Artist description Allison Tartalia writes piano-driven music that resists being pigeon-holed into any one genre. Drawing on rock, alternative, jazz and folk, Tartalia stirs up an original brew that has all the catchiness of pop without the predictablity.

Music Style Blend of alternative, rock, folk and jazz

Musical Influences Everything! Especially fond of angry early 20th century composers...also Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Tori Amos, Tracy Chapman, Bruce Hornsby, Ani DiFranco, Suzanne Vega, Jethro Tull, PJ Harvey, Bjork, Meshell Ndegeocello...

Similar Artists Ani DiFranco, Kate Bush, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Sarah McLaughlin

Artist History New York City-based singer-songwriter Allison Tartalia conjures an irresistible potion of rock, jazz, pop, and folk. Performing on piano and guitar, Allison plays both solo and with her band at New York's Fez, Downtime, Le Bar Bat, C-Note, Knitting Factory, CB's 313,& Kenny's Castaways. She has also performed on Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen Network Tank Tour, was a showcasing artist at the Rockrgrl Music Conference and has received Honorable Mentions from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Songlounge.com. Allison received the 2003 Outmusic Award for "Outstanding Debut Recording - Female" for her album "Ready," and was also nominated for Outstanding Producer with co-producer Mike McGinnis. She is also the recipient of a 2003 ASCAP Popular Award. Produced by Mike McGinnis and Tartalia, Allison's debut album "Ready" embraces a variety of styles and subject matters. "Ready" opens with the ethnic rhythms of Let It Go and closes with the exquisite horn arrangements on Advent of You. In between, she deftly fits the devastating Tide; Dorothy's Reply, a funk-inspired song that uses the Wizard of Oz as a metaphor for forging a path in the music industry; and the lusty title track, Ready (awarded Honorable Mention by the JLSC). Songs from "Ready" have received airplay on independent and college radio stations around the country and in Europe. Sax/woodwind player Mike McGinnis (Between Green, The Four Bags); bassist Lori Bingel (Twelve 20 Six); and Drummer Mark Dodge (Between Green) lend their talents to the distinctive arrangements on "Ready", which also features performances from Sean Moran (electric guitar), Brian Drye (trombone), Jeff Hermanson (trumpet and flugelhorn) and engineer Steve Vavagiakis (percussion).

Group Members Allison Tartalia (piano/guitar/vocals/songwriter) is honored to be accompanied by these fine folks: Sax/woodwind player Mike McGinnis composes for and plays with Between Green and The Four Bags, and has performed with Teo Macero, Ravi Coltrane, and Benny Carter. Bassist Lori Bingel composes for and performs with Twelve20Six and has performed with the Adam Collette Band and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Drummer Mark Dodge has performed with Clark Terry and Ravi Coltrane and is a member of the jazz ensemble Between Green.

Instruments piano, guitar, bass, drums, sax, flute

Albums Ready (2002) Available through CDBaby.com

Press Reviews "Wonder of wonders, this native New Yorker's debut CD sounds legitimately more jazzy than folky--smack-dab in the Laura Nyro/Ricki Lee Jones/Sophie B. Hawkins lineage, complete with sax solos warm enough for Baker Street and titles that namecheck Ab Fab and Dorothy. The latter of which "contains language which may not be appropriate for radio" to wit: "No one gives a fuck about the wizard in the end." Tell Auntie Em and Toto, too; Oz never did give nothin' to the tin man that he didn't already have." - Chuck Eddy, The Village Voice "Allison Tartalia [is] a singer with a sultry voice…" - Marc Santora, New York Times "Tartalia is to pop music what granola is to cereal. That is to say, she is complex, loaded with surprises and textures, and more than filling. I could go on, but I think you get the point....And if her band were any tighter, they wouldn't be able to breathe.... No matter how you slice it, a sparkling debut." - Bill Ribas, NYRock.com "Fresh, upbeat and lively, she follows through with great power, talent and a truly wild set." -Rick Siegel, onlinetv.com "Allison Tartalia brings us her own blend of indy pop that veers into jazz, folk, rock and funk, delighting at every turn with her edgy lyrics that capture and intrigue, and make you smile. Who can resist an album that serves up a song inspired by the British TV show "Absolutely Fabulous" and another called "Dorothy's Reply," a sassy retort from Oz that makes you hit replay to relish it again. The CD is called 'Ready,' and I certainly am, for more" - JD Doyle, Producer of Queer Music Heritage on KPFT, Houston, and Co-Producer of AudioFile on This Way Out. "...a delightful fusion of jazzy instrumentation and remarkable vocals...." - Laura Turner Lynch, Kweevak.com

Location New York, NY - USA

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