LIZ RAQUELLE
has been
studying music and art her
whole life. Her parents first 
discovered she could sing when, at her
first performance on a school stage, she
received a standing
ovation. Continuing to study with opera singer Caroline Thomas, and
performing regularly in music theater in high school, she know that
singing was her greatest passion in life. She joined the vocal jazz
ensemble at Washing University in St. Louis where she earned her BFA.
She joined her first band Mercy Me at Wash. U. singing lead vocals in
funk/soul/jazz/blues; touring for five years from Colorado to Virginia,
from Vermont all the way south to Savanna, Georgia. They recorded a
couple of original albums, lived band life to the fullest, playing gigs
to the early hours of the morning; crashing on the occasional floor;
driving to the next gig. Opening for They Might Be Giants, Veruca
Salts, Pere Ubu, and Aquarium Rescue Unit; they sold out many venues
and jammed their hearts out. Shortly after Mercy Me disbanded Liz
continued to study vocal performance at the California Institute of the
Arts in Valencia, CA. In search of more pristine landscapes to paint,
she migrated north to the Bay Area where she continued studying jazz in
Santa Cruz with Ray Brown and Wally Trindade of Wally's Swing World. She
has a strong, sultry, robust voice for
singing jazz and performs regularly with Double Standard and
occasionally with the world fusion band Tribal Heat. She was also a
finalist in the Santa Cruz Idol competition and winner in the regional
karaoke contest two years in a row. Singing is an expression of the
soul, heart, and mind; and is something that Liz Raquelle just can't
live without.
____________________________________________________
The Double Standard Jazz Band began performing together in Santa
Cruz, Ca in early 2006, and the musicians are all from Santa Cruz
County. The music is primarily swing and feature Liz Raquelle on
vocals. Core band members include Patrick North on bass, Bruce Handloff
on drums, and Sue Marvin on keyboard.
_________________________________________________________________
PATRICK NORTH is one of the most sought after bass
players in Santa Cruz County. He was originally a cello player
and a music major at UCSC, and switched to bass for playing
jazz. Patrick still works in the theatre department at UCSC and
is a member of several local Santa Cruz bands in addition to being a
key member of Double Standard.
photo by
Robert Jan Ridder
BRUCE
HANDLOFF has
an extensive career as a
musician, playing with many musicians over the
years, recently with the
Nora Cruz Blues Band. In addition to Double Standard, he plays
with Brian Chester and
Friends and is
the house drummer at the Santa
Cruz Jazz Society jazz jam.
photo by Robert Jan Ridder
SUE
MARVIN,
originally classically trained in piano by University of
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music instructor Millie Fields,
has studied jazz with mentors Martan Mann, Ray
Brown, and Gus Kambeitz. She also plays with the Little Big Band
of Santa Cruz. Sue has played with big bands, pit
orchestras for
theater productions, and is on the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz
Jazz Society.
Contact
Information:
(408) 348-4551
or email
jazzchromatics@yahoo.com