Anastasia René



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Anastasia René began singing at the age of 6, studying voice privately with Jerry Bragin, continuing on to earn a bachelors degree in African & African American Music in the Jazz department of SUNY Old Westbury headed by the late Makanda Ken McIntyre. After receiving her degree, she returned to private study under the tutelage of Kirk Nurock.

She has performed as a member of several groups and as a soloist in rock, jazz, soul, folk, pop, funk and worldbeat. She has performed in such prestigious venues as The Village Gate, House of Blues Boston & L.A., and Jordan Hall. She has performed with Ralph Peterson, Essiet Essiet, David Lahm (Joni Mitchell) and Aerosmith. She currently leads her own jazz quartet, works with several jazz enembles and, of late, has been brought into the ever-growing jamband scene in New England, working with Percy Hill, The Aaron Katz Band and Reid Genauer and the Assembly of Dust. She can currently be heard on rock band El Camino's Autobiotics, Reggae outfit Dub Station's self-titled first release, John Cate's Set Free, Phil Pemberton's Dreams and on Percy Hill's upcoming live album expected to be released in early 2003.

Her influences include Nina Simone, Cassandra Wilson, Patti Cathcart and Chaka Khan.