Jazz Fans Prefer Haynes

To answer Leonard Feather’s questions, “Where have all the great jazz singers gone?” and “Where are the new jazz singers coming from?” (“We Need a Unique Stylist, Not a Clone,” Dec. 25), the finest female jazz singer I know of is alive and well and right here in Southern California. Her name is Stephanie Haynes.

Although influenced by some great predecessors, she has a unique and sophisticated style that is distinctly her own--no tricks, gimmicks or smoke and mirrors but a beautiful, richly textured voice that has matured into a finely crafted instrument.

The audience is held spellbound as soon as the first notes are sung. But she doesn’t just sing a lyric--she gets inside of it and lives it.

She sings in Los Angeles and Orange counties, often accompanied by Dave Mackay, at such places as Loews Santa Monica, Lunaria, Jazz Bakery and others.

BARBARA SCHILL

Culver City

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