Available to book from POA. For an accurate quote please make an enquiry.
“Imagine a female jazz singer, imagine her voice as smooth as silk, and warm...Imagine the songs she sings and her compositions varied – classic jazz standards, modern jazz, bebop, alternative jazz ~
Imagine finely honed abilities, in rhythm, intonation and musicality, her vocal improvisation like a horn player.
Imagine the best musicians loving to work with her, and imagine her being responsible for the sharing of knowledge...”
Boston-bred, singer/composer/producer/educator Cathy Segal-Garcia loved jazz since the age of 5. Surrounded by a musical family, she was thrust into many different musical experiences, which led her to the renowned Berklee College of Music for flute and Arranging & Composition, from 1972-1975. Loving the older style jazz from her family, as a young college musician, she was now embracing her own choices...a mixture of cool jazz, modern jazz, latin and funk… …Miles Davis, Weather Report, Aretha Franklin, Modern Jazz Quartet, Chick Corea, Chaka Kahn, Bill Evans, Tower of Power, John Abercrombie, etc., developing a love of rhythm, melody and harmony.
Ms. Segal-Garcia has released 18 CDs under her own name, with various and legendary musicians, such as Bennie Maupin, Hubert Laws, pianist Ross Tompkins of the Johnny Carson Tonight Show band, renowned jazz guitarists Joe Diorio and also Ted Greene, drummer Peter Erskine, bassist Marc Johnson, and her CD “Bohemian” released in 2012 with one of Korea’s leading pianists, Yoonseung Cho. She has composed over 100 songs, which are recorded and performed by herself and other vocal artists. In the autumn of 2020 she released 3 singles/music videos: “Make Me Wanna Holler”, “Sermonette”, “Get Together/Can’t Find My Way Home”, and “And So It Goes” with guest artist Paul Jost, which can be found on Youtube.
From 2016 - 2018 she was the curator/Producer of a well-known Saturday night Jazz Series in downtown L.A. near Disney Hall "Saturday Night Jazz DTLA". PRESENTLY (2026) she is the co-creator of a club in the same location, now named "BIRDS OF A FEATHER JAZZ LOUNGE"...presenting high quality jazz in the best listening room in the city.
Cathy is the co-founder of several organizations dedicated to jazz and the art of singing, and Co-Founder of "FISH TO BIRDS", which is a 6 piece a cappella vocal improv group, which steadily sang and recorded together over 8 years.
Amongst many awards, she was the recipient of the award from the “California Lawyers for the Arts” for dedicated service to the community and civic pride, from the organization “Jazz Del Corazon” she was recognized as being a leader in the jazz community of Los Angeles, and was declared a Los Angeles “Jazz Legend”. She hosted an internationally known, 15 year weekly jazz jam session in Los Angeles. She has, for the last 20 years, created a workshop series every month, featuring herself and many other visiting artists, many of which she created gigs for.
She was a consultant and PR person for The Blue Whale, an internationally recognized jazz venue in downtown L.A., opened by her former student, Joon Lee. In 2013 she was hired as the Musical Programs Director for a company that provided training for young artists for a weekly TV show for CCTV, China’s biggest TV station.
Cathy is a consistent performer, as well as a respected vocal clinician & teacher…worldwide. Besides her extensive private teaching, she has been jazz vocal professor at CSULA, Occidental College, Musicians Institute, and the California College of Music in Pasadena. Always the world traveler, Cathy travels to Buenos Aires, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Korea, England to record and perform, and considers Japan almost her 2nd home, traveling there several times a year which started in 1980.
Currently she is hosting, since March 2020, an online 2 hour interview session with music professionals, "CATHY SEGAL-GARCIA'S NOONTIME HANG", mostly jazz, on Facebook Live and Youtube. She is quickly approaching her 700th guest! Archives found on her website.
“If you closed your eyes you might think she was a highly evolved horn player...”
Larry Koonse, musician & educator.
“A model of warm, exquisitely focused jazz vocalizing...sensuous voice and cool harmonies.”
Don Heckman…Los Angeles Times.
“When the Sirens, in the days of ancient Greece, enticed sailors with their song, at least one of them must have sounded like the clear, cool, perfectly pitched Segal-Garcia voice.” David Nathan ……. JAZZ NEWS.
“A subtle yet captivating retro-hippy chick feel that transcends the normal expectations of jazz vocals by blending popular tunes with tremendous jazz sensibilities and creating a very specific and dynamic artistic voice.
N.P.R jazz. The vibe of artistic integrity coupled with honest emotion for a captivating experience.”
Critical Jazz, on “Bohemian”
“Considering how prolific and inventive Cathy Segal-Garcia has been these past few years, there are not a whole lot more superlatives I can reach for when she puts out another classic inventive jazz-inflected gem that meets our collective moment. Yet the multi-faceted singer, songwriter and vocal interpreter’s latest single “Sermonette” – which follows on the sensual, soulful heels of her equally brilliant, socially conscious romp through Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” – calls not only for a flurry of wild adjectives, but some sort of divine channeling find an accurate way to share its potential impact on an open-minded human heart.” Jonathan Widren
= free travel (up to 50 miles)
I know about 1,000 songs, which include the Great American Songbook, Brazilian, Blues, Originals, older Pop and R&B. Too many to list here!
Sound equipment if you can provide. Otherwise, I will provide at an extra fee. Electricity available. Accessible parking for all band members. If outside under the sun, a set up cover of some sort. If there is a DJ in-between sets, jazz should be played.
Is there sound equipment? Loading spot is necessary. Parking is necessary. Is there an acoustic piano, in tune, if called for?
I do provide sound if necessary.
no.
On a very large stage in Hokaido, Japan, for 3,000 people. It was just a duo, myself singing and a great pianist who plays like Keith Jarrett!
When people can listen to the quality of the music, when possible.
I've been a pro since the age of 12. I've performed at all ages, and for many different venues and events. When i was in high school and college, I was also performing R&B and Pop as well as jazz. Jazz has been my steady genre for all my life.
I have too many favorites to name! Growing up, I listened to Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Aretha. Growing thru the 70's I was influenced by Woodstock artists and Motown artists tremendously. In college I stretched out to the recording label ECM artists. More space and more modern chords.
It totally depends on what size group you've hired. I do duo's, trio's, quartet's, all the way up to chamber orchestra size. We do typically load in 1-2 hours ahead of the gig. Performance time does not exceed 4 hours time, and usually is 1-3 hours.
yes, if protection against the elements is provided.
We're open, as long as we know the materials requested. It should be expected that we will play the songs in our own way. jazz is an open experience, and changes according to the musicians and the moment.
Joyous, peaceful, interesting, entertaining, a high quality experience.
Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge.
Brightside California Kitchen.
Too many to list! But....Every jazz venue practically, in the city of L.A.
New York.
Japan, since 1980, many venues.
Berlin.
Sweden.
France.
Italy.
Nationally.
Hotels, festivals, and jazz clubs.
Party
Private Event
Corporate Event
Hotel / Restaurant Event
Bar / Venue Event
Funeral / Memorial
Concert
Recording Session
Virtual Event
Charity Event
Jazz
Swing
Background Music
Originals
