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     Jamie Wood grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, about 170 miles from New Orleans. She eventually moved to California, and now divides her time living between the U.S. and Quebec. Her band in Quebec is comprised of Martin Gagnon (piano), Colin Perry (guitar), Ben Caissie (drums), and Costa Zafiropoulos (stand-up bass). Notably, she recently appeared in the Grandes Dames du Blues Tour and the Heritage Jazz Festival.

     In 1988 Jamie formed the Roadhouse Rockets, and while her sound has evolved over the years to include Chicago, Kansas City and West Coast blues, today her sound is very much her own. Her style is firmly rooted in blues, with a rhythm section reminiscent of the small swing combos of the 30's and 40's. One might say it's a marriage of blues, 40's jazz and post-war swing. Jamie's southern heritage, together with her performing arts background and stage charisma, make her a natural at blues and all its dialects. Her influences include Ella Mae Morse, Ernestine Anderson, Anita O'Day, Big Mama Thornton, Memphis Minnie, Dinah Washington, Helen Humes, Julia Lee, Jimmy Rushing and Louis Jordan, just to name a few.

     In 1996, Jamie was invited to BB Kings in Universal City, California as one of the three women representing female vocalists in the blues genre at the Willie Dixon Foundation event, organized by the Southern California Blues Society, and was honored for her outstanding performance at this event.

     She is featured on a Pacific Blues Recording Co. compilation entitled "That Left Coast Is Swingin" released in 1999. Other artists on this compilation include Kid Ramos, Lynwood Slim, Rick Holmstrom and San Pedro Slim. In 2001 the Jamie Wood Band, featuring Johnny Rover, played the 13th annual Battle of the Blues Harps, Southern California's premiere blues harp show, where Jamie had the distinction of being the first female to front a band in that venue. Concurrently, "Flyin' High"was released on Bluestime Records in Brazil, where it was kicked off by a very successful 3 week promotional tour which covered several Brazilian states, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Fortaleza. During this tour Jamie and Johnny Rover were the headliners at the First International Blues Harmonica Festival in Sao Paulo. They returned to South America in 2002, and regularly thereafter, where they are always received with great enthusiasm. "Ain't No Doubt About It" was released in the U.S. in April 2003 on the Pacific Blues record label, and it is also available in Europe through Crosscut Records, Red Lick, El Toro and Bertus. This CD received critical acclaim around the world. It was the # 4 CD of the year on the European "Collectif des Radios Blues", and was Top 10 on U.S. charts such as "Blues Bytes," a monthly online magazine of blues CD reviews. The popularity of this release has kept Jamie busy, playing the Doheny Blues Festival (with Buddy Guy, John Hammond, Jonny Lang, Jimmie Vaughan, Dr. John), Bakersfield Smooth Jazz & Cool Blues Festival (with James Harman, the Jazz Crusaders and Wayman Tisdale), the North Hollywood Blues Splash (with Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Rod Piazza, Paul Oscher), the CHOC Ride & Blues Festival (with Eric Burdon & the Animals, Eric Sardinas, Kid Ramos) and the 15th Annual Battle of the Blues Harps (with Rod Piazza, Gary Primich, Johnny Dyer, James Harman), along with regular club dates.

     Jamie's newest CD, "Hollywood Confidential," recently released on Pacific Blues, features her usual dynamite line-up and she stays true to her authentic retro sound on this one, but kicks it up a notch with horns added on selected tracks.

     She continues to tour internationally.

 

REVIEWS -- Here's what the critics have to say:

	"Jamie Wood has a strong, throaty delivery that's believable."
	-- Blues Revue (USA)
	" Wood's sultry, martini-tinged vocals fill each song with a distinctive, winning flair."
	-- O.C. Weekly (USA)
	" I am smitten by her sassy, powerhouse vocals, and by a band that swings irresistibly!"
	-- Blues In Britain Magazine (UK)
	"Her personality shines through every track and makes you feel that this is one cool and hip woman with whom you'd love to party"
	-- Blueswax Online Magazine (USA)
	" La Diva du Westcoast!"
	-- Blues & Co. (France)
	"The authenticity and the quality of this vocalist and her band are amazing ... Jamie Wood is a real entertainer."
	-- Back To The Roots Bluesmagazine (Belgium)
	" . . . she's stittin' in tall grass . . . with blues harpist Johnny Rover, they've created one of the Southland's greatest treasures. This one comes highly recommended."
	-- Southland Blues (USA)
	" . . . mixes a blend of Blues and West Coast Swing along with a nice stage personality, to fine effect."
	-- L.A. Jazz Scene (USA)
	"Jamie Wood's one of the most impressive and soulful white singers I've heard in a while . . . Incredible. Great. Recommended."
	-- Crosscut Records Catalog (Germany)

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