Sue Maskaleris

The world of jazz crowns many fine pianists. It also recognizes many exciting vocalists. There are even quite a few exemplary "double-threat" Singer/Pianists in the field. What sets Sue Maskaleris apart from them is that besides having that rare thing called an "original sound" --as both a pianist and singer, she is also a prolific, award-winning Composer and Lyricist, as well as a gifted Arranger and Producer (and occasional violinist and bassist). That's a lot of hats, and she wears them well. To top it off, she is passionate for Brazilian music, possessing a geniune feel for the style and language that have fooled many native listeners.

Sue was 2nd Choice Worldwide in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Composition Competition, 1998, for her song, "Scat! " (There was only one winner and one of the judges said it was as close as it gets.) That same year she won First Prize in the Billboard Song Contest, World Category, also worldwide, for her "No, But I Wish..." JAZZIZ magazine chose her instrumental, "Pajamasamba" as a winner in their "Keyboards On Fire!" Talent Search judged by Dave Brubeck and Bob James. 1999 began with Sue placing in the top 10 percent worldwide for two songs in the Unisong International Song Contest. And there are many other awards...

Sue grew up in Short Hills, NJ, the daughter of a former big band bassist who spun the lps of Kenton, Herman and Basie on the home hi-fi. At three, she begged for piano lessons. Seeing her dad play with a dixieland combo in her school as a small child inspired Sue to become a musician. The family frequented concerts of the Duke, Count, and Lionel Hampton, as well as such artists as violinist David Oistrakh. Sue took up the violin at age 8, having studied piano for 4 years. She wrote her own children's songbooks.

As a teen, she arranged for small choral groups and composed, also on guitar. At 16, she attended a jazz summer program at Berklee School of Music in Boston. The first thing she heard there was Chick Corea’s "Light As a Feather". This Brazilian jazz record set her on that path. Soon after she formed a jazz group with guitarist Ken Sebesky, studying arranging with his noted father, Don Sebesky (Tony award, 2000 for Kiss Me, Kate). Sue majored in composition at Manhattan School of Music with the great contemporary composer John Corigliano, Jr. (Academy Award, 2000, for Red Violin; Aids Symphony, Ghost of Versailles). She then began her career working in clubs and hotels in NYC and abroad, and on ships sailing all over the world.

Her original groups have performed at The JVC Festival (June, 1999), The Women’s Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center, The Kool Jazz Festival, The Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC; Hannah's East in Savannah, Ga.; Jaylin’s Jazz Club in Berne, Switzerland; London’s Royal Kensington Gardens & Montana. Cami Hall; NYC jazzclubs: Iridium, Birdland, Metropolis, La Place on the Park, New Music Café, Amazonas, Passport, Cabana Tropical, and Fat Tuesday’s.

As solo singer/pianist she has performed at Iridium, The Village Gate, Knickerbocker, Visiones, Birdland, Condon's, The Squire, Via Brazil and many more, as well as throughout Sweden. Sue’s performances encompass a broad repertoire of originals, standards, and unusual arrangements.