Masha Campagne

February 09, 2010

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Born and raised in Moscow, Russia Campagne was immersed in Classical European tradition studying cello and piano at renowned Gnessin State Musical College. Her musical family influence provided her with a thirst for jazz music. Being introduced to jazz by her grandfather, a multi-reed player she started listening to Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie, Tom Jobim and Astrud Gilberto. “Jazz and Bossa Nova with their gorgeous melodies, swaying rhythms and sophisticated harmonies abducted my heart” Campagne recalls.

Barely in her twenties after escaping post-coup Russia in 1991 she settles in San Francisco with a few dollars in her pocket but a big desire to realize her lifelong dream to become a Jazz musician. She immerses in local Jazz scene studying, playing club dates and working as voice teacher and Jazz educator. It was the offer to join ‘Fanfares’ Foothill College jazz vocal group and subsequently the first prize in 1995 DownBeat competition that touched off a series of events that soon finds this beautiful, multilingual talent gracing the stages of Jazz at Pearl’s, Monterey Jazz Festival, KRML Jazz and Blues Co. and other top West Coast venues.

Most importantly collaborating with brilliant Brazilian-born producer/pianist Weber Iago results in creation of a genre-bending debut “Caminhos Cruzados – Crossroads”, the collection of American Songbook standards and Brazilian gems by the likes of Dorival Caymmi, Jobim and Guinga. With this 2007 national release Campagne forges a “delicious Brazilian jazz sound” (Andrew Gilbert) and “communicates a thoroughly-hip and venturous command of the Brazilian-jazz vernacular" (Ejazznews)

“Caminhos Cruzados’ made into JazzWeek’s “Top 50” and dominated TOP TEN playlists at dozens of radio stations across US, Canada, Australia, and Netherlands for weeks at a time. Prestigious 2007 International Songwriting Competition awards the opening track “Romance” with an Honorable Mention in the Best Latin Song category. It also earns uniform critics praise in publications across the country including Jazz Times, Jazzscene, Cadence, and AMG.
“Happiness is a richly seasoned Brazilian singer … Masha Campagne … she reveals a deep, luxuriant voice that suggests the richest, darkest chocolate and the ripest, tartest blackberries”- Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times, March 2008

“Her sensual lyric portrayals make you feel as though you're in Rio on vacation, parading through city streets while samba bands crank up the emotional level a few notches… She’s musically superb, lyrically convincing and leaves us with memorable debut" – Jim Santella, LA Jazz Scene, September 2007

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