Jazz Birds delight audiences as they swoop and swing with their high-flying harmonies and soaring syncopations. The heart of every performance includes a tribute to the Boswell Sisters, three New Orleans-born stars of 1930s radio and recording. Music lovers around the bay area have come to enjoy this charming quartet’s own hot and sweet style of original vocal arrangements of classic songs from the jazz era. Recent highlight concerts include the Kuumbwa Jazz Center Dinner and Jazz Series, 2006 & 2007; Monterey Jazz Bash By The Bay, 2006 & 2007; Monterey Bay Aquarium Patron's Appreciation Concert, 2005 & 2006; Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History Patron's Appreciation Dinner Ball, 2006 & 2007; Young at Heart Project Benefit Concerts, 2002-2006; Capitola Twilight Concert Series, 2006; Cabrillo College Distinguished Artists Series, 2004 and the Monterey Jazz Festival's, Third Annual "Jazz With Steinbeck" concert at the National Steinbeck Center Museum, 2007.

We are excited again this year to have been invited to perform at the Monterey Bay Aquarium "Jazz Sings" concert on June 7th. This concert is to benefit the education program of Kuumbwa Jazz Center and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. See our schedule page for details.

Jazz Birds are Gail Cruse on upright bass and vocals, Vicki Neville-Coffis on guitar and vocals and Cher Peterson on drums & vocals.Paul Tarantino fills out the Jazz Birds sound with solos on tenor and soprano saxophones and tenor and bass clarinets.

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"The curious thing about Jazz Birds is how its members are able to maintain such a superb harmonic blend while each playing her own instrument. It's a feat not to be missed." --Anita Martinez, Good Times

“Meticulous in their re-creation of early girl groups of the 20s and 30s like the Boswell Sisters, Jazz Birds offer musicianship that extends way beyond their irresistible swanky vocal harmonies. Clothed in period dresses, hats and with attitude to boot, Jazz Birds expertly cover standards like “Puttin’ on the Ritz” with a vocal finesse that, thankfully, has not been lost with the times.”
- Janet Blaser, Santa Cruz Metro

“The groups vocal harmony is certainly impressive. On the charm meter, these ladies know how to bedazzle as well. Some find the entourage downright irresistible.”
- Greg Archer, Good Times

“My favorite swinging jazz vocal group…”
- Richie Begin, Good Times