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Mandy Gaines: June 14 noon - 2

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July 14: Mandy Gaines of the Blue Wisp Jazz Club
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July 21 C. Spencer Yeh


Mandy began singing early in high school, college, community and professional theater. From 1988 to the present, she continues to improve and grow through her gifted interpretations of jazz, pop, R&B and soul classics as well as writing and performing her original works.

In 1988, Mandy was recruited by Coca-Cola Taiwan to become part of an original recording and performing group, MIT. With the band she toured island wide to promote their release, "We Can Be One." She also went on to record with several Asian pop stars as well as maintaining a spot as on-air radio personality at I.R.C.T., Taiwan’s number one American-Chinese language radio station. After leaving the MIT band, Mandy started her own jazz trio and continued to perform until her departure in 1991.

Upon her return to the United States, Mandy was hired as featured vocalist at the Oldenberg Dinner Theater Entertainment Complex, Kentucky, followed by 2 years with jazz and R&B trio on the Star of Cincinnati, a floating restaurant and club on the Ohio River.

In 1995, Mandy began traveling to Europe. Upon meeting local musicians, she began to perform regularly throughout Belgium and France in local clubs, concerts and festivals and she continues to be invited back annually. In the fall of 1996, Mandy was selected to perform in Munich as a member of the Sister City Cultural Exchange Program and the following year she was selected to perform the same program in Zurich. She was also invited to entertain for the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, to commemorate the inaugural flight and joint venture of Delta and Sabena airlines.

Once back in Cincinnati, Mandy was chosen to be the opening act for the Herbie Hancock concert and shortly after that, was nominated Best R&B vocalist in Cincinnati’s annual music award show, the Cammy's. Upon returning to Asia to perform in clubs in Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, in 1998, Mandy performed as back-up vocalist for Taiwan’s top male vocalist Harlem Yu and recorded with Taiwan recording star Emil Chou.

In July, 2001, Mandy became resident vocalist at the world renowned, Bamboo Bar at the Oriental Hotel, Bangkok. She enjoyed a 3 month contract there amid rave reviews.

June 2002 saw Mandy receiving an invitation to Diego Garcia, Military Installation, Indian Ocean to sing the British and American National Anthems as well as perform with "JazzEx", her quartet of New York based jazz musicians. In August, 2002, Mandy returned to Taiwan for her own major concert accompanied by “Blaze” Austin Texas’s number one jazz group.

In October 2002, Mandy performed at the international jazz club "Storeyville" in Helsinki, Finland and was invited back in January 2003 to perform in the club’s anniversary concert accompanied by an international sextet. She continues to be invited back annually. Mandy returned to perform for the American and British troops at Diego Garcia Military Installation in February 2003 followed by an Artist in Residence contract with the Regent Hotel, Singapore from March 2003 through June 2004.

She followed her residence with her European tour in August 2004 performing in clubs in Paris, Brussels and Helsinki, after which she was invited to perform for the European Chamber of Commerce gala Ball in Taipei, Taiwan September, 2004.

From November 2004 through March 2005, Mandy was Artist in Residence at Sirocco, Bangkok, Thailand, the tallest open air restaurant/club in the world. After which, she performed at Madame Zhung Shanghai, China. The spring of 2005 saw a return to Europe to perform at the April Jazz festival, Helsinki, Finland and Festival International de Jazz, St. Louis de Senegal, Africa. In the fall of 2005, Mandy’s cd "With a Song in My Heart" was released in Europe.

The spring of 2007 Mandy held music workshops in France. Teaching on jazz and gospel music emphasizing interpretation,improvisation,stage performance and vocal range.

January 2008 saw a return to the Conrad Hotel, Bangkok as resident artist in the Diplomat Bar. Mandy was also invited to perform at the American Embassy, Thailand in commemoration of Black History month. Mandy continues to travel throughout the world, performing and recording while entertaining audiences along the way.