Candace Freeman

About

Candace is a unique and dynamic vocalist from Bakersfield whose style is influenced by the music listened to growing up which included jazz, classic soul, classic rock, funk and even classical music. Growing up she loved the music of Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Steely Dan, and various fusion jazz artists such as David Sanborn, Bob James, Weather Report and the Yellowjackets as well as Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie and more. A self described audiophile, growing up she was always found by the stereo spinning records or listening to the radio! Her father played classical music in the home during her early childhood. Inspired by the jazz artists she listened to as a child, she started out playing the alto saxophone at the age of 10 and played through high school. While in college she caught the singing bug and thus began her journey into singing.

In the 90’s most of her performance experience consisted of singing in a small vocal jazz group as well as the other university choirs. She was a featured soloist in many of the group tunes and did several solo sets at the jazz coffeehouses. She completed her degree in psychology in 1994, but continued her studies in music taking most of the core courses including all of the theory available due to her passion for learning more about the craft of music and improving her skills and knowledge base. She also had 3 years of classical voice training during this time.

Candace moved to San Francisco and while there sang with the Oakland Jazz Choir. She performed at Yoshi’s as well as Pete Escobedo’s Mr. E’s. She also performed at several other Bay Area jazz spots in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Sonoma county as a solo artist during her 4 year stay in San Francisco. Also while in San Francisco she studied voice with Molly Holm, co-leader of Bobby McFerrin’s “Voicestra”. She has also participated in clinics with artists such as Chick Corea, Sunny Wilkinson, Kevin Letteau, Michele Weir and Regina Carter. She worked with John Handy while he was artist in residence at San Francisco State and was well received by neo soul singer, Ledisi in a workshop at Jazz Camp West in Berkeley.

Candace has performed with many local jazz and soul artists such as, Jim Scully, Jay Smith, Ezekiel Victor, Paul Cierley, Gerry Huggins, Robin Bramlett, Doug Davis and Glen Fong, to name a select few. Candace attends the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop fairly regularly. Since being a regular participant in the weekly jam session she has been a featured artist several times with resoundingly positive reception. She is currently working closely with LA based musician and producer, Terry Cano and guitarist, studio musician, composer, producer....Paul Saenz. She is currently featured as a participant of “The Best of Kern” from a grant from the Arts Council of Kern.

Candace has a vast repertoire of music comprising of standards, blues and straight ahead tunes by Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver and others that are not typically sung by your average jazz vocalist. Her current favorite jazz artists are jazz vocalist Nneena Freelon, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard just to name a few. She also sings Soul songs both new and classic and has her own jazzy arrangements of contemporary pop tunes and some classic rock.

Quotes: “Candace invited us to one of her appearances at Le Corusse Rouge and after experiencing what I can only refer to as an 'Eargasm' I am hooked. We are first in line when her first CD is released!!!” David D.

“Candace's voice incorporates the pristine clarity of musical perfection, injects heart,spirit and soul, and finishes it off with lyrical nuance that adds to the meaning of songs we are already familiar with...in a word-delightful!!!” Jill G- \W.

Candace resides with her husband and two children in Bakersfield, California.

Personnel

Candace Freeman: Leader

Influences

Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nneena Freelon, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 60 - 180 minutes

You will experience a dynamic and eclectic mix of straight ahead jazz, jazz standards and jazzy takes on soul, pop and classic rock tunes! The ballads will move you, the upbeat tunes will make you want to dance and the tunes that bring you back to a special time and place will make you want to sing along!

Tunes perfomed with her NuJazz trio is pure soul. All neo soul, old school and some disco. You are guaranteed to dance in your seat and most likely on the floor!

Set/Song/Sequence List:
NuJazz trio material

My Life (Mary J. Blige)
Certainly
Apple Tree
Orange Moon
Golden
A Long Walk
That's the Way of the World
The Way
Strength Courage and Wisdom
Wonderful
Funkin for Jamaica
Free
Got to Be Real
Tell Me Something Good
Aint Nobody
Through the Fire

Jazz material

Name Key Style
Afro Blue Fminor Latin
All Blues Gmaj Swing
All the Things You are F Maj Swing
Angel Eyes Cminor Ballad
Another Star F#minor Latin
All Blues Cmaj Swing
All of Me
April In Paris Cmaj Swing
Autumn Leaves
Armageddon Cmaj Swing
Black Coffee
Body and Soul Bb maj Ballad
Birdland Gmaj Med even 8ths
Boplicity Ebmaj Swing
Bye Bye Blackbird
Caravan Cmin Latin
Chega De Saudade Dmin Latin
Chain of Fools Rock
Close Your Eyes Swing or Latin
Come Rain or Come Shine
Come Sunday Bb Ballad
Cry Me a River EbMaj Ballad
Desafinado FMaj Latin
Detour Ahead C Maj Ballad
Don’t Explain FMaj Ballad
Do Nothin’ Till you Hear from Me Gmaj Swing
Doodlin’ DbMaj Swing
Easy Living FMaj Ballad
Easy to Love CMaj Ballad
500 Miles High CMaj Latin
Fever Amin Swing
Fine and Mellow Fmaj Swing
A Foggy Day
The Frim Fram Sauce
Footprints Cmin Swing
Good Morning Heartache F Maj Ballad
Gee Baby I’d I Good to You Eb Maj Swing
Georgia On My Mind F Maj Ballad
Girl from Ipanema F Maj Latin
Good Morning Heartache
Goodbye Porkpie Hat EbMaj Ballad
Have You met Miss Jones? Fmaj Swing
Honeysuckle Rose E maj Swing
How Insensitive bossa
How High The Moon G Maj Swing
Infant Eyes EbMaj Ballad
I Can’t Help It AbMaj Pop Ballad
I Get a Kick Out of You
I'm Beginning to See the Light
If I Aint Got You F Maj Pop Ballad
It Don’t Mean A Thing Gb Maj Swing
It Might as Well be Spring
Invitation C Min Latin
Josie E Minor Rock
Lonely Woman Eb Minor Ballad
Love is Here to Stay
Love for Sale Bb Major Latin/Swing or Ballad
Lover Man D min Ballad
Lullaby of Birdland F Maj Swing
Lush Life Db Maj Ballad
Makin’ Whoopee F Maj Swing
Midnight Sun C Maj Ballad
Misty C Maj Ballad
Mood Indigo
Moondance A min Rock
Moon Over Bourbon St C min Swing
My Funny Valentine C Maj Ballad
Nica’s Dream Bb Min Latin
Night and Day Eb Maj Swing
A Night in Tunisia D minor Latin/Swing
Oh Lady Be Good
One Note Samba
Over the Rainbow C Ballad
Poker Face
Popsicle Toes F Maj Swing
On Green Dolphin St F Maj Swing
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
Red Clay Bb Maj Rock
Round Midnight C minor Ballad/Swing
Route 66
Satin Doll
Softly As in a Morning Sunrise Cminor Swing
Solitude
Someone to Watch Over Me
Speak Low
Stars Fell on Alabama
Stolen Moments
Sugar
Take the A Train
Teach Me Tonight
Wave
What's New
The Way You Look Tonight
You Don't Know What Love Is
You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To

Performance Schedule

Past Booked Dates:

05-21-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 6-8:30pm
05-17-2013 — One the Rocks: The Blue Deacons Steely Dan Tribute Band On the Rocks 9pm
05-05-2013 — Center For Spirtual Living, Inspirational Music 10:30am
04-30-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
04-26-2013 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
04-13-2013 — Candace and Steve @Que Pasa at the Marketplace 9pm-12am
04-12-2013 — One the Rocks: The Blue Deacons Steely Dan Tribute Band On the Rocks 9pm
04-06-2013 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
03-29-2013 — The Blue Deacons: Steely Dan Tribute Band B Ryders 9pm-1am
03-22-2013 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
03-14-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
02-28-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
02-20-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 5:30-7:30pm
02-05-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
02-02-2013 — Que Pasa at the Marketplace 9pm-12am
02-01-2013 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
01-17-2013 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
01-16-2013 — Candace Freeman Trio Padre Hotel 7pm-9pm
01-11-2013 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
12-28-2012 — B Ryders with Mind Body and Soul 9:30pm
12-22-2012 — Que Pasa at the Marketplace 9pm
12-21-2012 — Private Party with Mind Body and Soul, Los Angeles 9pm
12-19-2012 — Candace Freeman Trio Padre Hotel 7pm
12-14-2012 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
12-13-2012 — Jacalito Grill Hageman and Verdugo 6-8pm
12-08-2012 — Private Party 7-7:30pm
12-06-2012 — Mind Body and Soul Band, On the Rocks 10pm
12-06-2012 — Jacalito Grill Hageman and Verdugo 6-8pm
12-06-2012 — St. Francis Church-Funeral 10:30-11:00am
12-04-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 6-8:30
11-29-2012 — Jacalito Grill on Hageman and Verdugo 6-8pm
11-25-2012 — Center For Spirtual Living, Inspirational Music 10:30am
11-17-2012 — Steely Dan Tribute Band Sandrinis 9:30pm
11-09-2012 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
11-08-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield 6-8:30pm
10-20-2012 — Private gig 7-10pm
10-19-2012 — Wine Me Up 7-10pm
10-11-2012 — Imbibe Wine spirit and Merchants
09-28-2012 — Wine Me Up
09-22-2012 — ‎2012 Jizo Peace Day Pioneer Way Pine Mt. Club, CA 3pm
09-13-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 6-8:30pm
09-05-2012 — Le Corruse Rouge 7:30
08-24-2012 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
08-16-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
08-03-2012 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
07-31-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue 6-8:30pm
07-27-2012 — Wine Me Up
06-26-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue 6-830pm
06-20-2012 — Le Corruse Rouge 4647 White Lane 7:30-8:30pm
06-08-2012 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
06-07-2012 — B Ryders-Mind Body and Soul
05-19-2012 — Que Pasa at the Marketplace 9pm
05-17-2012 — B-Ryders with With Rhythmm Epkins' Mind Body and Soul
05-15-2012 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 6-8:30pm
05-13-2012 — With Rhythmm Epkins' Mind Body and Soul 8020 District Boulevard Bakersfield, CA 93313lT-Bones Steak House 4-7pm
05-09-2012 — Padre Hotel 7-9pm
04-28-2012 — Wine Me Up 3900 Coffee Rd # 2 Bakersfield, CA 93308 7-10
04-22-2012 — Center for Spiritual Living 10:30am
04-07-2012 — Double Tree Hotel-Friends of Autism Dinner
04-06-2012 — Skybar Lounge 7-9pm
04-03-2012 — Imbibe Wine Spirits and Merchant 6-8:30pm
03-15-2012 — B Ryders with Mind Body and Soul
03-13-2012 — Imbibe Wine Spirits Merchant 5:30-8:30pm
03-07-2012 — Le Corruse Rouge 7:30pm-8:30pm 4647 White Lane
02-14-2012 — Imbibe Wine Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Ave 6-8:30pm
02-04-2012 — King Tut 10606 Hageman Rd Bakersfield, Jazz 6:30pm-9pm
01-21-2012 — The Nile Theatre 11:05am Battle of the Bands
01-19-2012 — B Ryders with Rhythmm Epkins Mind Body and Soul
01-17-2012 — Imbibe 6-8:30
01-12-2012 — B Ryders with Rhythmm Epkins Mind Body and Soul
01-11-2012 — Padre Hotel 6:30-9:30pm
12-28-2011 — Padre Hotel 6:30-9:30
12-03-2011 — Imbibe Wine Spirit and Merchants 7-9:30pm
12-01-2011 — Senor Pepes, with Lost Vinyl 7pm
11-27-2011 — Private Event-Wedding 3-6pm
11-19-2011 — Imbibe Wine Spirits and Merchants 7-9:30pm
10-01-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 7:00pm
09-22-2011 — Rhythmm Epkins and his Mind Body and Soul Band, Sandrini's 10pm
09-17-2011 — Eagles Lodge, 8pm with Paul Saenz
09-10-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
08-13-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 7-9:30pm
08-09-2011 — Jazz and Martinis The Padre Hotel 1702 18th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 7:30-9:30
08-03-2011 — Le Corruse Rouge 7:30pm 4647 White Lane Bakersfield CA
07-23-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 7-9:30pm
06-14-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
06-12-2011 — Padre Hotel Candace Freeman and her NuJazz trio 6-9pm
06-04-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 7-9:30pm
05-20-2011 — Padre Hotel with J2 and the Bizness 7-10:30
05-15-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 7:00pm
05-01-2011 — Padre Hotel Candace Freeman and her NuJazz trio 6-9pm
04-23-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 7-9:30
03-29-2011 — Jazz and Martinis The Padre Hotel 1702 18th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 7:30pm
03-15-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 6 93309 6-8:30pm
02-22-2011 — Creative Arts Cafe The Intimate Theatre & Music Hall 2030 19th Street, Bakersfield , CA 93301 7pm
02-15-2011 — Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchant 4140 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 5pm
02-05-2011 — Wings N-Things 7900 District Blvd # D Bakersfield, CA 9:00pm

Experience

2009: 6 gigs
2010: 14 gigs
2011: 26 gigs
2012: 51 gigs

Available for Your

Anniversary Party, Awards Night, Baby Shower, Bachelor Party, Band Member Wanted, Bar/Lounge, Casino, Christmas Party, Church Service, Club/Nightclub, Concert Venue, Convention, Corporate Event, Dinner Dance, Fair, Festival, Funeral Service, Hotel, Prom, Quinceañera, Restaurant, Retreat, Reunion, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception, Workshop