Jeannie Gagné
A world-class vocalist, Jeannie Gagné has sung with Philip Glass, George Duke, opened for Bare Naked Ladies, performed for NBC-TV with comedians Penn and Teller, toured with reggae legend Frankie Paul, and sings on the soundtrack for the feature film “Anima Mundi” (1993). She has received extensive press coverage such as feature stories on PBS’s All Things Considered and the CBS Evening News. Literally singing with the soundtrack of West Side Story before she learned to speak and writing songs since toddlerhood, Jeannie has always known that music is her life. Jeannie’s third album “Closer to Bliss,” takes a soul-jazz journey about living and inspiration. Featured on jazz stations around the U.S., this album showcases her unique vocals and eclectic songwriting style. It brings together pop/rock with a little jazz and a little folk for a very contemporary sound that is distinctly Jeannie’s own. A veteran performer, Jeannie is also co-founder of Berklee College of Music’s Performance Wellness Institute where she is a professor on the voice faculty. She teaches technique and performance in pop/rock, blues, jazz, folk, RnB and classical styles, as well as the science of sound and wellness. She has developed into a rare vocalist and teacher with seemingly limitless styles and chops at her disposal as well as considerable charm on stage. Some of the remarkable musicians Jeannie has worked with are Phillip Glass, Terri Lynn Carrington, Walter Beasley, Shawn Pelton, Stan Strickland, George Russell Jr., Everett Bradley. Jeannie sings from the depths of her soul with rare skill and passion. Her four-octave range and unique vocal style go from strong blues-influenced soul singing, to lyrical, beautiful and sometimes haunting reflective singing. She performs jazz with equal agility, and is seen frequently in the Boston area and elsewhere. Her pop/rock sound has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Sarah MacLachlan, and Sheryl Crow. Jeannie has a way of reaching audiences. People often come away from performances beaming and moved. Incredibly, once a woman who was battling cancer heard Jeannie sing, and came up to Jeannie to tell her that her song had moved her so much, it would help her as she fought the disease. This kind of connection with people through music is one of the most important reasons why Jeannie sings and writes music. She says, “That’s the point. Connecting. We are all human, we share the same emotions, anywhere on the globe. Music can reach across language. Anywhere. It moves us, it inspires us. It gets us up dancing, or touches a truth inside. I believe I have a responsibility as an artist to bring my very best to every performance, each and every time. I want every performance to be special.” As a reviewer once said, “Bring this songbird into your life.”