Daryl Sherman redefines romanticism in contemporary Jazz!!  

Although she is relatively a “new” leading presence of the new generation of singers and pianists, Daryl Sherman has been already recognized by peers and critics as  the brightest shining star of the contempo jazz artists  caravan. Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Julie Andrews, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Joe Williams, Mildred Bailey and Sarah Vaughan, formidably trained by her father Sammy Sherman (A former Jazz trombonist in New York city during the golden big band era) at an early age and fueled with passion for music and singing, Daryl  had to make her mark on the world of music and entertainment, for singing, performing and playing the piano were and still are a major part of her soul and life. At age of five, Daryl began to sing American standards and imitate her father on a daily basis. "I think the first thing I sang when my dad actually let me sit in with the band was, 'Over the Rainbow.' I was about twelve." Wrote in her biography. Daryl adds: "As a kid I was the one who embraced the music of my Dad, which was the standards and jazz. I was the kid who was awakened at two in the morning when my dad would come back from a music job." Said Daryl. Upon entering high school, Daryl became involved with everything musical, ranging from school small musicals production, stage performance to school band and theater. And when she was not on campus, Daryl would play at small events like New Years Eve parties and try to get gigs here and there. "One of my first gigs was in a neighborhood restaurant/bar, where they had some kind of a top-40 band. The little piano sat above the bar. My job was to play when the band took a break. I played things like, 'Misty,' Beatles songs, show tunes. I got $20 for that." Nostalgically said Daryl Sherman.

At age of six, she began her formal musical training, but her first source of inspiration and musical influence remained her father. Besides records, her father’s training, radio, television and her dad’s musician friends who regularly visited them and practiced in the Sherman’s house wherever they could or would, Daryl’s home always had a piano. And that piano loved this sweet little angel-singer. "That was probably the most useful tool I could ever have because it got me to do accompaniments on the piano." Wrote Daryl Sherman. Although, she was deeply influenced by mainstream jazz, Daryl will soon free herself from the bondage of influence and create her own style.  A grand and warm style based upon melodic evocation, open and breezy musical arrangements, harmoniously and affectionately delivered intonation, and most certainly, a welcoming and enchanting stage presence. Melodies were of a paramount importance to her repertoire. Daryl wrote: "I have a jazz feel to what I do, but I just love songs that are melodic.” This statement explains the reason why her style is the most romantic and melodious Jazz style in the country. Daryl Sherman might not be the ambassador extraordinaire of traditional Jazz but, without any doubt, her Jazz cache and character remain positively authentic and  expressive through  a most unique and unusual improvisational Jazzy style; a style she so admirably created and perfected.

Her jazz is melodic, harmonious, rich, warm, individualized and strikingly instrumental. Daryl Sherman’s Jazz is innovative, silky, intelligent, evocative and nostalgically developed. In doing so, Daryl has repositioned herself on the Jazz world arena. She has added to music a breezier space and  a more humanistic touch to  contemporary Jazz arrangements. Daryl Sherman’s fabulous talent is a trilogy of an unsurpassed vocal clarity, a universe of warmth and most honest inner feelings, and a superb projection of what unites a well crafted musical score (quite often based upon her own compositions and arrangements), a transcending voice of one thousand rays of joy , enchantment and crystallized dreams.

Debbie Gravitte, la crème de la crème of showbiz and entertainment.

Debbie Gravitte. This lady has elevated the standards of excellence for Broadway and beyond. Truly, Gravitte, is a national treasure. On Broadway, she dominated the stage, possessed it and ran away with it. In London, she took the city by storm and mesmerized the hell out of the Brits. Her magic is beyond description.

Debbie Gravitte has been called "One of the best voices on Broadway" by the Associated Press. Of her first starring role in the musical, Perfectly Frank, Frank Rich of The New York Times wrote, "You had better believe she's on Broadway to stay". In 1989, Debbie won the Tony Award fro her critically-acclaimed performance in Jerome Robbins' Broadway. For her work, she also received the New York Showstopper Award, as well as a Drama Desk nomination. She made her Broadway debut in the original cast of They're Playing Our Song, and went on to appear in Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk nomination), Blues In The Night, Ain't Broadway Grand, Zorba (with Anthony Quinn) and Les Miserables.  Debbie has dazzled nightclub audiences around the world, from New York's Rainbow & Stars to London's Pizza On The park; to Atlantic City, opening for George Burns, Harry Anderson and Jay Leno. She recently returned to London for an encore performance of her critically-acclaimed, SRO engagement at Pizza On The Park.

Debbie has appeared with numerous symphony orchestras nation-wide, including The St. Louis Symphony and the Northeast Pennsylvania Symphony, as well as internationally with the Munich Philharmonic in a televised tribute to Hal Prince. On television, Debbie co-starred on the CBS series, Trial and Error, was seen on NBC's The Pursuit of Happiness, and starred in several PBS specials, including In Concert with The Boston Pops and Live from The Kennedy Center. She just returned from Gala Celebrations at London's Royal Albert Hall, as well as Carnegie Hall, making George Gershwin's 100th Birthday to be televised on PBS in March 1997. Recently, Debbie was seen as Paula McFadden in the Los Angeles premiere of The Goodbye Girl. She can also be heard as one of the voices in the Disney animated classic, The Little Mermaid. Debbie is the proud mother of a son, and her most recent accomplishment... twins! Her official biography tells us that Debbie Gravitte, recipient of the Tony Award for her critically acclaimed performance in JEROME ROBBIN’S BROADWAY, was most recently seen in the hit Broadway production of CHICAGO. For her work in JEROME ROBBIN’S BROADWAY, she also received the NEW YORK SHOWSTOPPER AWARD as well as a Drama Desk Nomination. Debbie made her Broadway debut in the original cast of THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG, and went on to appear in PERFECTLY FRANK, (Drama Desk nomination), BLUES IN THE NIGHT, AIN’T BROADWAY GRAND, ZORBA, (with Anthony Quinn), and LES MISERABLES. Theatergoers in New York have also seen her in the Encores Productions of THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, TENDERLOIN, and CARNIVAL at City Center.

Photo: Debbie and Michael Maguire.

Debbie has performed her nightclub act worldwide, from New York’s RAINBOW AND STARS, to London’s PIZZA ON THE PARK. In Atlantic City, she has had the honor of opening for such amazing talents as George Burns, Harry Anderson, and Jay Leno. In Concert, Debbie has sung with numerous Symphonies around the world, including THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY WITH MARVIN HAMLISH, THE CINCINNATI POPS WITH ERIC KUNZEL, THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY, THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA, THE ST. LOUIS AND SAN DIEGO SYMPHONIES among many others. Overseas, Debbie has appeared with the LONDON, AALBORG, AND BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS, STOCKHOLM PHILHARMONIC, JERUSALEM SYMPHONY, ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA, as well as THE MUNICH PHILHARMONIC in a televised special.  Her upcoming concerts include return engagements with THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA (at the Blossom Music Festival), GRANT PARK, SAN DIEGO, THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY, as well as debuts with the PITTSBURGH AND HOUSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS. Television appearances include CBS’s TRAIL AND ERROR, NBC’S THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS as well as several PBS specials including THE BOSTON POPS SINGS BERNSTEIN, LIVE FROM THE KENNEDY CENTER, RODGERS AND HART for Great Performances, and GERSHWIN’S 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION at CARNEGIE HALL. She also participated in the GERSHWIN CELEBRATION from London’s ROYAL ALBERT HALL. Debbie can be heard on several recordings, including her two solo CD’s: THE MGM ALBUM, and PART OF YOUR WORLD, THE MUSIC OF ALAN MENKEN. Other recordings include CALMAMITY JANE, UNSUNG SONDHEIM, THE BUSBY BERKELY ALBUM, LUCKY STIFF, MISS SPECTACULAR, LOUISIANA PURCHASE, and MACK AND MABEL IN CONCERT, recorded live at the Drury Lane in London.  Debbie can be heard as one of the voices in THE LITTLE MERMAID, and can be seen in the Universal release ISN’T SHE GREAT? with Bette Midler. She recently made her debut with the NYC Ballet in Peter Martin’s THOU SWELL singing the wonderful music of Richard Rodgers.  In October, Debbie will perform The Three Broadway DIVAS at Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson and the NY Pops.