Vikki True Group Profiles Page - Jazz Singer -Spirit Healer

Richard Downs - bass, trumpet

Bassist Richard Downs grew up in Islip, Long Island (also the birthplace of the demolition derby. This is, perhaps, not merely coincidental). He is a self-taught musician, a process that began in junior high school by means of picking up whatever instruments were handy and torturing them. He currently tortures the acoustic and electric bass, guitar, trumpet, and tuba. In his 20+ years as a working musician (this phrase, contrary to popular belief is not an oxymoron) he has had occasion to work with such notables as Max Roach, Anthony Braxton, Charles McPherson, Jimmy Giuffre, Atilla Zoller, Slide Hampton, Barry Altschul, Ray Copeland, and Al Cohn. Mr. Downs has toured in Great Britain, France, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Australia, as well as the U.S.A. He has appeared on seven albums, including 'bout time, his new release with jazz stylist/spirit singer Vikki True, on which he wore numerous hats including: musical director, bassist, percussionist, trumpeter and "heavy breather" as well as ghost writer. He also maintains a full schedule of private instruction on the above-mentioned instruments (no torture involved).


Vikki True - vocals Vikki True sang her first solo at the age of 6 in her childhood church in Louisville, KY. It was about this time that she also discovered jazz, while studying tap dance; that music has stayed with her ever since. Vikki's professional singing career began at 15, in coffee houses and road houses, singing everything from folk to gospel to R&B and funk. She also received classical voice training at the Speed School of Music/University of Louisville and later at Indiana University. Classical Music, however, was not where she longed to be; and with few "jazz education" programs available in those days, she moved to Kansas City, MO, a town filled with jazz and jazz history. Living a few blocks from where Charlie Parker grew up, she came up through the ranks, "schooled" the old way in jazz club "cutting sessions" taking her cues from veteran jazz musicians for whom the MUSIC was paramount. Told, more than once, to "go home and woodshed, girl" she sang (and still sings) every day and night and that experience is evident in the singer she has become. "…True tears up the stage…has a powerful voice that is capable of great lyricism. She delivers…with everything that is inside her…and she is a sheer delight." – (Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA) Vikki has shared stages with Martin Sexton, Ani deFranco and Pete Seeger and opened for America, Spyro Gyra, Shamika Copeland, Taj Mahal and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vincent, Josh White, Jr., Rory Block and Joanne Brakeen. As a jazz vocalist she has appeared with Tommy Newsom, Eddie Harris, Groove Holmes, Michelle Hendricks, Arni Lawrence and Johnny Lytle. Her festival appearances include: The Kool Jazz Festival, Women In Jazz Festival, and The Derby Jazz Festival as well as The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and the Norwalk Folk Festival with her gospel group, The Sweet Sisters of Mercy, with whom she has released 2 CDs. Her classical training came in handy for performing an all Gershwin concert as featured guest soloist with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared in a number of musicals including 3 productions of Gypsy in the role of Mama Rose. In recent years Ms True has pursued the study of jazz with Janet Lawson, Yusef Lateef, Dr. Horace Boyer, Baba Olatunji, Ysaye Barnwell, and Andy Jaffe, to name a few. She earned a earned a BA, magna cum laude, in Music and Theatre from Mount Holyoke College, and is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators), and Phi Beta Kappa. Her new jazz CD, 'bout time, with Richard Downs & Peter Schneider, was released on the Winter Solstice.


		Richard Downs - bass, trumpet Bassist Richard Downs grew up in Islip, Long Island (also the birthplace of the demolition derby. This is, perhaps, not merely coincidental). He is a self-taught musician, a process that began in junior high school by means of picking up whatever instruments were handy and torturing them. He currently tortures the acoustic and electric bass, guitar, trumpet, and tuba. In his 20+ years as a working musician (this phrase, contrary to popular belief is not an oxymoron) he has had occasion to work with such notables as Max Roach, Anthony Braxton, Charles McPherson, Jimmy Giuffre, Atilla Zoller, Slide Hampton, Barry Altschul, Ray Copeland, and Al Cohn. Mr. Downs has toured in Great Britain, France, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Australia, as well as the U.S.A. He has appeared on seven albums, including 'bout time, his new release with jazz stylist/spirit singer Vikki True, on which he wore numerous hats including: musical director, bassist, percussionist, trumpeter and "heavy breather" as well as ghost writer. He also maintains a full schedule of private instruction on the above-mentioned instruments (no torture involved).


	Peter Schneider - piano Peter Schneider, pianist, has been with Vikki for 12 years - and as she says, "that's one way to keep a man - put him on salary". He has overcome much to reach this point in his life, not least of which is his blindness … but as Pete says, "I see with my ears". Born in Korea, he moved to Seaford, Long Island at nine, and commenced classical piano studies at age 12. Peter now resides in Great Barrington, MA, where he is studio/ workshop accompanist for Ms. True. He tours with Vikki in her cabaret performances and was accompanist / musical co-director for Soul Sisters and Sophie Tucker: Red Hot Mama. He has appeared on 3 CDs as well as television and radio, and is an original member of Ms. True's Sweet Sisters of Mercy where he is know as the Mister Sister.