Rebecca Parris was born in Newton, Massachusetts on December 28, 1951.
She was born of a family of musicians and educators. Rebecca performed
from the age of 6, mostly in musical theatre. Her parents encouraged
her to pursue the study of music. She studied with world-famous vocal
coach, Blair MacClosky (her uncle) and attended the Boston Conservatory.
Rebecca started her professional career in music working with various
top 40's bands in the Northeast. She found that she preferred singing
jazz and embarked upon a career in the jazz world. Rebecca has performed
all over the world with her own groups, as well as with some of jazz's
greatest legends, including Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman,
Terry Gibbs, David "Fathead" Newman, Norman Simmons. Harold
Jones, Andy Simpkins, Gerry Wiggins, Bill Cunliffe, Red Mitchell, Buster
Cooper, Nat Pierce, and many others.
Rebecca's other passion is teaching, both in a private, one-on-one and
workshop/clinic setting. Her lessons and workshops focus on technique,
performance and the "business" side of music, as well as lyric
delivery and scat/improvisation.
Rebecca's latest release is "You Don't Know Me" on the Saying It With Jazz label. Rebecca performs some well-chosen standards with her long-time trio: Brad Harfield, piano; Peter Kontrimas, bass; and Matt Gordy, drums, plus guest artists Jerry Bergonzi and Houston Person on tenor saxophone and Gary Burton on vibes.
Rebecca's previous releases include her all-ballads CD, "My Foolish
Heart," "The Secret of Christmas," "A Beautiful Friendship," with the Kenny Hadley
Big Band, "Double Rainbow" with Eddie Higgins and Michael
Monaghan, "A Passionate Fling," "Love Comes and Goes,"
and "Live at Chan's."
Rebecca continues to travel and bring her music to the world.