Sheila Catherine Landis (born September 10, 1953,

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

, United States) is an American jazz, R&B vocalist and songwriter. In 1981, Landis formed her own label, SheLan Records, initially releasing five albums of self-penned material. These original vinyl recordings are avidly sought out world-wide by jazz record collectors. Much of this material has been released internationally on Counterpoint Records UK and Celeste/Vivid Sound in Japan. In 1990, Landis began working with guitarist/producer Rick Matle in live performance and in the studio. Together they have released over 10 recordings. Landis is a seven-Time

Detroit Music Awards The Detroit Music Awards Foundation is a Michigan 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to recognize Detroit area musicians working on a national, regional, and local level. The Foundation supports and nurtures the musical community in Detro ...

"Outstanding Jazz Vocalist" Winner, along with being recognized for "Outstanding Traditional Jazz Group" and "Outstanding Jazz Composer" (co-winner with Rick Matle). Landis draws inspiration from vocal artists

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and Joni Mitchell. Motown, Brazilian bossa nova and samba, classic rock and pop have also been influences in forming her soulful sound amalgam. David Nathan, of AllMusic, writes, "Landis has an extraordinarily flexible voice and an uncanny ability to use it to great advantage. She scats, sings ballads, loves Latin rhythms, and can swing. She does jazz, rock, bebop, as well as Latin with absolute equanimity. Although having been on stage for more than 30 years, Landis has never fallen into a rut. Her work continues to exude vitality, excitement, diversity, and originality". Not content to simply sing and scat in the jazz vocal tradition, Landis takes the lead from vocal innovators

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and

Bobby McFerrin Robert Keith McFerrin Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American folk and jazz singer. He is known for his vocal techniques, such as singing fluidly but with quick and considerable jumps in pitch—for example, sustaining a melody while also rap ...

in expanding her vocal palette to include uncanny imitations of the harmonica, trumpet, flute, synthesizer, string bass and even drums.

Selected discography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Landis, Sheila 1953 births Living people American women singer-songwriters American women jazz singers American jazz singers Jazz musicians from Michigan Scat singers Singers from Detroit Singer-songwriters from Michigan 21st-century American women