Vocalist on Grammy-winning record to wow Lakeside Music Series Friday

Rosana Eckert, who performs Friday, Oct. 20, becomes the first Lakeside Music Series artist who has sung on a Grammy-winning recording. (Eckert also has been associated with two Grammy-nominated records: one with Bobby McFerrin, and one with the Dallas vocal group, Kings Return.)

In April 2022, Eckert won her Grammy certificate for her vocal contributions to the Lyle Mays composition, “Eberhard,” which won for Best Instrumental Composition. Mays, who passed away prior to the 2022 Grammies, was best known as the co-creator of the internationally renowned American jazz band The Pat Metheny Group which toured the world for years and won 11 Grammies.

“We take pride in featuring the finest regional talent at the Lakeside Music Series,” said Michael Clay of the Texas Music Project and the booking agent for the music series. “Welcoming world-class musicians like Rosana is very exciting. She will bring unique arrangements to tunes spanning the pop and jazz genres.”

Expect to hear songs from artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Carol King, James Taylor, the Beatles, and Ray Charles. 

“My advice to all our loyal Lakeside Music Series fans,” Clay added, “don’t miss this talented artist.”

In 1999, Eckert became the first woman (and the first minority) to be hired to the esteemed jazz faculty at UNT. Since then, she has become a sought-after vocalist, composer, arranger, and, of course, teacher. (She teaches the majority of the private jazz voice lessons, and has created courses in songwriting and jazz pedagogy for contemporary commercial styles.)  

And jazz represents only one of the many musical genres she embraces.  

“As a vocalist and songwriter,” she told the Canvas Rebel in June 2022, “I write and perform with The Rosana Eckert Quartet, and I co-lead a Brazilian fusion band called Brasuka. 

“I also get asked to perform with lots of other groups and musicians locally, nationally, and internationally, in many different styles of music – pop, rock, R&B, country, etc. — but my specialty is jazz, jazz fusion, and Latin fusion.”

Don’t think you’re crazy if you feel like you’ve heard Rosana’s voice before. She’s the in-house promo announcer for KERA TV. 

A very strong line-up of performers follows Eckert to round out the 2023 Lakeside Music Series season. 

Amy Kathleen will be back with Almost Jaded on October 27, after their Lakeside debut on May 26. The large Lakeside audience that night was mesmerized by the band’s alt-rock repertoire, not to mention Kathleen’s vocals and the rhythm section of Jared Sullivan (cello) and Mac Bain (drums).

The Blurry Band returns to Lakeside on Friday, November 3, featuring their special blend of indie, pop, and classic rock favorites. 

Danni & Kris, always a favorite with their quirky, upbeat act, hit the Lakeside stage on Friday, November 10. Expect indie pop, soul, and pop hits.

The Friday performances conclude on Friday, November 17, with Matt Tedder, who has emerged as a top-notch guitarist and vocalist on Americana, blues, and country hits. 

Finally, the Lakeside Holiday Event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6, with performances starting at 5:30 pm with the Flower Mound HS Choir (expect holiday music). Magen Miller takes the stage at 6:30 and plays holiday and pop tunes until the 7:30 tree lighting. 

The Holiday Event offers lots of family fun, including free horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa, toy train rides, a real snow sledding hill, a skating rink, a merry market, and, of course, the tree lighting. 

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