Phat Man Dee

A performance by Phat Man Dee can include a variety of options.

1.) A classic jazz combo performing songs from the American songbook, as well as standards from Europe and Latin America. The band (guitar, bass, horn and drums) would back Mandee's voice up with lush jazz arrangements of songs like "Georgia", "Girl from Ipanema", "Nature Boy" as well as more modern classics like "Perfect Day", "You are Special" and "True Colors". The international selections include songs like "Besame Mucho" , "Perfidia" and "La Vie En Rose". If the event allows for original material, Mandee has a number of songs composed by herself and members of her band and is happy to showcase her original material in the set, if the event is appropriate for new original vocal jazz. This performance can last up to four hours.

2.) Mandee can appear as a solo performer and does have backing tracks for her original material and some jazz standards. This is more appropriate for an event where she is a featured or guest performer. These sets last for five to fifteen minutes and can be performed multiple times in one evening with different songs for each appearance.

3.) Mandee can appear as an emcee or host for an event. Her banter and patter is humorous, intelligent and engaging. She is very excited to help an event move smoothly and introduce the other performers or speakers in a manner that compliments and supports them in a positive manner. Mandee is quite popular as a compére at dance pageants and events featuring comedians or speakers. Mandee is also an ordained minister and associated with both the Church of Spiritual Humanism which believes in a higher power and the scientific method and has officiated many weddings.

4.) Due to Mandee's long and storied career, she has many acts available in her immediate community and can bring in addition to her jazz musicians and band mates a number of variety entertainers which includes sideshow marvels, burlesque dancers, bellydancers and more.

Whatever you choose , rest assure that Mandee will deliver a performance that is exactly suited to the needs and preferences of the client and the event.

Phat Man Dee is a cosmic jazz cabaret vocalist, bandleader, events producer, videographer, poet and part time sideshow marvel. She regularly appears with both her jazz group “The Cultural District” and the sideshow burlesque group “Kabarett Vulgare”. She performs live approximately 100 dates a year in nightclubs, theaters, educational facilities, private events and festivals in the Mid Atlantic and California coastal regions. She has been voted in the Pittsburgh City Paper’s Readers’ Polls of (phone number hidden) as one of the top 3 local jazz acts every year from (phone number hidden)5.

Phat Man Dee is an old-fashioned jazz torch singer with a number of new twists. She sings & duets her original compositions and eclectic repertoire of standards in English, Spanish, French and sometimes German and Hebrew. Her performance range is just as wide, spanning opera, theater and burlesque. From blues to filk, from opera to indie, Mandee’s range is nothing short of breathtaking. Her 4 independently produced CDs include "Life Just Goes On", "Torch of Blue", "Merry ChristmaChannaKwanzaa Vol 1.1." and her most recent release “Hey Phat Chick!” was released September 24, 2014 in a grand event at Mr Small’s Theatre in Millvale, PA.

After an immensely successful online fundraising campaign, Mandee spent the summer of 2015 traveling Europe performing at multiple festivals and clubs, making video collaborations with jazz musicians, dancers and poets on bridges from Pittsburgh to Europe! Her journey lasted 7 weeks and her music was well received at venues such as the World Body Painting Festival in Austria, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in additions to clubs like the Chelsea Bar in Berlin and Royal vauxhall Tavern in London. Currently Mandee is back in the US playing with her band "The Cultural District". She has graced the stages of the Warhol Museum, the Benedum Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's Holiday Party and historic venues such as James Street. Her festival appearances also include Sankofa, Summerfest and Starwood.

Performances of Note:
Hosted and led jam session for Americans for the Arts Annual Convention 2013 which featured CEO of AFTA Bob Lynch, director of Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra Sean Jones and other musically talented Arts Administrators

Sang in Pastor Deryck Tine’s presentation of the songs of Mahalia Jackson at Ebeneezer Baptist Church (Pittsburgh, PA) as a soloist

Emceed and sang at 1st, 2nd & 3rd Ohio Burlesque Festival, (phone number hidden)3 Sang back up for Christiane D's musical project OOTE 2010 - present

Collaborated with the Toonseum to present the Lifesize Mousetrap from San Francisco, CA in a month long installation at the Carnegie Science Center 2011

Performed at the Andy Warhol museum for multiple exhibitions, i.e. Moriku Mori and Salvador Dali exhibition, Neke Carson exhibition and more

Produced charity fund raisers for the Afro American Music Institute, Dr. Kofi's School in Ghana, Katrina Victims, Haitian Earthquake Victims, Japanese Tsunami Victims, 9/11 relief for the Red Cross, Mountain Top Coal Mining Environmental Activists, Duncan and Porter House Homeless Shelter, Women's Center and Shelter, Animal Friends, as well as individual artist support for health care needs in times of emergency 2000 – present

Press Quotes

Rusty Blazenhoff Laughingsquid, 2011
“Jazz diva Phat Man Dee has released her festive “multicultural holiday album”, Phat Man Dee & Friends “Merry ChristmaChannahKwanzaa Vol 1.1. It features both “original and traditional holiday tunes in Mandee’s native Picksburghese, as well as French, Spanish, German, Hebrew, Latin and English”.

Frank DeBlase of Rochester, NY's City Paper, 2011:"This woman is as zaftig as she is zany. It's the perfect marriage of a beautiful voice and a twisted mind, kind of like Karen Black in a more cabaret setting. But it isn't all high-brow low-jinx; Phat Man Dee has a set of powerful pipes behind her exquisite phrasing.

Mandee does have access to a small sound system which is appropriate for small venues or private parties of less than 50 people, which is available for an extra fee. If the client chooses to provide sound, or is more than 50 people, please contact Mandee to discuss the size of your event and the exact requirements.

Sound req's usually include:

access to basic power
1 vocal mic
1 direct input box for the keyboard
1 mic for the horn
1 mic for the bass amp
1 mic for the guitar amp
multiple mics for the drum kit

a mixing board run by a sound technician, monitors, speakers

Lighting requirements also depend on the venue. If Mandee is requested to bring her own lights, a fee will apply.

Mandee does have relationships with sound and lighting companies if you choose to have her provide all technical needs, and these possibilities can be negotiated on an as needed basis.