Vocalist Karen Johnstone's Jazz & World Beat Quintet Hits Hard 7pm Wed Feb 5 In Bethel
Karen Johnstone - Vocalist
Karen Johnstone has been performing as a vocalist in Connecticut, NYC and throughout New England for more than 25 years. As a trilingual interpreter, her multi-language repertoire covers several genres of music, including but not limited to jazz, reggae, sambas, bossa novas and blues..
During her career Karen “Strawberry Brown”, has performed at festivals and wineries in New England as well as popular regional venues, notably at the Ive’s Center for the Arts, Tuxedo Junction and New York City’s The Bitter End. For more than a decade, Karen was a backup vocalist and keyboard player for the celebrated Mystic Bowie. She has also self produced an album called “The Same Day” by Strawberry Brown which she created with the compositional guidance of the renowned musician Renard Boissierre and produced with master pianist Matthew DeTroy. As a band leader, Karen performed at the memorable Pizzeria Lauretano, and at innumerable local establishments with her world beat ensemble. As a regular performer with the late great Anthony Testanero and his Sonny Carrol Orchestra, Karen enjoyed learning and performing the Jazz standards of bygone eras. She also attributes her knowledge of many great jazz standards to her weekly residency at Fat Cat’s Pizzaria where she had the good fortune of singing with Keyboard player Matthew DeTroy, and Bassist Rich Zurkowski, Drummer Hans Broeking and Saxophonist Dave Savitsky.
Karen is looking forward to performing at La Zingara on February 5, 2025, with her new band featuring accomplished musicians, Roger Post on Drums, Preston Murphy on Bass, Keyboardist Matt DeTroy and Sax Man Dave Savitski.
Dave Savitsky - Sax has been performing and instructing for 25 years. He studied with Jackie McLean at the University of Hartford and Andy McGee at Berklee College of Music. With various groups, Dave has opened for Johnny Winter, Tower of Power, Chicago, Train, Chris Robinson, Willie Nile, NRBQ, Soulive, and Robert Walter and has performed with Bernie Wallace, Jay Anderson, Mike Clink, Joel Rosenblatt, Adam Nussbaum, Ira Coleman, Melvin Sparks, and many other CT and NY musicians and recording projects, most recently with Kevin Quinn’s Protocol and producer Eric Kupper. Dave has been with the SUNY New Paltz Jazz Faculty for 15 years and lives in Bethel, CT.
Preston Murphy - Bass ( Ed Soph, Frank Tiberi, Winard Harper,Michael Stark, Steve Davis, Harold Maybern, Richie Cole ) Upright bassist Preston Murphy studied jazz bass performance at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music from 1998-2002. He has been playing professionally for over 20 years and has played with such world class musicians such as guitar great Tony Purrone for the past 15 years, Ed Soph, Winard Harper, Steve Davis, Bruce Williams, Garland Cleaver, Frank Tiberi and many others over the years. He also played on a recording which received 4.5 stars in downbeat magazine under the leadership of Matt Criscuolo called "Headin Out." He has played in many different ensemble settings and many different musical genres over the years.
Roger Post - Drummer Roger is a highly sought-after drummer/percussionist whose 52 years of experience have encompassed an incredible variety of styles and music. Big bands: New Haven Jazz Orchestra, Harold Zinno Big Band, Hartford Jazz Orchestra, Berkshire Big Band, Sonny Carroll Orchestra, Fairfield Counts, Rob Zappulla Orchestra, Bensen/Scott Big Band. Jazz Concerts with Bill Watrous, Marvin Stamm, Marshall McDonald, Houston Person, Bill Crow Broadway: 42nd St. (original), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (revival w/original cast), Cats, Saturday Night Fever, Falsettos, and Godspell revival.