An appealing singer who does not improvise much,
Vanessa Rubin recorded several fine albums for Novus. She studied classical music but switched to jazz early on.
Rubin sang with and managed the Blackshaw Brothers (an organ quartet from Cleveland). After working with several groups locally (and recording with the Cleveland Jazz All-Stars), in 1982
Rubin moved to New York. She worked with
Pharoah Sanders,
Frank Foster's Loud Minority, and the big bands of
Mercer Ellington and
Lionel Hampton, and studied with
Barry Harris in addition to teaching in the N.Y.C. public school system. In 1992 she signed with Novus and her releases for the label are quite enjoyable, including a fine tribute to
Carmen McRae. ~ Scott Yanow