Jazz vocalist Gwen Hughes swings Atlanta's music scene.

NEWS:

Gwen has been featured in the publishing world: she appears in Phillip DePoy's Flap Tucker mystery series, in the fourth book titled, "Dancing Made Easy;" additionally, she's featured in the non-fiction study of modern swing, "This Joint is Jumpin'" (both avail at Amazon.com).

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Creative Loafing Reader's pick for Best Jazz/Swing Artist (3 times now...thanks!)

Imagine sitting in a club or cafe, at a remote table, waiting for the new band to make an appearance. The air is heavy with smoke, the brightest light is directed at center stage. Cigarette girls sashay by, martinis glint in the stage light. But you haven't stepped back in time. This is now.

Gwen Hughes Live!

"Originally, " says Gwen, "I was caught between two genres of music. I had been singing in pop bands for a few years, but was restless inside this particular form of music. I wanted to stretch little more than the usual pop fare allows...though, in my opinion, the Beatles still rule the universe musically and always will...but jazz gradually began to feel more like home." Following her introduction to and collaboration with Bill Wilson (a talent as great as his father, Teddy), Gwen was introduced to many of Atlanta's prominent jazz musicians (see the list below).

Her collaboration with them, plus her early experience in theatre and rock n' roll, led to a sound that's caught somewhere between jazz and pop and big band.

"I suppose you'd call me a song stylist," she says. "Nancy Wilson. Peggy Lee. I have a long list of heroines. And then there's Sinatra, who made it possible for all of us to break the rules. It's all about adventure, not being hemmed in by ‘categories' of music. Think outside the box."

Gwen released Torch Life in the late 90s— and it was given a "special merit" nod by the Grammys that same year, for "best jazz female recording" and "best jazz performance." It's romantic nostalgia that is also startingly contemporary.

Additionally, her band is now one of the premier swing bands in Atlanta, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution declares: "Gwen Hughes was swinging before swinging got cool." "We are the real thing, jack, true jazz musicians that aren't posing as swing cats, " Gwen states, "that's why the band is called, "The Retro Jazz Kats," a legit combination of true jazz and dance."

If you need swing...jazz..R&B...rock n' roll...Gwen has a band to fit almost any occasion. From a solo performer playing background piano...to a ten-piece swing or pop band...you've landed on the right page.

(Original Artwork of Gwen & The Retro Jazz Katz done by Gina Palermo, 4/30/05. Part of a larger canvas done as a wedding gift. For more info on Gina Palermo and her event paintings, contact ginapal@mac.com). )

Our clients have included Coca-Cola...The Southern Company...The Georgia Chamber of Commerce...The Jack Morton Company...The John Harland Company...Six Flags Over Georgia...The Georgia Dept. of Economic Development...and hundreds of others. Oh yeah, and don't forget about all those BRIDAL REFERENCES, too! We do weddings, yes we do!

Players in The Retro Jazz Kats include Bill Wilson, Arthur Turner on piano; Jason Covey and Joe Gransden on trumpet; Eric Alexander and Adam Mewherter on trombone; Mace Hibbard or Charles Marshall on the saxophone; Steve Cunningham on guitar; Neal Starkey or Ramon Pooser on bass; and our faithful backbeat is Forrest Robinson or Mike Hinton on the drums. The combined experience of these guys ranges from clubs in New York to Miami...orchestras in Georgia and Washington, DC...original music for the Olympic Games...back-up work for almost every R&B act that comes to town...see them at Chastain Park, Symphony Hall, Lakewood Amphitheatre and all over the world!

...but most of all, performing as THE RETRO JAZZ KATS at Smith's Olde Bar, The Inman Park & Dogwood Festivals, The Montreaux Jazz Festival, The Star Bar, The Red Room (New Orleans), The Continental (New York City), Sunset Serenade (Seaside, Florida), Downtime (New York City) and hundreds of corporate and social events around the country and around the world (next time you're in Slovenia, look for us there, too!)