Tawanda | "Smile"

The 9th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, held in Newark, New Jersey on June 6, 2021, uncovered a 25-year-old singer of such grace, musicality, and emotional directness that it was hard to imagine how she had learned so much, so soon. Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, now known simply as Tawanda, could have rested on the natural beauty of her alto voice, with its trombone-like low notes, a middle register as clear and polished as glass, and a distinctively sweet-and-sour tone. She was rhythmically spot-on, with impeccable diction, but underneath it, all lay a wisdom unusual in one so young.

For her debut album Tawanda took on a broad, demanding repertoire, much of it suggested by Resonance owner-producer George Klabin.  Backed by a stellar band featuring pianists Josh Nelson & Tamir Handelman, bassist Kevin Axt, guitarist Anthony Wilson, saxophonist Gary Meek and others.  Features a fresh and adventurous mix of standards including ‘Smile”, “What A Little Moonlight Can Do”, “Out Of This World” and many others.

Tawanda is determined, she says, to keep developing, and to “sing these different styles of music and honor the song while putting my own spin on things. I’ve been practicing a lot and trying to get more comfortable with jazz theory and expression. I want to be right there with my voice and storytelling.” She’s well on her way.

Track Listing: 

1. Smile/I'm All Smiles
2. Out of this World
3. Bridges
4. Sister Moon
5. What a Little Moonlight Can Do
6. I'm Okay
7. A Child Is Born
8. Lucky to Be Me
9. Sack Full of Dreams
10. Bring Back My Dreamer
11. Smile (A Capella)