Marcya Daneille: A life lived in music
Listening to Marcya Daneille is like teleporting to the heyday of classic jazz. Her voice has that bright, clear, timeless quality that can't help but draw you in. Like legends Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn before her, she has an effortless ability to shape melodies like an artist sculpts clay--pulling, pushing, and bending each note to tell her story. And what a story it is! From growing up in South Chicago to studying internationally, singing all over the world, teaching in New York City, and even performing opera, she's built an impressive career as a highly versatile artist. All of us at TruTeam could not be more excited to feature Marcya and her trio at our UGM event this year. As part of our lead up to UGM, we interviewed Marcya to learn more about her and her musical journey.
TT: You grew up in South Chicago—how did that inform your journey in music?
MD: Chicago is a GREAT music town! From an early age I was exposed to the best of all genres; From Soul to Gospel, to R&B, Jazz...I also had family members who were involved in music or avid music lovers. It was only natural that I would at least be interested in music. I ultimately chose it as my career.
TT: What artists did you listen to most growing up? I listened to anything soulful and funky.
MD: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, the Isley Brothers. Jean Carne, Minne Riperton- the list goes on.
TT: How did studying in Italy and England influence your career and style?
MD: Living abroad broadens your perspective on life. Learning the sights, sounds, tastes and people from other cultures encourages you to be more introspective. You start to connect with yourself on a different level. The information gained from that process informs how you view yourself as an artist.
TT: When you taught in New York, what was the most frequent advice you’d give to your students?
MD: Strive to achieve a level of consistency within your performances. Consistency will help you create a lasting presence.
TT: What brought you to Wisconsin and what do you love about it?
MD : I was ready to return to the Midwest. It was nice to return to sights and sounds that were familiar. Milwaukee was relatively close to where I grew up and I have enjoyed that proximity. I moved there at a time when the city was undergoing an artistic/cultural shift of sorts. It's exciting to watch various artistic movements and spaces evolve over the years.
TT: What are the biggest differences between performing opera vs jazz? The structures are so different!
MD: Opera singers are expected to perform music as written, but within that structure execute a high level of technical proficiency and control as they interpret music written by others. Jazz singers are allowed to explore a different level of freedom of expression that indicates an understanding of the printed music, with the added bonus of improvisation.
TT: What draws you to a song—what makes you say “I have to sing this!”
MD: Sometimes it's the "groove"- If it makes me want to dance. Most of the time it's whether or not I feel an immediate connection to the lyrics and melody and how I feel I could make that song my own.
TT: Tell us about your all-time favorite gig. What made it so special?
MD: My favorite gig in Wisconsin thus far would have to be Jazz in the Park. A band that I fronted was the season opener a few years ago and the experience was incredible! There were thousands of attendees if I remember the reports correctly. It was exhilarating to see so many people gathered together with the shared goal of enjoying the music. It's one of Milwaukee's most iconic events.
TT: Do you have any new or upcoming projects you’d like to share?
MD: This year I am performing at the Fresh Coast Jazz Festival for an event called "The Pairing". It is a creative wine tasting event where the music and wine are curated to compliment each other for an elevated guest/festival experience. My band for that evening is an exciting new force on the Chicago jazz scene. As far as recording projects. I am in the planning stages of writing/recording music for a new project.
TT: And now for the lightning round! What's your….
Favorite opera: "Cosi fan Tutte" (Mozart)
Favorite jazz singer: Dianne Reeves
Favorite jazz musician: Freddie Hubbard
Favorite classical song: “Vissi D'Arte” (from Tosca by Puccini)
Favorite contemporary song: “Water” by Tyla
Top three artists on your Spotify currently: Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan
And last but not least, because our theme is old Hollywood, what’s your favorite classic film: Carmen Jones
Want to see Marcya and her trio live? RSVP for our event here. And don't worry if you have an Epic dinner--Marcya will be singing throughout the evening, so make TruTeam your after party!