Judi Silvano -- Vocalist, Composer, Lyricist Originally from Philadelphia, where she studied flute, piano, ballet and modern dance before attending Temple University on a vocal scholarship, Judi Silvano moved to New York in 1976 and has earned a reputation as a daring improviser, first as a dancer and later as a jazz vocalist. Voted three times in Top 10 Vocalist in the Down Beat Reader's Poll, Silvano has earned acclaim as a composer and lyricist, as well. She also received a Meet The Composer grant in 2003. Her original compositions can be heard on her four CDs as a leader: Dancing Voices (JSL Records, 1992), Vocalise (Blue Note Records, 1997), Songs I Wrote Or Wish I Did (JSL Records, 2000), and Riding A Zephyr, a duo CD with legendary pianist Mal Waldron (Soul Note/Black Saint Records, 2002) which has been widely acclaimed. In addition "Sound Garden: Spirit Music " (Music for Yoga and Meditation) is due out in 2003 on JSL Records, and there is an album in the works of her mother's favorite Standard songs with two-horn arrangements by Michael Abene for release next year. Silvano has also been featured on five Joe Lovano Blue Note CDs, as well as recordings with pianist Kenny Werner, composer Lori Dobbins, guitarist James Emery and on "Secret Ellington" a CD of newly discovered works by Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn. She has been heard on NPR's "Jazz Set", a BET-TV profile of her band, televised broadcasts of The Montreal Jazz Festival, and has been a contributing writer to the All About Jazz newspaper and internet site. Silvano tours worldwide as a leader and leads a number of groups including her STANDARDS QUINTET, a new music quartet called CLEOME and VOICES TOGETHER which features 3 Vocalists plus a Dancer doing performances and workshops in schools. In addition, she produces an annual Vocal Concert Series in NYC, writes dance scores in collaboration with choreographer Susan Creitz and teaches at Rutgers University, Banff International Jazz Workshop, the Lake Placid Institute, and in private workshops nationwide. Please visit www.judisilvano.com for more information.