09 A Cappella Dec 18, 2009 186
There Is A Man Collab Inspirational Dec 16, 2009 264
Comfort & Joy Collab Jazz Dec 16, 2009 264
Unconditional (For Theo and Maya) Collab Jazz Dec 14, 2009 184
Let It Snow Collab Jazz Dec 14, 2009 263
Winter Is Here Collab Jazz Dec 14, 2009 195
As I watch you pass From this planetary mass... live improv 12/4/09 Jazz Dec 10, 2009 282
Windy Hollow - Farewell to Jessica Classical Dec 10, 2009 183
Delay Play (12/04/09) A Cappella Dec 6, 2009 232
All The Pretty Little Horses (traditional) A Cappella Dec 4, 2009 186
Left To Bleed Slowly, I Look To My Thoughts (Live Improv) Explicit Collab Alternative Nov 20, 2009 364
When the Lady Says Jump (Live Improv) Collab Jazz Nov 20, 2009 334
Sister Brother, Father Mother Collab R&B Nov 15, 2009 400
Memories of Life Classical Nov 12, 2009 248
Your Memory Lingers On Alternative Nov 5, 2009 272
Return of the Sex Vampires Explicit Collab New Age Nov 1, 2009 243
Thriller (the duet!) featuring Carl Patterson Explicit Collab Pop Nov 1, 2009 208
Angel (Cover) - dedicated to Frank Atkins Collab Inspirational Oct 29, 2009 290
The Vampire's Lament Explicit Alternative Oct 28, 2009 302
Jessica and Dutch Inspirational Oct 26, 2009 399
Don't Make Me Do It Explicit Alternative Oct 19, 2009 261
Me and Thee Alternative Oct 19, 2009 227
This Thing Called Longing Pop Oct 18, 2009 171
Truly Ambient Oct 15, 2009 269
Don't Say It Isn't So Collab Pop Oct 15, 2009 255
Waiting for the Sun Collab Ska/Reggae/Dub Oct 14, 2009 295
Elizabeth in Chains Classical Oct 2, 2009 387
Ambient Mirrors A Cappella Oct 2, 2009 225
Breathe Collab Childrens Sep 21, 2009 368
Calling You (Ambient Version) Collab Ambient Sep 21, 2009 288
Calling In My Debts Collab Blues Sep 21, 2009 332
Fall With Abandon (Tom's Mix) Explicit Collab Jazz Sep 18, 2009 309
Carla's Second Ember Collab Jazz Sep 16, 2009 249
Fall With Abandon Explicit Collab Jazz Sep 15, 2009 267
Baby, I Miss You Blues Sep 9, 2009 387
The First Leaves of Autumn Jazz Sep 8, 2009 562
3 A.M. (Open Collab) Blues Sep 7, 2009 346
Carla's First Ember Collab New Age Sep 6, 2009 354
Amazing is the Grace in Music Collab Inspirational Sep 5, 2009 340
For Theo on his Birthday 2009 Collab Childrens Sep 3, 2009 241
Here in America Collab Inspirational Aug 27, 2009 507
Angel (Open Collab) A Cappella Aug 27, 2009 301
5th Street Mission A Cappella Aug 27, 2009 213
Cosmic Phone Call to Carla Collab Comedy Aug 20, 2009 295
Satie Bluer Collab New Age Aug 20, 2009 258
Come Home With Me Explicit Jazz Aug 17, 2009 354
Your Soul Is Mine Explicit Collab Electronica Aug 12, 2009 532
My new workstation Setups Aug 12, 2009 250
U Don't Know What Love Is Collab Jazz Aug 9, 2009 433
Viva la Vida (Coldplay Cover) Collab Jazz Aug 6, 2009 372
Not Yet Tangible Spoken Word Aug 2, 2009 327
Open Me Explicit Inspirational Jul 30, 2009 259
What I'd Like Collab Blues Jul 26, 2009 410
Magical East (aka Scratch That Itch) Collab Dance Jul 20, 2009 336
Carla's First Dream Collab A Cappella Jul 18, 2009 292
Steph's Song Jazz Jul 16, 2009 223
Boy From Ipanema (Jobim Cover) Explicit Latin Jul 8, 2009 355
Easy to be Hard (a capella) A Cappella Jul 7, 2009 313
Welcome to my World - interim stage! Country Jul 3, 2009 206
Tragic Redux Explicit Collab Hip Hop/Rap Jun 24, 2009 452
Red Clouds at Night Collab Jazz Jun 24, 2009 439
Summer Solstice Collab Jazz Jun 21, 2009 639
Oh Father (Madonna cover with altered lyrics) Pop Jun 11, 2009 486
Tenth Collab Jazz Jun 7, 2009 450
El Vals de la Bruja Boba (spanish language version) Collab Childrens May 31, 2009 602
Interpretation Collab Jazz May 27, 2009 469
Again (by Stephen Liu) Collab Pop May 25, 2009 374
Return to Forever (Minnie Ripperton Cover) Inspirational May 22, 2009 386
Give Me Sympathy (the studio version :) Collab Alternative May 18, 2009 385
The Lady is a Tramp (Duet with Uncle Moe) Collab Jazz May 18, 2009 345
Just Smile Jazz May 11, 2009 546
Gimme Sympathy (Metric Cover) Collab Alternative May 10, 2009 587
Another Valentine's Day Jazz Apr 19, 2009 478
Demons A Cappella Apr 17, 2009 361
The Silly Witch Waltz Redux Collab Childrens Apr 13, 2009 565
A Recent Rain Jazz Apr 6, 2009 350
Spider Explicit Collab Rock Apr 3, 2009 468
Jazz Explicit Spoken Word Apr 1, 2009 402
Uwe Moto (You are the Fire) - Version 2 World Mar 21, 2009 354
Uwe Moto (You are the Fire) World Mar 17, 2009 333
Come To Me Now (final version) Collab Jazz Mar 3, 2007 1789
Just Call My Name A Cappella Jan 25, 2007 1235
Sleep Maya Sleep Childrens May 19, 2006 1158

Collaborations

Favorites

Title Artist Genre Plays
Switching Bodies... TheRazbaqueDirgeProject Other 26
Open Collaboration (Need Singer) olympus Pop 80
Doodle 93 (for SANTARII) randolf Electronica 74
IN THE LAND OF PLASTIC RAINBOWS by dr_elvis01, tribute randolf [+1] Inspirational 109
Let (Me Take You There) Zamzam [+1] Funk 64
Greensleeves Vixen Folk 193
Shifting Sand RedthruNthru Blues 164
Nobody's Diary w/Vixen (c) Garni [+1] Pop 181
Kicks at Six DikaFlow [+2] Jazz 211
I'm not your MONKEY! alanatomic [+1] Funk 199
about hate the video TRASHINME Music Videos 141
We are The World featuring some of icomps finest morgan102 [+8] Pop 683
Blue Planet warmjetsmusic [+1] Alternative 102
Never Again jamesjrn Pop 83
Say What! I Can't Hear Ya yosL Dance 183
Oh (So Good) Zamzam R&B 173
Summertime (for a cold winter day) v2 georgeptingley Jazz 113
FRY it UP !! RedthruNthru [+1] Blues 431
Persistence (Final Take) albumflaps Rock 71
Things I've never told you dirigent [+1] Ambient 363
Part time slick (Colab) Telemetry [+1] Blues 154
You Owe Him an Apology yosL Ambient 199
cry me a river sung by ilan ilan Jazz 132
01-20-10 - Reflections [Open Collab] JulietsFuneral Folk 88
Set Me Free Stebbo Alternative 200
Snake! Djev_Asnew Hip Hop/Rap 215
Gymnopodie No.3 remixed swimmyfishy Ambient 116
The Despering Story of an Iceberg in love with a Bear LaFayette World 233
Broken Watch hiphopmoses [+1] Alternative 337
yes...i am alone doctorzinc Rock 160
time to die mr. lawrence doctorzinc Rock 175
Improv1 spacemann Ambient 87
Voices tadk Ambient 120
Black Widow (mix) crissew Pop 98
Visions in Blue (THE VIDEO) w/RedThruNThru Garni [+1] Music Videos 305
U Help U GIve (Haiti) Tony2008 Metal 189
Run Away [Instrumental] Stebbo Alternative 125
Tempt Me...Not Right Now Zamzam House 200
Absolution (Fringe Theme Song) olympus Classical 335
Bean Bag Ashtray mdestiny Alternative 156
Walk That Path TomDevine Jazz 153
FUNK YOU conorcorbett Dance 163
I Saw Zamzam [+1] Funk 185
Bourbon Street Dawn jgurner Alternative 131
TroJan Of A Private Moment yosL [+2] Dance 217
Ave Maria DEMO Djev_Asnew [+1] Classical 259
Sax Fantasy archjerry Latin 102
Trouble alanatomic [+3] Funk 265
LOVE (w/Taylormade) MickD [+1] Ska/Reggae/Dub 315
Drowning In The Sea of Love ClayPotts R&B 195
View All Favorites