index

 Sheila Landis/Rick Matle
 

                         Rick Matle/Sheila Landis Duo - Sheila Landis Trio - Brazilian Love Affair - Top Drawer

 

A red-hot 'n' cool afternoon of Motor City jazz.

By Charles L. Latimer and W. Kim Heron  Metro Times 6/21/00

 

 Singing is Sheila Landis’ passion and jazz is her religion. It’s been a long time since the jazz community has heard a vocalist who embodies such poetic lyricism, one who uses her voice to entice and enliven. Landis approaches the music as if she’s a horn player and she hasn’t pigeonholed herself by just playing one style. In fact, she moves through the old tunes with the grace and sophistication of Anita O’Day. Her interpretation of the blues is rich with emotionalism and history, and she has become an expert "scat-ologist."

 At a time when female jazz vocalists are blazing a new trail, Landis has been in the trenches perfecting a sound suffused with honesty and a soft romanticism. Her accompaniment ranges from a straight-ahead trio to a large Brazilian ensemble. But she’s at her best when she’s backed by the soulful strumming of guitarist Rick Matle, whom she has worked with for more than 15 years.  At times, Landis’ music has a healing and sustaining force. She transforms herself when she sings, her voice becoming an instrument and her body language an extension of the song. She wraps herself around a ballad with such warmth that it would bring tears to Billie Holiday’s eyes. Then she can run through a Fats Waller composition such as "Ain’t Misbehavin’" without losing any of her honesty and magnetism.

 Jazz enthusiasts praise her for being able to play different facets of the music, but the praise hasn’t given her the "diva complex." Whether she’s performing for a small audience at a café or swinging at a large jazz festival, Landis remains the embodiment of grit and sophistication. –Charles L. Latimer

 

  
                      

      RICK MATLE AND SHEILA LANDIS
                Fine & Mellow (Shelan)

How simple! How eloquent! How nice! Indeed, the warm combination of Sheila Landis' supple voice and Rick Matle's caressing guitar is a natural. Based in Detroit, the duo casts an inviting spell in which standards transcend to the status of haiku, where an evergreen like "Ain't Misbehavin'" is transformed into a glossy yet telling encapsulation of life's great verities. "Summertime," "Corcovado" and "Willow Weep for Me" are similarity transmuted.

Though they jokingly refer to themselves as the Motor City's answer to Tuck and Patti, it's an apt comparison. The duets of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass provide yet another touchstone. Along with standards, the duo's sophisticated treatment of bluesy fare such as Billie Holiday's "Fine & Mellow" is also notable. Throughout, one can't help but be impressed by their easy rapport, intuitive phrasings and hip harmonies. And when Landis scats, well, the spirit of Ella lives!  

Chuck Berg  JazzTimes

Landis has an extraordinarily flexible voice and an uncanny ability to use it to great advantage. She scats, sings ballads, loves Latin rhythms, and can swing. She does jazz, rock, bebop, as well as Latin with absolute equanimity. This multifaceted musical elasticity allows her to take part in any jazz scenario with ease and with excellent results. Landis has chosen to consider herself a Detroit artist, doing most of her work in and around the Motor City. In appreciation of this loyalty as well as for her talent, she has been the recipient of many area awards, including being named outstanding jazz vocalist for four different years by Detroit Music Awards. She is a regular participant in Detroit music festivals, including the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, and performs regularly at a number of spots in the Detroit area. Although having been on stage for more than 30 years, Landis has never fallen into a rut. Her work continues to exude vitality, excitement, diversity, and originality.

Dave Nathan AllMusicGuide

 

  
"Landis and Matle have really caught on to something and are making great music."

Jerome Wilson, Cadence

"You brought a great deal of artistry and high energy to your performance and it was a pleasure for me to be a part of the audience."

Mary Obst, Detroit Library Concert Series

  

 
 

 

 
 
Performances of Note:              

ART FAIRS & FESTIVALS—Ann Arbor Summerfest, “Top of the Park”, Art & Apples-Rochester, Art on the Grand-Farmington, Arts, Beats & Eats-Pontiac, “Best of Show”-Pewabic Pottery, Birmingham Fine Art Fair, Brighton Art Fair, Comerica Michigan Tastefest-Detroit, East Lansing Art Festival, Huron Shores “Sunrise Side Wine and Food Festival-Harrisville, Orchard Lake Fine Art Show VIP Artists’ Preview, Plymouth Art in the Park, Northville “Art in the Sun”, St. Clair Art Fair-St. Clair, Sterlingfest-Sterling Heights, Trenton Midsummer Fest, Waterford Summerfest, WEMU Stage-Ann Arbor Art Fair, Wyandotte Street Art Fair.

 CHARITABLE & FUND-RAISING EVENTS—“Band of Angels” Foundation “Starry Night Gala”, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Bellagio of Northville-Benefit for Angela Hospice, Casa Maria Family Services, Caseville Chamber of Commerce, Common Ground Sanctuary “Art in the Park”-Birmingham, Farmington/Farmington Hills Community Foundation for Children, Youth and Families “Cornucopia Ball”, Gilda’s Club-Metro Detroit, “Holiday Helpers of Rochester Hills” Huron Valley Council for the Arts, “Jazz for Literacy”-LVA Detroit Chapter, JET Jewish Ensemble Theatre “Crimes of Fashion”, Michigan Cancer Foundation “Cruise for the Cure”, New Horizons Rehabilitation-Auburn Hills, Pix Theatre-Lapeer, “S.O.S”-Share Our Strength”-Somerset Mall-Troy, University Club-East Lansing, Waterford Cultural Council “Jazzin’ Up the Joint”, “Food, Wine and All That Jazz”-WGVU, Grand Rapids.

 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES—Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, Arkansas, Northwestern Michigan College Milliken Auditorium/Dennos Museum Center-Traverse City, Oakland Community College-Royal Oak & Farmington Hills, Oakland University-Rochester, Wayne State University-Detroit, Department of Urology.

 CLUBS, RESTAURANTS & HOTELS—Alley Grille-Greektown Casino-Detroit, Andiamo’s-Rochester/Royal Oak, Bird of Paradise-Ann Arbor, B.O.B.-Grand Rapids, Brown Derby-MGM Grand Casino-Detroit, Canterbury Village-Lake Orion, Compari’s-Plymouth, Edison’s-Birmingham, D’Amato’s/Goodnight Gracie-Ann Arbor, Fat Fish Blue-Newport, Kentucky, Firefly-Ann Arbor, Fitzgerald’s-Northfield Hilton-Troy, Lily’s Seafood-Royal Oak, Morels-Bingham Farms, Motor City Casino-Detroit, Novi Hilton, Redwood Lodge-Flint, Seldom Blues-Detroit, Spencer’s-Saginaw, Sweet Georgia Brown-Detroit, Uncommon Grounds-Saugatuck, Whitehorse Inn-Metamora, Mario’s on Second- Detroit, Peabody’s-Birmingham, Pine Knob VIP Lounge, Bon Vie-Troy.

 CORPORATE EVENTS—American Express Publishing “Epicurean Evening”, BASF Corp.-Southfield, Cranbrook Academy-Bloomfield Hills (Ford Motor Company), Hallmark Cards “Fresh Ink Tour 2000”, Henry Ford Museum-Dearborn, MASCO-Tech Christmas Party, Metro Airport “Raise the Roof”-McNamara Terminal Opening-Romulus, Tigers’ Club-Comerica Park, Detroit, Oakland County Medical Society.

 

COUNTRY CLUBS—Atlas Valley Country Club- Grand Blanc, Birmingham Athletic Club, Bloomfield Open Hunt Club, Detroit Athletic Club, Forest Lake Country Club-Bloomfield Hills, Great Oaks Country Club- Rochester, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Red Run-Royal Oak, Renaissance Club-Detroit, Wabeek-West Bloomfield.

 JAZZ FESTIVALS—Birmingham Jazz Fest, Flint Jazz Festival, Ford Detroit International Jazz Fest, Frog Island Fest-Ypsilanti, Lakeshore Jazz Connection- Saugatuck, Lansing Jazz Fest, Michigan Jazz Fest-Livonia, Newaygo Jazz & Blues Fest, Suttons Bay Jazz Fest, Jazz ‘n’ July-Detroit, River Raisin Jazz-Monroe.

 PARK CONCERTS—Allen Park DDA, Brownstown Rec. Dept.-Woodhaven, Burgh Historical Park Gazebo-Southfield, Canton Parks & Rec. Dept., Depot Park-Clarkston, “Eat to the Beat” Southfield, Flatrock Parks & Rec. Dept., Flushing Concerts in the Park-“Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald”, Fremont Amphitheater, Genesee County Fair-Flint, Greenmead Park-Livonia, Greenville Community Center, Irons Park-West Branch, “Music by the Mill”-Linden,  Marshbank Park, W. Bloomfield, “Music in the Park”-Rochester, Novi Civic Center Concert, Southern Lakes Parks & Rec. Concerts-Fenton, “Stars in the Park”-Heritage Park-Farmington Hills, Troy Historic Village.

 RADIO/TELEVISION APPEARANCES—“Albom in the Afternoon” WJR-AM 760, “Backstage Pass”-Channel 56 Detroit, Community Media Network Public Access TV, Fox 2-Southfield (WJBK), WDET in-studio performances (W. Kim Heron Show, Ed Love “Destination Jazz” and “Live from Studio A”), “Home Page-After Hours”-WFUM Flint, “Step ‘n Move to the Groove” for Cable TV, City of Troy Cable TV.

 WEDDINGS & PRIVATE PARTIES—Adat Shalom-Farmington Hills, Athenaeum Conference Center-Detroit, Brookwood Clubhouse-Rochester Hills, Cherry Creek Country Club-Shelby, Forte-Birmingham, Franklin Hills Country Club, Fusion-Farmington Hills, Glen Oaks Country Club-Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, The Heathers-Bloomfield Hills, Marriott at Centerpoint-Bloomfield, Masonic Temple-Detroit, Pine Knob Mansion-Clarkston, Roostertail-Detroit, Scarab Club-Detroit, The Whitney-Detroit, Townsend Hotel-Birmingham, Royal Park, Rochester.

 WORKSHOPS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS—Birmingham First Night, Borders Books & Music, “Cool Jazz at Club Covert”-Waterford, Cranbrook Art Museum “Latin Tinge”, Creole Gallery-Lansing, Detroit Free Press, Discovery Theatre-Battle Creek, Eastpointe Community Center, Genesee Belle Paddleboat-Flint, “Jazz Discovery Series” Concert-Magic Bag-Ferndale, “Jazz in July” Bloomfield Twp. Library, Jazz Walk-Saugatuck, “Mama‘s Coffee House”-Birmingham Unitarian Church, New Year Jubilee-Ypsilanti, Paint Creek Center for the Arts-Rochester, Pontiac Creative Art Center “Percussion Around the World”, Rochester Hills Public Library, South Haven Center for the Arts, St. Paul’s Catholic School student workshop-Owosso, WEMU Mardi Gras-Convocation Center-Ypsilanti. Taste of Royal Oak/Clay & Glass Festival, Meadowbrook Wine & Food Festival-Oakland University, Starkweather Art Center-Romeo, “Jazz at the Shell”-St. Joseph, Michigan and many more…!

 
 
 
     
 
Sheila Landis and Rick Matle

Blues in the Night

SheLan

Grade: A

An emphasis on bluesy and rootsy material on this collection, half new and half culled from the last dozen years of work by the vocal-guitar duo. They do "Fever" and Willie Nelson's "Crazy," but there's still room for whiplash hard bop, some jazz-meets-poetry material and a rockin' take on "At Last." Landis' 21st album is the place to start if you've been sleeping on this lightning bolt of a singer and her simpatico seven-string guitarist. —WKHeron, Metro Times review from November 2006