Biography
Throughout her career, Germaine Potter Bazzle remained under-recognized both nationally and internationally despite her standing as one of New Orleans jazz’s authentic legends. Comparable to R&B queen Irma Thomas, her jazz vocals stand out with equal distinctiveness and a matching sweet soul. Although her singing exploits in the Seventh Ward proved unmatched, she earned wider notice chiefly as an educator. Drawing from influences such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billy Eckstein, she embraced a repertoire that spanned classic jazz, American popular songs, show tunes, and the music of Duke Ellington. Echoes of church music stayed close, prompting regular Sunday performances with the Saint Louis Catholic Choir. After graduating from Xavier University, Bazzle remained in her hometown and devoted herself to instructing mostly young girls in choir and music appreciation at Xavier Prep. Her modest recorded output appears on the compilation New New Orleans Music: Vocal Jazz and the live document Standing Ovation. In 2007 she joined the faculty of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp alongside other Crescent City music icons, notably Edward "Kidd" Jordan.
Albums
