LAURA NYRO: one of the most gifted spiritual singer-songwriter with a gravitational pull towards the music she heard in the streets as a young girl in NYC. Laura”s drew from R&B, soul, doo wop, gospel, jazz, “Brill Building” pop and Broadway show tunes. Often too unconventional for mainstream Nyro was easily pigeonholed but had an amazing following and many other artists and groups went on to perform and record her songs making them hits. Nyro is credited in being a major influence to many other female and male artists to this day.

JONI MITCHELL: artist unlike any other, Joni has spent a lifetime sculpting her art through words, music, painting and she is beyond accomplished, Joni is a true force of nature. It is impossible to define, describe and categorize Joni nor should one try. In her own words: “I looked like a folksinger, even though the moment I began to write, my music was not folk music. It was something else that had elements or romantic classicism to it.”

I AM is a series of 60-80 minute concerts filled with original music, well known, and some less known standards along with interesting stories and researched facts. The series explores the medium of music through an auditory, visual & kinesthetic presentation. Tania describes the series as “a live documentary with a point of entry approach.” All performances include video footage, photography, and narration.

Tania Grubbs is a jazz vocalist who brings a fresh approach to the great American song book. Singing as long as she can remember, Tania has been a featured vocalist with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, the Voices of the Boca Pops Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust “Jazzlive” series, and The Pittsburgh Jazz Society.

Featured Musicians & Collaborators

Tania Grubbs – vocalist/producer/composer

Cliff Barnes – piano

Jeff Grubbs – bass

James Johnson III – drums

John Shannon – Guitar