Paula Held - Jazz Standards, Americana

MUSICAL STYLES
My classical training and jazz roots allow me to play a variety of music styles. I can provide 3-4 sets of Jazz Standards and Bossa (Brazilian) music, and if desired, I can intersperse this with songs from other genres including Texas Swing, Country, Rock, Blues and Salsa.

PROJECTS
Paula Held: Solo Acoustic | Pop-jazz influenced Originals, with a twist of Folk
Held and Mann: Acoustic Duo | Jazz standards, Americana, Country, Pop (Paula, Monte Mann)
Moonblossom Trio: Jazz Trio | Standards, Bossa

BAND PERSONNEL MAY INCLUDE:
Tommy Howard - jazz guitar
Chris Jones - double bass
Jon Blondell - electric bass
Mike Gordon - drums
Monte Mann - guitar

EQUIPMENT
I provide an excellent, compact P.A. with 12″ EV speakers and 8-channel Yamaha head. This system works well for both indoor and outdoor spaces, and can provide sound for a 1,200 square foot space or larger.

ABOUT PAULA
I’ve held a monthly residency at an established local restaurant in Wimberley since 2011. Linda’s, owned and operated by Jimmy and Linda Ash, has been on the scene since 1991 as a custom catering outfit, and since 2006, as a beloved restaurant serving chef-prepared comfort food in an intimate setting in the Texas Hill Country.

Before that, I performed as a solo artist for many years, touring nationally and playing in and around Austin. I was fortunate to perform in such hallowed songwriter venues as the Cactus Cafe, the Blue Bird Cafe, Anderson Fair, the Bugle Boy, Saxon Pub, Momo's Club and Eddie's Attic. I was a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival’s yearly songwriter competition and won awards in national and international song competitions.

I enjoy performing and bringing my unique style of pop-jazz influenced music to almost any kind of venue or gathering. I bring professionalism and a personal touch to my shows, and consider it an honor and a privilege to be offered an opportunity to perform.

Thanks for considering me for your next event!
Paula

REVIEW
“Paula Held began playing music at my restaurant on February 11, 2011. Although crowds in a restaurant are always unpredictable, she has managed to develop a loyal local following and has drawn people from Austin to San Antonio. I have owned a bar, managed and owned restaurants and been a professional musician all of my life. For ten years I wrote a music column. In that time I have seen many hundreds of performers and learned to judge their quality of performance. Very few reach her level of excellence.

When Paula picks up her guitar and adjusts her microphone at the beginning of her set, her audience never knows what direction she’ll take. Her tastes are eclectic and her abilities comprehensive. She slides effortlessly from country to jazz standards, to soft rock. When she sings a torch song she sounds like she was tutored by Julie London. When she sings the blues, the intensity of her delivery can cover anyone’s lyrics (though I’ve never heard her cover Mississippi John Hurt). Her own singer/songwriter creations also scan several genres and are remarkably crafted throughout. But here’s the thing, whatever she plays, in whatever direction she steers her performance, it is all indelibly Paula.

This is no cover copy singer. Though her scope forestalls any boredom at the front tables, it never loses that sense of artistic integrity so essential to a great performer. Whatever the genre, Paula is forever Paula. With a voice that is at once soulful and controlled and a guitar that plays any direction with seeming ease, she stays at the emotional center of of her music, whether it is pain, love, or joy she is projecting.

With the intricate lead guitar work of Monte Mann following and accentuating her emotional intentions, her horizons continue to expand, taking her listeners along for the ride.”

Jimmy Ash
Linda’s Fine Foods
Wimberley, TX
2016

Paula is an Austin-based performing songwriter with a penchant for melody, storytelling and poetic lyricism. Raised in New England and Spain, her music is informed by a variety of influences from classical music to popular Jazz, Folk, Rock and Blues.

She's won songwriting kudos from internationally known songwriting clubs like the Kerrville Folk Festival, Wildflower Festival and the John Lennon International Songwriting Contest (double finalist). She’s performed in these hallowed listening rooms: Cactus Cafe, Momo's Club, Saxon Pub, Blue Bird Cafe, Anderson Fair, Bugle Boy, Eddie's Attic, Egan's Ballard Jam and more. Paula's music is described as lyrically rich, melodic and sensual, and her voice reminiscent of Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones.

PROJECTS
Held and Mann | Jazz standards, Americana, Country, Pop | Paula Held, Monte Mann
Moon Blossom Trio | Jazz Standards, Bossa | Paula Held, Bart Madeley, Dr. Tarik Hassan

RESIDENCY: Linda's Fine Foods, Wimberley, TX | 2011-present
“Paula Held began playing music at my restaurant on February 11, 2011. Although crowds in a restaurant are always unpredictable, she has managed to develop a loyal local following and has drawn people from Austin to San Antonio. I have owned a bar, managed and owned restaurants and been a professional musician all of my life. For ten years I wrote a music column. In that time I have seen many hundreds of performers and learned to judge their quality of performance. Very few reach her level of excellence.

When Paula picks up her guitar and adjusts her microphone at the beginning of her set, her audience never knows what direction she’ll take. Her tastes are eclectic and her abilities comprehensive. She slides effortlessly from country to jazz standards, to soft rock. When she sings a torch song she sounds like she was tutored by Julie London. When she sings the blues, the intensity of her delivery can cover anyone’s lyrics (though I’ve never heard her cover Mississippi John Hurt). Her own singer/songwriter creations also scan several genres and are remarkably crafted throughout. But here’s the thing, whatever she plays, in whatever direction she steers her performance, it is all indelibly Paula.

This is no cover copy singer. Though her scope forestalls any boredom at the front tables, it never loses that sense of artistic integrity so essential to a great performer. Whatever the genre, Paula is forever Paula. With a voice that is at once soulful and controlled and a guitar that plays any direction with seeming ease, she stays at the emotional center of of her music, whether it is pain, love, or joy she is projecting.

With the intricate lead guitar work of Monte Mann following and accentuating her emotional intentions, her horizons continue to expand, taking her listeners along for the ride.”

Jimmy Ash
Linda’s Fine Foods
Wimberley, TX
2016

AWARDS
2012 New Folk Finalist, Kerrville TX
2012 Finalist Songwriter Serenade contest, Moravia TX
2011 Finalist Wildflower contest, Richardson TX
2010 Double-finalist John Lennon Songwriting Contest, New York NY
2011 Finalist Songwriter Serenade contest, Halletsville TX
2010 ASG Bluebird Contest winner, Austin TX
2009 ASG Scholarship recipient, Austin TX
2008 Bugle Boy Showcase Finalist, La Grange TX
2003 Eddie's Attic Showcase Finalist, Atlanta GA

PRESS
"Paula Held adds new ideas to the jazz-related work of now famous female artists like Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Madeleine Peyroux. Her songs are beautiful, the melody lines fine, her voice is flexible and sultry, [and] the accompaniment is excellent ..." ~ Fred Schmale, Real Roots Cafe, The Netherlands

" …a curiously addictive marriage of folk, pop and jazz influences." ARTHUR WOOD, Maverick Magazine, UK

"Paula [Held] is a superb song crafts-person with emotion to spare and a good story at every turn. Andrew is a mellifluous player and an entertaining chap in his own right. I highly recommend that if you see either of these names on the schedule of your favorite club that you leave the dishes for tomorrow and go check them out. Beautiful people, beautiful music, and a chemistry worth investigating!" ~ Ron Welch of the Swinging Gringos (Houston, TX)

WHAT I PROVIDE
2 12″ EV speakers on stands
8-channel EMX Yamaha head
microphones, mic stands, cables, extension cords, music stands, stand lights, fans, ambient lighting

For very large venues, my sound system can be amended as needed.