Dee Bell & the Marcos Silva Trio

“With her sensuously husky voice and relaxed behind-the-beat phrasing, North Bay jazz vocalist Dee Bell emerged suddenly on the national scene some three decades ago with Let There Be Love, which was released on the Concord Jazz label. Mentored by veteran Bay Area guitarist Eddie Duran and championed by tenor sax legend Stan Getz, who both played on her impressive 1983 debut album, Bell was hailed by critic Leonard Feather for having a “haunting, jazz-infected sound” with “flawless” diction and phrasing - a reputation she enhanced with her second album, 1985’s One by One (which was also released by Concord). And then almost as quickly as she appeared, Bell seemed to drop off the scene.. Now she’s back...” - Andrew Gilbert, East Bay Express

Dee’s third album, Sagacious Grace, featuring Houston Person, John Stowell, John Wiitala, Colin Bailey, Michael Spiro and Dee’s music director for thirteen years, the late Al Plank, was an historic release because it had been recorded in 1990 prior to the birth of Dee’s son, but due to a misplaced microphone was not released until August 2011. Resurrection engineers Dan Feiszli and the late Bud Spangler worked their magic to restore the collection of songs that includes Dee’s lyrics on Isfahan, The Peacocks and You Can’t Go Home Again.

In January of 2014, Dee Bell and Marcos Silva released their collaboration Silva • Bell • Elation which “is a beautiful mix of American Songbook interpretations and singer-songwriter material. Throughout, Bell sounds as cool as ever.” - Andrew Gilbert, East Bay Express

Let There Be Love posted in the top ten in Radio and Records jazz airplay charts in the spring of 1983. The follow-up recording in 1985 of One by One (CJ-271), also on the Concord Jazz label, reached number nineteen on the Radio and Records jazz airplay charts in early summer 1985. Sagacious Grace on the Laser label reached the top thirty and Silva • Bell • Elation, also a Laser release bubbled at the top fifty. Dee was nominated by Downbeat Magazine for two years running as “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” and BAM Magazine nominated Let There Be Love as the Best Debut Album and One by One as Best Jazz Vocal Album, both in their release years.

Bell has performed in all the major venues and summer festivals of the Bay Area, as well as top venues in the Midwest, on the East Coast and in Japan. She has appeared on TV shows, and been a guest on many of the top jazz radio stations across the country.

“Her earthy sweet-and-sour voice, so mellow and rhythmically assured, sounds more alluring than ever.” - James Gavin, Jazz biographer, author

Silva-Bell-Elation: “When vets of the system get together, take off the gloves, stop worrying about the clock, perception and taste, wonderful things can fly through the air and land successfully. Essentially after a few decades away, this Concord vet rounds of a bunch of SF pros, finds the jazz in Neil Young and sets sail. A jazz vocal date with a lot of traditional elements, it all comes together in a non-traditional way that blows your ears wide open. Jazz vocal fans won’t be offended in the least, no matter how purist they are, and you can bet a good time will be had by all. Bell obviously remembers that this is the entertainment business and if we aren’t having fun, we aren’t doing our jobs. Fun stuff through out.” - Midwest (link hidden) Blog

“Dee’s voice is pure and tender, at times haunting. Her approach to the material is straightforward and unpretentious. She takes you inside the lyrics, and you can almost hear her smile.” - Jesse Hamlin, SF Chronicle