Unforgettable: Mandy Gaines and the CCJO Quartet

The CCJO quartet welcomes world-renowned vocalist Mandy Gaines to the stage to sing favorite classics from the American Songbook and beyond.

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Artist Profile: Mandy Gaines, vocalist (profile from womenofcincy.org)

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Mandy Gaines, a talented, versatile vocalist and entertainer, with more than 30 years of professional experience, entertains and delights audiences throughout the world. Her performances are generally viewed as refreshing, soulful and exciting. From 1988 to the present, she continues to improve and grow through her gifted interpretations of Jazz, Pop, R&B and Soul classics as well as writing and performing her original works.
Mandy began singing at an early age in school and church. She holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster in Speech/Arts. She has continued her studies through private vocal instruction and various workshops emphasizing oral interpretation, jazz improvisation,  vocal technique, theatre and broadcasting/media studies. 

Throughout her career, Mandy has performed with such Jazz greats as, Wynton Marsalis, Dany Doriz, Randy Brecker, Scott Hamilton, El Dee Young, Red Holt, Rhoda Scott, Deborah Brown, Brad Leali, Bryan Lynch, Keith Loftis, Marcus Printup, Wendall Brunious, Brian Simpson, Vincent Gardner, Wes "warm daddy" Anderson, Michael Stanton and Victor Gaskins. In 1988, Mandy was recruited by Coca-Cola Taiwan to become part of an original recording and performing group, MIT. With the band she toured island wide to promote their release, We Can Be One. She also went on to record with several Asian pop stars as well as maintaining a spot as an on-air radio personality at I.C.R.T., Taiwan’s number one American-Chinese language radio station. From 1991 to 1994, Mandy returned to her theatre roots and was hired as featured vocalist at The Oldenberg Dinner Theatre Entertainment Complex and The Star of Cincinnati. In 1995, Mandy began traveling to Europe. Upon meeting local musicians, she began to perform regularly throughout Belgium and France in local clubs, concerts and festivals and continues to be invited back annually. In the fall of 1996, Mandy was selected to perform in Munich, Germany as a member of the Sister City Cultural Exchange Program and the following year she was selected to perform the same program in Zurich, Switzerland. She was also invited to entertain for the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, to commemorate the inaugural flight and joint venture of Delta and Sabena airlines.

Once back in Cincinnati, Mandy was chosen to be the opening act for Herbie Hancock and shortly after that, she was nominated Best R&B vocalist in Cincinnati’s annual music award show, The Cammy’s . Mandy has been a back-up vocalist for Asian Artist as Harlem Yu and EmilChou. She has performed for British and American troops at Diego Garcia,Military Base, Indian Ocean. From 1998 to the present,Mandy has performed throughout Asia and Europe in clubs, concerts and festivals. She has been Artist in Residenceರat several 5-star hotels in Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong. 

The spring of 2006 saw a return to Europe to perform at the, April Jazz Festival in Helsinki, Finland and Festival International De Jazz in St. Louis de Senegal, Africa. She also had a European release of her CD, With a Song in My Heart. She was then selected as judge for Sony Jazz Music Competition in Riga, Latvia. In spring of 2007, Mandy held music workshops in France. Teaching on jazz and gospel music emphasizing interpretation, improvisation, stage performance and vocal range. She also released her second recording,Taking a Chance. In January 2008, Mandy was selected to perform at The American Embassy, Thailand, in commemoration of Black History Month. Mandy was featured as vocalist in the Annual Cote Ouest Big Band Music Festival in Cote, France. In December 2008, Mandy starred in the musical revue, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, performed in Taipei, Taiwan. October 2010, Mandy returned to Russia for the third time and performed her first concert tour throughout the country, including 15 Concerts in 9 cities including Siberia and Kazakstan. In December 2010, Mandy performed in the musical Anything Goes as Reno Sweeney at the National Palace Theatre in Taipei Taiwan. More performance videos can be viewed at You Tube and myspace.com/mandygainesjazzy. Find her on Facebook at Mandy Gaines Jazz. 

The latest CD, It’s Just a Matter of Time can be purchased through I-Tunes, Amazon and CDBaby.com. Mandy just released her 1st Gospel CD, Faith Journey, which can also be purchased through iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby.com. In Nov 2016 and Oct 2017, Mandy was invited by The American Consulate in Russia to perform a series of big band concerts and pipe organ gospel recitals.

On April 8th, 2018 Mandy had the great honor of being inducted into The Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame. Mandy continues to travel the world performing and recording while entertaining audiences along the way!