Joyce Collins
Joyce Collins ( born May 5, 1930 in Battle Mountain, Nevada; † 3 January 2010) was an American jazz pianist, singer and music teacher.
Life and work
Collins began with 15 years of professional act as a pianist when she visited the Reno High School in Nevada. Later she played during her music studies and their teaching at San Francisco State College in various clubs in groups and as a soloist; Finally, they went with the Frankie Carle band on tour and worked with Oscar Pettiford. In the late 1950s she settled in Los Angeles, played with Bob Cooper Lighthouse Cafe and also appeared in Reno and Las Vegas, where she became the first woman got the opportunity to direct a show band. She also worked as a session musician in film and television studios, including ten years of the band of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, as well as in the Bob Newhart Show. In the 1960s, she appeared with Benny Carter and has participated in recordings of Gene Estes Big Band (1969 ) with. In 1975 she took up with Bill Henderson, their joint albums Street Of Dreams and Tribute To Johnny Mercer was nominated for a Grammy. Furthermore, Collins worked as a coach in 1989, the actor Jeff and Beau Bridges for their musicians roles in The Fabulous Baker Boys.
From 1975 Collins jazz piano taught at the Dick Grove School of Music, composed, arranged and worked in a program for the promotion of women as composers and lyricists in jazz. In addition to her appearances as a soloist or in duo and trio formations they also played in a big band, led by Bill Berry, recorded with Paul Horn, Pete Christlieb and under his own name. After they had already submitted their 1961 debut album Moment to moment at Riverside Records, brought from the 1980s, some albums for Discovery and audiophiles out.
Discography
- Girl Here Plays Mean Piano ( Riverside / Jazzland 1961) with Ray Brown, Frank Butler
- Moment To Moment ( Discovery Records 1981) with Chuck Domanico, Jack Sheldon
- Sweet Madness ( Audiophile, 1990) with Andy Simpkins, Octavio Bailey, Ralph Penland, Claudio Slon
- Embraces the Heart of Brazil ( Audiophile, 2005)