Adopting vocalese as her singing style but equally comfortable with ballads,
Toni Jannotta has been on the jazz scene since 1989 when she started singing in local clubs in the Los Angeles area. She has studied music theory at Los Angeles Valley Junior College and music theory with guitarist Ken Rosser. In addition to appearing at many Los Angeles venues, Jannotta during the '90s has performed at clubs in Switzerland and Germany, as well as at the Back to Blues and Jazz Festival in Santa Monica and the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival in Jamaica. She's worked with
Theo Saunders,
Henry Franklin, Mike Faue, and Kendall Kaye.
Ernie Watts appears on her only album to date, Just Jazz, released in May of 1999 on the TCB label. In addition to standards, this album includes three of Jannotta's own tunes. Jannotta points to major figures in vocalese as Jon Hendricks,
Annie Ross (who she calls her idol),
Bobby McFerrin, and
Al Jarreau as major influences. Jannotta continues to perform on the West Coast. ~ Dave Nathan