Saxophonist, Flutist, Vocalist, Composer, Educator
Camille Thurman, multi-talented saxophonist, flutist, vocalist, composer and educator is a young musician emerging on the horizon, acquiring an impressive list of accomplishments that extend well beyond her years. Her lush, velvety, rich & warm sound on the tenor saxophone has eluded others to compare her sound to the likeness of tenor greats Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon to name a few. Camille’s ability to sing 4 octaves and perform vocalese, has given her the capability to influence audiences with melodies reminiscent to the sounds of Minnie Riperton, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Her gift of taking the sounds evocative of yesteryear’s legends and creatively pair them with the nuances, edge and freshness of today’s music, has not only expanded the possibilities of jazz in the upcoming generation but also gained her the respect of audiences in Israel, Peru, Switzerland and around the world.
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An accomplished performer and composer in her own right, Camille has performed with notable Jazz and R&B icons Dr. Billy Taylor, Chaka Khan, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Terri Lyne Carrington, Stephanie Mills, Russell Malone, Nicholas Payton, George Benson, Yolanda Adams, Bebe Winans, Charli Persip, Valery Ponomarev, Lew Tabackin, Alicia Keys, India Arie, Kenny Latimore, Dave Valentine , Anthony Hamilton, Eric Benet, Brandy, SWV, Ciara, Missy Elliot and many others. Camille leads her own quartet, which has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the International Women in Jazz Festival, the Super Jazz Ashdod Israel Festival, The Jazz Gallery and many other prominent jazz venues and festivals around the world.
With a perfect ear for music, Camille was born and raised in Saint Albans, New York to two educators. She grew up singing and listening to the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sarah Vaughan, Chaka Khan and many others in her house. Inspired by her Jr. High School music teacher, Camille began playing the flute at twelve and soon afterward switched to the tenor saxophone at fourteen. She received a full scholarship to CPSM preparatory music school to study saxophone and flute. At fifteen, she received a scholarship to attend Jazz In July at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst directed by the late Dr. Billy Taylor. She attended the prestigious Filorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing arts (also known as the FAME School) and studied under Bob Stewart. After graduating from Binghamton University with a degree in Geological & Environmental Sciences she returned to New York City and began working with legendary trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, the legendary drummer Charli Persip, world saxophone quartet Baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett, Gabriel Alegria & The Afro-Peruvian Sextet and many others.
Camille was a two-time award winning recipient of the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers award (2012 & 2013). Her compositions were featured and performed by her quartet in the 2013 ASCAP/ Kennedy Center "Songwriters: The Next Generation" showcase. She has appeared on BET's Black Girls Rock as the saxophonist in the All Star Band led by music director, Kim Burse (2012 & 2013).
Camille's debut album ORIGINS, featuring Luis Perdomo (piano), Rudy Royston (Drums), Corcoran Holt (Bass), Enoch Smith Jr. (Piano), Brandee Younger (Harp) and Shirazette Tinnin (Drums & Cajon), released on the Hot Tone Music label along with her second release Spirit Child.
For more about Camille Thurman visit: Camille Thurman
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