Coniece Washington, Jazz Vocalist

CONIECE WASHINGTON

Washington, D.C. based vocalist and producer Coniece Washington sings with heart and soul, captivating audiences with her distinctive, sultry and sweet stylings. In her ascending career, she has uniquely reinterpreted many standards while honoring the legacy of the vocalists who influence and inspire her: Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn, Billie Holiday, and Carmen McRae.

The accomplished vocalist is well-versed in many genres - from jazz to blues to pop, and everything in between. She is a former member of the renowned Washington Performing Arts Society’s Men and Women of the Gospel Choir and currently leads a number of ensembles featuring prominent jazz musicians from the region. She has begun songwriting and her holiday song, “Snow Covered Stars,” has received radio play.

A sought-after vocalist in the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis triangle, she has been well-received in venues such as Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Twins Jazz, The Carlyle Club, Mr. Henry’s, The Other Barn, The Georgetown Ritz Carlton, The Henley Park Hotel, Café Agape, Jazz Night at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Blues Alley. She performed at popular Baltimore venues An die Musik and Germano’s Piattini, prompting Dr. Renee Allen of WLVS Radio to say, “Coniece Washington sent chills throughout her audience.” She has performed at The Big Easy and other events in New Jersey. Her increasingly popularity has led to performances at the D.C. Jazz Festival, the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival and the Annual Preservation of Jazz Festival.

Washington self-produced her 2019 album, Shades of Shirley Horn, which debuted on the Top 50 Jazz Album Charts, Roots Music Report’s Top 30 and the North American College & Community Chart. The album received outstanding reviews from many media outlets such as Midwest Records, Jazz Weekly, The Jazz Page, Cadence Magazine and Bebop Spoken Here (UK).

In addition to being a vibrant entertainer, Washington is a skillful and creative producer. She has developed programs such as a Black History Program for Montgomery County Government, a Great Gatsby Show for the Fort Myer VA Officer’s Club and the Annual Awards Entertainment Show for AMVETS Post 8. In 2020 she was contracted to produce the awards show for the American Legion Blake-Blackston Post #77 in Easton, Maryland. She has also performed in Easton’s Avalon Theatre. Stay tuned for upcoming programs on Maryland’s Eastern Shore!

Washington graduated from community college in her native Trenton, New Jersey as a certified dental assistant. In 1976 she joined the U.S. Army, where her vocal talent and passion for music were deepened and refined. While serving in the U.S. and Europe, she performed in night clubs and other venues during off-duty hours. She concurrently earned a master’s degree in human resources from Central Michigan University and was certified as a rehabilitation counselor. She retired from a managerial position at the Washington, D.C. V.A. Medical Center giving her more time to focus on her music. Honing her vocal skills, she studied jazz vocals with pianist Vince Evans. She is currently studying opera and jazz with Dr. Nakia Verner of Prince George’s Community College.

Her love for music was nurtured from an early age at her grandmother’s church, where she sang with the choir and other groups. Another lasting influence came from her uncle, Willie Vereen, who served in the Marine Corps as an entertainer. She met many local singers and dancers at his parties and events. She carries the baton in her own career with the goal of presenting the Great American Song Book with authenticity and integrity.

Previous events

Coniece Washington’s Tribute to Ethel Ennis

Saturday, March 26 @ 7:00PMSat, Mar 26 @ 7:00PM

An due Musik, 409 North Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland vocalist Coniece Washington pays tribute to the late Ethel Ennis, long known as Baltimore’s first lady of jazz. Washington will cover tunes like “Close Your eyes” written by Bernice Petkere in 1933 and “Open Your Eyes You Can Fly.” With music by Chick Corea and lyrics by Neville Potter, the latter tune was first released by Gary Burton in 1973. Both songs were recorded for her 1980 album Live at the Maryland Inn. Ennis famously decided to remain in the area and set the course of her career, forgoing industry offers to leave home and allow RCA management to “make her a Star.”

Washington will also include the Ennis original “Hey You” from the 2005 album Ennis Live at Montpelier. Coniece Washington, who was in the audience at Montpelier, immediately became a fan and found herself “in awe” during the entire concert. She recalls that Ennis “was funny and engaging as she reminded the audience to remember life is short and they must do what they want to do before they leave this earth.”

Ethel Ennis tended towards the ballad style and Washington chose to pepper this concert with upbeat songs popularized by another Baltimore heroine -- Billie Holiday. In 2021, Washington paid tribute to Billie Holiday in another An die Musik concert which enjoyed a huge audience. She wanted to bring some of that energy into the new show. Fans can anticipate songs such as “Fine and Mellow,” “East of the Sun” and “Now or Never.”

Coniece Washington has performed extensively throughout the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis region, drawing influence from renowned jazz vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. Her 2019 album Shades of Shirley Horn enjoyed fine reviews and extensive airplay.

In this special appearance, Ms. Washington will be accompanied by pianist Pete Frassrand, bassist David Marsh, drummer Nick Costa and trumpeter Clarence Ward III. She has also commissioned poet Seth Washington (no relation) to write a poem for Ethel Ennis. Says Washington, “I am thrilled to pay tribute to Ms. Ennis.” As she honors Ennis and Holiday (with whom she shares a birthday), she hopes to bring happiness to Ennis’s husband Bill Arnet and satisfy jazz lovers who cherish the memories of these great women, who contributed so greatly to the jazz tradition.

Showtime is 7 pm ET/6 pm CT/5 pm MT/4 pm PT/11 pm GMT PURCHASE TICKETS VIA InstantSeats.com OR andiemusiklive.com Streaming Tickets Purchase Via andiemusiklive.com

Limited in-person seating: $25 Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required at the door. Masks are optional In-person attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week after the show.

Streaming cost: $15 Link will be revealed 15 mins before the show & will remain active thru April 1

Donations welcome via andiemusiklive.com

Sat, March 26, 7 PM $25 + $1 fee In-person Attendance Sat, March 26, 7 PM $15 + $1 fee