January 24, 2002
A jazz singer's balancing act
By Christine Brucker
Entertainment Editor
cbrucker@advertiser-tribune.com
One woman will offer two forms of performance at Tiffin University Friday.
Jazz vocalist Kathy Kosins will give a lesson on self-promotion in the music business, and in life, at 3 p.m. in Chisholm Auditorium. Her lecture, "Hustling the Gig" offers musicians and non-musicians insights on selling themselves in a competitive marketplace.
An interesting line of work for a jazz vocalist. Kosins is a jazz performer and former record producer. Under the guidance of noted producer Don Was, she acquired 35 producing credits.
Her background in production has helped her stage performance.
"I think it influences me on stage," said Kosins from her home in Detroit. "I can conduct the band while I am on stage. I learned a lot about that while producing. It gives me a form of control while on stage."
While she enjoys performing standard jazz favorites, Kosins likes to give them a new, fresh sound as well.
"People like to hear music they are familiar with, but they want to hear something fresh as well," she said.
Something fresh is her original compositions. She is enjoying the release of her second CD "Mood Swings." The album features seven original compositions and some interesting reworks, including Jimi Hendrix's "Kiss the Sky."
"It sort of sounds like Steeley Dan meets Pat Metheney," she said. "I wanted to pay homage to Jimi without copying his arrangement."
Some would say a self-promotion lecture and vocal jazz performance was an odd combination for a performer. Kosins strongly disagrees.
"They are both performances," she said. "In both I am on stage, but I can see how people would find it strange."
She credits her father and growing up in Detroit for her unique career.
"My father was one of the top men's retailers in the country," she said. "He had clients like Smokey Robinson, the Temptations and the Four Tops as clients. I was exposed to music from a very early age."
Kosins hopes her lecture can provide help for musicians and non-musicians alike in marketing themselves for all sorts of things.
"Musicians are performers and must have a certain demeanor," she explained. "They have to have a way to carry themselves that convinces people to hire them instead of the other guy. That skill is necessary for even the most introverted person."
Kathy Kosins will show off her vocal talent at 8 p.m. Friday at Chisholm Auditorium. Tickets are $10 at the door. The lecture and performance are open to the public.
For more information on Kathy Kosins or her lecture on "Hustling the Gig," see her website at www.kathykosins.com