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If you would like to receive announcements by email or mail about upcoming performances, please complete the form below. Looking for live jazz for your event? Petra is available for parties, weddings, corporate functions, clubs, festivals, hotels, house concerts, restaurants, and more! She can create groups of various sizes (duo with guitar or piano, up to a septet complete with bass, drums, and horns) according to your needs. For more information, contact Petra at: Testimonials "The extremely talented Chicago jazz vocalist, Petra Van Nuis always leaves her audience stunned. She unearths music so intimate and filled with emotion that the entire audience cannot help but feel her sincerity." - Alice Alviani, owner of Joplin's Java and Ragtime Cafe "Petra fits so well with the Recession Seven, that sound. I am going to make an honest statement here - she may have the best voice quality to fit into a brass band like this. Why? Her non-vibrato lets one hear her beautiful voice intermixed with the other players, and it sounds so good it is unbelieveable. No other singer I have ever heard has done this. She really is unique and on to something here." - Harry Condon, fan "We live in a world where excess means success. You have to sell millions of copies. You have to do concerts for a million people. You have sing at a million decibels. Petra van Nuis comes from another world...from a world where less is more. From a world where we hear in music only the essential: elegance, melody, pleasure. She is a perfect reincarnation of the great singers of 50's, but she has her own style. She has perfect timing, phrasing, and she is sweet and gentle as only a few singers are nowadays. If you live in a peaceful and quiet world, she will be the perfect soundtrack for your life. If you live in a world of excess, rebel: it's time to relax and hear Petra sing." - Roberto Callage, Brazilian record producer "Petra started my day with a smile and I relived Friday evenings' entertainment. I was mesmerized by her performance. I only wish it could have lasted longer. It seemed that she was playing just for me. It was truly an enjoyable evening." - William Wynn, fan "On behalf of the Schaumburg Township District Library, I thank you, Andy Brown, and Stewart Miller for their participation in the Fall Jazz Series this year. The selection of music was entertaining and splendid and presented in a well-organized manner. The skill displayed by Andy on guitar and Stewart on bass, along with your rapport with the audience can only be described as magnificent. It was a great experience for everyone to hear a truly extraordinary performance. Thank you for the soothing lift you brought to the event. Our concert attendees were exceedingly complimentary. I heard many raves as individuals left after the performance. Best wishes for continued success as you bring the joy of your music to a most appreciative listening audience." - Barbara Mariks, Music Programmer "Every night should be like last night - well attended with jazz fans for classic performers like Petra. I told some of the patrons that listening to Petra was reminiscent of Spring - fresh, innocent, playful...just starting out life's endeavors with the wide eyed naivete of first love." -Katerina Carson, owner of Katerina's - an eclectic club with its soul in the arts "Keep doing what you do, Petra...You are SO good. I loved your selection of songs. You sang the slow ballads with so much feeling, and yet it's never 'overkill' with you....some singers never realize that less is more...but you do your own understated style very tastily!!! You never OVER STATE anything....you don't blast away the way so many jazz women think they need to do, and you don't get 'drippy sentimental' either....you sing the song in YOUR style, and it's really a breath of spring to hear! Nothing was trite and typical. You sing with understatement and taste....and joy!! Your pace of the 'hot' tunes, featuring the instrumentalists....your countering it all with a slow ballad.....all great! Can you tell I really liked you, your sound, your stage presence....the whole bundle!! You look very much at home on stage, and relaxed, and very very happy....audiences love to see you smile.....they can't help but smile back, you know!! You look like you love what you are doing! You are VERY,VERY good at your craft, Petra!!! Hooray!! -Joan Reynolds,pianist/leader of the Red Rose Ragtime band "If you think the Great American Songbook is merely sitting on the shelf gathering dust, think again! Petra van Nuis has taken it down and opened it up and turned it to the chapters marked Arlen, Porter and Gershwin. With her strong phrasing and sense of rhythm she makes the pages come alive. Each time we hear her she amazes us by how she keeps growing and expanding her art. When you add in her beauty and warmth along with the virtuoso guitar styling of Andy Brown, the songbook is alive and well, not in danger of going out of print any time soon." - Linda Loew & Guy Miller, fans "Petra has been a constant ray of sunshine in my life ever since I first met her. What a doll! She is not only my "adopted daughter" and a best friend, but has been a great musical partner as well. I love playing for her. She is a wonderfully interesting singer with a tender, captivating sound, and a very compelling presence. Her essence and her music come together in an amazingly appealing package. And she has a sensational repertoire, especially for someone her age. She is terrific to play for, and terrific to watch while she sings. This is not just because of her "Natalie Wood" good looks, but also because of her posture! She is a former dancer, and her physical sense of projecting a song is a very organic thing with her....so, yes she is beautiful, and much MORE beautiful in real life than in photos. She's a total "natural" in every way, an absolute charmer, and a person with integrity and humor. Everything about her music and her personality conveys exactly that. Not a drop of affectation or pretense. She's pure delight." -Judy Roberts, Grammy nominated singer/pianist and "Chicago's first lady of jazz" "Petra's respect for and execution of the Great American song book, including seldom heard tunes, is second to none. Throw in Andy Brown, one of Chicago's finest guitarists, and you have a must hear duo!" - Robert Bishop & Arlene Rakoncay, fans "Understatedness goes a long way with me. Speech level singing. Such an easy, natural presentation. You can hear the song and appreciate it. It's served to you with elegant repose." -Melissa Collard, fellow songbird |
