Cécile Savage
Welcome to the musical voyage that started in Paris and meanders through Europe, Africa and North America. Cécile plays who she is: a blend of French Cabaret and American Jazz. Born in Martinique, raised in Paris, she studied piano for many years. She moved to New York City where she joined the Living Theater for a while and then decided to devote her life entirely to music. She studied guitar with Ted Dunbar through the Jazzmobile program.
It is then that she started to play electric bass with blues harmonicist Sugar Blue, with whom she also toured with Memphis Slim, Louisiana Red and Willie Mabon. She decided to move to Chicago where she performed with Blues and Jazz musicians such as Jimmy Dawkins, Von Freeman, Fred Anderson, Franz Jackson, Floyd McDaniel, George Freeman, Oscar Brown Jr., Redd Holt and many more.
She performed at the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival : Tribute to Malachi Favors. She also co-led « Komango » with pianist Calvin « Koco » Brunson, adding her mellow voice and her own compositions to a culturally diverse repertoire steeped in the African American, French and Brazilian traditions.
Cécile is focusing on Jazz vocal performance, and also performs with a 5 string Alter Ego electric upright bass, made in Rome, Italy. She combines all musical elements in a style which is truly her own.
Her music reflects her many influences: French lyricism, bluesy melodies and passion, and her own jazz compositions with Brazilian overtones. She resided in New Orleans for over 6 years and recently moved back to Chicago.
She holds a Bachelors degree in Jazz studies from Roosevelt University in Chicago, a Masters in Education from DePaul University and a Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music.
Photo by Charles Nolis Anderson
LISTEN
With Jeremy Kahn on Piano
With Calvin Brunson on Piano, Curtis Prince on Drums, and Fred Jackson on Saxophone.
EVENTS
September 23rd 2023, Hyde Park Jazz Festival at the University of Chicago International House with Maggie and Africa Brown. Time TBA
August 24, 2023 Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave, IL 60091 7PM Featured with Chicago Cabaret Singers
August 19, 2023, 51st Street Jazz Festival with Maggie and Africa Brown .Time TBA
August 19, 2023, 51st Street Jazz Festival with Maggie and Africa Brown .Time TBA
June 28, 2023 Alliance Française de Chicago 810 N. Dearborn. International Jazz in English, French and Portuguese accompanied by Leandro Lopez-Varady on piano. 6:30 to 7:30 PM
April 23, 2023. Composers Forum at the Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway 4PM.
Cécile Savage, vocals, Dennis Luxion, piano, Joshua Ramos, bass, Fred Jackson, saxophone and Paul Cotton, drums and percussions
DECEMBER 5, 2022 Davenport 1383 N. Milwaukee Chicago Cabaret Professionals Benefit for UNICEF
JUNE 18th, 2022 – 7PM Vocalist for Renée Baker’s NO SAFETY IN SILENCE
Ragdale 1260 North Green Bay Rd, Lake Forest 847-234-1063
August 27th, Bronzeveille Jazz Festival, King Drive and 51st street
DECEMBER 31, 2021 – Le Piano 6970 N. Glenwood, Chicago, IL.
7 PM with Theodis Rodgers on Piano
NOVEMBER 15, 2021 – Le Piano 6970 N. Glenwood, Chicago, IL.
7 PM with Miguel De La Cerna on Piano
NOVEMBER 15, 2021 – Le Piano 6970 N. Glenwood, Chicago, IL.
7 PM with Miguel De La Cerna on Piano
OCTOBER 8, 2021 – Noteworthy Jazz Big Band, South Side Music Alliance, South Holland, IL 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
JULY 13, 2021 – Starlight Lounge 817 St. Louis st, New Orleans, LA.
8 PM – 10 PM.
EVENTS
DECEMBER 5, 2022 Davenport 1383 N. Milwaukee Chicago Cabaret Professionals Benefit for UNICEF
DECEMBER 5, 2022 Davenport 1383 N. Milwaukee Chicago Cabaret Professionals Benefit for UNICEF
DECEMBER 5, 2022 Davenport 1383 N. Milwaukee Chicago Cabaret Professionals Benefit for UNICEF
DECEMBER 4, 2022, Jazz Showcase, event for the Chicago Jazz Institute, 1PM 809 S. Plymouth with the Noteworthy Big Band
JUNE 18th, 2022 – 7PM Vocalist for Renée Baker’s NO SAFETY IN SILENCE
Ragdale 1260 North Green Bay Rd, Lake Forest 847-234-1063
August 27th, Bronzeville Jazz Festival, King Drive and 51st street
DECEMBER 31, 2021 – Le Piano 6970 N. Glenwood, Chicago, IL.
7 PM with Theodis Rodgers on Piano
NOVEMBER 15, 2021 – Le Piano 6970 N. Glenwood, Chicago, IL.
7 PM with Miguel De La Cerna on Piano
OCTOBER 8, 2021 – Noteworthy Jazz Big Band, South Side Music Alliance, South Holland, IL 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
JULY 13, 2021 – Starlight Lounge 817 St. Louis st, New Orleans, LA.
8 PM – 10 PM.
PRESS KIT
IMAGES
BIO
Cécile Savage
Cécile is a Jazz vocal performer and also performs with a 5 string electric upright bass and an electric fretless bass guitar. She combines all musical elements in a style which is truly her own.
Her music reflects her many influences: French lyricism, bluesy melodies and passion, and her own jazz compositions with Brazilian overtones. She resided in New Orleans for over 6 years and recently moved back to Chicago.
Cécile Savage
Welcome to the musical voyage that started in Paris and meanders through Europe, Africa and North America. Cécile plays who she is: a blend of French Cabaret and American Jazz. Born in Martinique, raised in Paris, she studied piano for many years. She moved to New York City where she joined the Living Theater for a while and then decided to devote her life entirely to music. She studied guitar with Ted Dunbar through the Jazzmobile program.
It is then that she started to play electric bass with blues harmonicist Sugar Blue, with whom she also toured with Memphis Slim, Louisiana Red and Willie Mabon. She decided to move to Chicago where she performed with Blues and Jazz musicians such as Jimmy Dawkins, Von Freeman, Fred Anderson, Franz Jackson, Floyd McDaniel, George Freeman, Oscar Brown Jr., Redd Holt and many more.
She performed at the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival : Tribute to Malachi Favors. She also co-led « Komango » with pianist Calvin « Koco » Brunson, adding her mellow voice and her own compositions to a culturally diverse repertoire steeped in the African American, French and Brazilian traditions.
Cécile is focusing on Jazz vocal performance, and also performs with a 5 string Alter Ego electric upright bass, made in Rome, Italy. She also just acquired a beautiful electric fretless bass guitar made by bassist Albey Balgochian. She combines all musical elements in a style which is truly her own.
Her music reflects her many influences: French lyricism, bluesy melodies and passion, and her own jazz compositions with Brazilian overtones. She resided in New Orleans for over 6 years and recently moved back to Chicago.
She holds a Bachelors degree in Jazz studies from Roosevelt University in Chicago, a Masters in Education from DePaul University and a Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music.