Toni Gates

Kansas City, MO Jazz / Neo-Soul / Singer Songwriter

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- Songs

- I'm Old Fashioned
- Another Walkin' Blues by Toni Gates
- Over and Over by Toni Gates
- Good Things by Toni Gates
- Nature Boy
- Look by Toni Gates
- Speak Low
- Falling in Love with Love
- Sway
- Some Other Place by Toni Gates
- Waiting by Toni Gates
- The Dance by Toni Gates
- Raise the Shade by Toni Gates
- Boy From Ipanema
- Filler by Toni Gates
- Accentchuate the Positive
- The Shadow of Your Smile
- Lush Life
- Ordinary Morning Toni Gates Oct...

Status

Will Matthews has a show coming up on 07/04/2009 at 07:00 PM @ The Blue Room in Kansas City, MO http://www.reverbnation.com/c./poni/4583443

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Artist Info

Members: Toni Gates, vox/comp with various artists

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Labels: ToniGates.com, Artists Recording Collective, Artists Recording Collective

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Bio

Toni Gates, professional singer/songwriter is producing her fifth One by One concert on Saturday, October 24, 2009, at Unity Temple on the Plaza, Kansas City, MO. She will be joined by outstanding local musicians: Sam Beckett (piano); Tom Ransom (guitar); Clarence Smith(drums/percussion); Steve Rigazzi (bass); and Teri Wilder (vocals). Music of the evening will feature jazz, blues, inspirational, pop and original compositions. Gifted composer, educator and saxophonist, Christopher Burnett, will make a special appearance. Blues and jazz singer/guitarist, Rick Bacus will warm things up from 7:00 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. and the TGE will begin at 7:30 p.m.

About

TONI GATES - vocalist, composer and producer

"If it's good it doesn't need a label.” - Toni Gates

This sums up the attitude and music of Kansas City native, Toni Gates. Toni began her singing career in the comforts of her own home. Her mom says she started singing along with popular TV jingles as a toddler. The neighbors might remember what would have been otherwise quiet summer evenings if it weren't for Toni swinging in the backyard unabashedly wailing “Like a Rhinestone Cowboy.”

No one expected that small voice to become what it is today. Toni recalls being fortunate to have a lot of different styles of music to listen to when she was little, “What my folks didn't have in their classic Jazz, Country, Soul & Blues collection, my teenage sister made up for in her armory of Pop.”

The list of influential artists includes Nancy Wilson, Billy Joel, Elton John, Ricki Lee Jones, Jonatha Brooke, STING and Stevie Wonder. “I was a sponge. I listened constantly and it wasn't uncommon for me to rehearse three or four hours a day.” Early on her goal was to be a versatile singer.

Having far surpassed that initial goal, Toni has developed an all-encompassing voice that contains great power, range, agility and gracefulness. Toni's professional experiences include being a church soloist, recording radio commercials, touring as lead vocalist with a big band, singing in cabaret shows, fronting jazz combos and directing and uniting with others in traditional choral and vocal jazz ensembles. Ms. Gates added songwriting to her repertoire and produced her first CD of nine originals, Outside the Lines, in 2003. “Each song reminds me of some place I've been or of someone I've known.” The listener will find nice surprises in “Over and Over,” which focuses on the battles a loved one with drug addiction tackles; “Look,” written for her husband, light-heartedly covers new love and how it keeps us slightly off kilter and “Good Things,” speaks to everyone who struggles with depression and reminds us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
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"ONE BY ONE" CONCERT SERIES
Unity Temple on the Plaza ~ 707 W. 47th Street, KCMO 64112

From there Toni started producing and showcasing herself and area talent in her annual “One by One” concert series in 2004. Previously featured artists include Teri Wilder, Monique Danielle and Fredrickson Hill. In February 2008 Toni co-produced and released her second CD, I'm Old Fashioned. The project features fresh takes on classic jazz standards like: Billy Strayhorn's classic, “Lush Life”; "The Boy from Ipanema" ("Garota de Ipanema") with music by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Portuguese lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes with English lyrics written later by Norman Gimbel; and the title track.

As an educator, she has worked with theory and vocal music students at PaseoAcademy for the Performing Arts, the 18th & Vine History and Performing Arts Summer Academy, Missouri State University, The University of Kansas, the Music Arts Institute and PennValleyCommunity College.

Toni has had the great fortune to hone her musical skills and talents in Kansas City and during visits to Florida, Chicago, the Caribbean and London. Meeting individuals such as Nancy Wilson, Clark Terry, Tom Ransom, Chris Burnett, Teri Wilder and Clarence Smith have encouraged her to continue listening and growing to become an even more versatile musician.

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