Con Alma is an extremely impressive and very tight ensemble.
This crowd-pleasing band can hang with the best of them. Highly
Recommended for any event.—Randy Porter, Director Berkeley
Music Circus 2000

This new CD features duets, solos, and full-on treatments by all six singers on standards such as “Li’l Darlin”, “Straight No Chaser”, “Black Orfeus” and “Lush Life”. When all the voices blend just right, the effect is stunning.” Michael Handler—www.jazzwest.com

BACKGROUND ON THE VOCAL JAZZ SEXTET: CON ALMA

CON ALMA was formed in 1998 by Richard Kalman as a small ensemble of singers in the Oakland Jazz Choir. Con Alma translates as “with soul” and is taken from the Dizzie Gillespie song of the same name, which the group performs. The group is now made up of three graduates of Richard Kalman’s vocal jazz classes—Cameron White, Avis Clark, and Erin Bloom. The only former Jazz Choir singer is Eugenie Hsu. (Click each name to see individual Player Bios)
Erin Bloom offers bold soprano leads and a sense of play.
Avis Clark and Eugenie Hsu add crystal clear soprano and alto tones to the vocal blend.
Cameron White provides sweet and solid alto harmonies.
Richard Kalman, tenor/baritone, writes most of the arrangements and is a highly charged scat singer.
CON ALMA works with top professional musicians active in the Bay Area Jazz Scene. CON ALMA has appeared at the following venues in the past two years:

Anna’s Bistro, Berkeley; The Baltic, Point Richmond; Live Broadcast KPFA FM; Berkeley Arts Festival, 2001; Berkeley Music Circus, 2000; Solano Stroll Albany; Slates Supper Club, Walnut Creek; The Gallery Café, S.F.; Lafayette Summer Jazz Festival; The Jazzschool, Berkeley; The Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Alameda, The Cannery, SF; Frankye Kelly Jazz Show, Cable TV—SF, Alameda. The Emerald Garden Vietnamese Restaurant, Alameda, and Kelly's of Alameda.

In 2001, CON ALMA made a live broadcast on KPFA, the BAJABA show hosted by Doug Edwards. This was recorded and released as LUSH LIFE MOMENTS.

CON ALMA MUSICIANS: Con Alma uses top professional jazz musicians at their performance events. We have played with the following musicians:
Keyboard: Fred Zimmerman, Leonard Thompson, Max Perkoff, Ellen Hoffman, Peter Eden, Bevan Manson, David Austin, Terrel Saunders-McGriff, and Ben Stolorow.
Bass: Fred Randolph, Graham Bruce, Lorenzo Farrell, Carla Kaufman, Peter Barshay, Dan Keller, Michael Fourie.
Drums: Fred Harris, Achyutan, Brian Fishler, Brian Sears, Orion Edmundson.
Saxophone: Ian Willson, Jeff Hobbs, and Barbara Hunter.
Trumpet: John Capobianco, and Graham Bruce.     Recordings