Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant (San Francisco, CA)
Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant presents Renee Olstead in her San Francisco debut, alongside Paula West. Only 19 years old, singer and actress Olstead recently released Skylark, an acclaimed debut album which puts a fresh spin on classic jazz tunes. San Francisco's own Paula West has earned international acclaim for her soulful renditions of standards from the Great American Songbook.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Renee Olstead and Paula West was Saturday July 18, 2009 / 10:00pm. (view all dates)
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Wallace Roney believes in nurturing young and talented musicians. His current quintet includes Rashaan Carter on bass, Aruan Ortiz on keyboards and 17-year-old Kush Abadey on drums, with Wallace and his brother Antoine on tenor, soprano and bass Clarinet. The infusion of new blood into the band has taken the eclectic Roney Quintet repertoire to fiery new heights. Learn More
A great double-bill. Paula West has a strong, willing and more soulful sound, while Renee Olstead has more polished technique. Personally, I prefer the soulful voice, and I love them both.
Paula West was phenomenal. She's an excellent interpreter of the standards. Was very happy to see her at Yoshi's - a great venue for her. She made the room feel very intimate. Her musicians were excellent!
This is worth going to to hear Paula West. Rennee Olstead was good but not great in my opinion. Her voice just doesn't compare. To her credit, probably anyone following Paula West is going to sound mediocre by comparison. The song selections were very good.
One thing, though, I will comment on aside from the music, is that Renne Olsteads youth stands out esp. when she engages the audience in a little banter, which I personally found a little annoying (not just me, either). It's nice she is trying to connect and makes jokes (one seems to be that SF is so cold), but the way she does it with her expressions, and mannerisms make her sound even younger, less experienced, and less sophisticated than her age.
Loved it because of PAULA WEST! Never heard of Renee Olstead, but think she has possibilities. Much too young for this type of material, and too giddy and silly to pay a cover charge for a lackluster performance by an unknown. Nice voice. Squeeky and irratating at times, but she has potential. She is just too Pretty! Paula stole the show. She's a pro and understands the lyrics. Unusual pairing. I would have put her with Spencer Day for a little more balance. They would have complimented each other. Let's see what kind of draw Spencer has, since I already purchased my tickets to see him at the Rrazz Room. What's going on?
Wow, what a varied range of opinions here! Well, here's mine. Loved Paula, left after three songs by Renee. Paula is a magnificent singer whose style works well in a jazz or cabaret setting. After three songs, my feeling was that Renee was not ready for prime time. She seemed awkward, substituted volume for finesse, and her stage persona seemed unauthentic. Perhaps this will change in time.
Paula West was very good -- my wife and I came to see her. We did not know who Renee Olstead was. Renee was okay, too, but seems several years away from being very good and deserving of top billing over someone with more talent, such as Paula West.
This was a wonderful show and Yoshi's is a great venu. We really enjoyed Paula West and Renee Olstead blew my boyfriend and I away. She's looks like she's just a little girl (19 years old) but she has an enormous, very soulful voice.
Paula West was quite entertaining. Renee Olstead was ok, but it was clear it was the first date of her tour. She should jell better with the band in time.
If you haven't experienced the brilliance and artistry of my very favorite jazz singer, Paula West, do yourself a favor. Paula's already incomparable and getting better.
Both performers gave wonderful performances quite different from each other. I really enjoyed both.
Great venue for jazz.
A treat to see Renee and Paula on the same stage.
Truly talent singers.
Paula West was phenomenal. From now on I will go anytime she is performing. Amazing voice, control and stage presence.
Rene Olstead was not so enjoyable. Her age showed at every turn. Unpolished, undisciplined and inexperienced is how I would describe what I heard from her. It was like watching your daughter play dress-up and play grown-up!
Paula West was fantastic! She has a wonderful voice and really knows how to wow the audience. Renee was just okay... she's young and has a lot of maturing to do before she can be an accomplished jazz vocalist. But I'm glad we got to see Paula!
Paula was extraordinary and PERFECT for that venue
Two very different voices, but both were excellent. The sound quality could have been a little better for Renee--it got a little harsh when she belted out her emotions-- but I could tell it was the system and not her lovely voice. It was a fantastic bargain!!
This show was wonderful.. Especially Paula West and her band. She is the consummate Jazz Singer with a little bit of cabaret. Singing from the standards to covering Bob Dylan, Paula voice is strong and her style unique. George Mesterhazy, Ed Cherry and other band members are excellent musicians. Rene Olstead is up and coming. I guess you could say, a very young Nora Jones type. Yoshi's SF is a classy place and the house was full. Had a great time.
This was a superb evening. I had seen Paula West several times in the past, and she did not disappoint me. But I had never seen or even heard of Renee Olstead. I thoroughly enjoyed her set. Not only does she have an amazing voice with tremendous control and versatility, but she is adorable and very funny on stage. I did not want the evening to end and will definitely go and see her again.
Yoshi's SF is a great venue (I've been there at least 10 times), but this time the sound mixing was terrible. I had to put tissues in my ears (as ear plugs) as soon as Paula West came on stage, as the sound was so loud and shrill. That is something I've never experienced at Yoshi's, and I wondered if the sound engineer was trying to compensate for the very full house.
Being huge Paula West fans my friend and I enjoyed her immensely. However, my friend did not care for Renee and so we left after just a couple of songs; after reading the other reviews I regret having left.
Paula West is amazing. Renee Olstead -- not sure how she has been determined to be a 'prodigy.' Someone in her family must be well-connected as there is no talent here, just a goofy, stuttering girl who decided she wanted to be a jazz singer. Having her headline above Paula West feels insulting. Her presence relies too heavily on the insecure sex appeal a 19-year old can muster. But go for Paula. Then endure the stark contrast Renee brings.
I loved Renee--she was great! Didn't enjoy Paula, though. She was more of a caberet singer than a jazz singer. Likewise the musicians backing her did not provide any good improvisations. Also, the arrangements were cheesy and the song selections poor for a jazz club. Renee was, in contrast, a fine jazz singer and the musicians with her played fine jazz. Great song selection as well.
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Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant in San Francisco features two shows per night in a smoke-free atmosphere that welcomes all ages. Cocktail and dining service are available throughout each show, and a purchase of one item minimum from the food and beverage menu is requested. The restaurant's executive chef, Shotaro "Sho" Kamio, specializes in modern Japanese cuisine with "a bit of a surprise."
Website: http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artistpopup?showid=764
With her bright copper hair, porcelain skin, and flashing green eyes, Renee Olstead commands attention whenever she enters a room. But when this 19-year-old jazz-pop artist opens her mouth to sing, jaws tend to drop.
Olstead’s confidence infuses every aspect of her new David Foster produced album, Skylark, a fiery yet elegant collection that finds her putting a fresh, youthful, and thoroughly modern spin on some of her favorite tunes from the American Songbook, including classics made famous by Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, and Nat King Cole, and three original tunes written by Olstead in collaboration with Foster, the Grammy Award-winning songwriter-producer. Olstead is also an accomplished actress with several feature film credits to her name, including The Insider with Russell Crowe, End of Days with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and 13 Going on 30 with Jennifer Garner. She also starred in the CBS sitcom Still Standing from 2002 to 2006 and is currently appearing on the ABC Family Series, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”.
San Francisco's own Ms. Paula West has been thrilling national and international audiences with her heartfelt renditions of well-known standards and unique interpretations of dynamic jazz songs. With a particular dusky soulfulness, West has captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike from coast to coast - from festivals to cabaret clubs - with just the lilt of her voice. The Great American Songbook has never sounded as captivating as it does when Paula West sings.
Yoshi's San Francisco at Fillmore Heritage Center Yoshi's Jazz Club & Japanese Restaurant will open its second Bay Area location in November of 2007. Located at 1300 Fillmore Street (at Eddy), the new location will be a 28,000 square-foot, two-story, state-of-the-art venue and will feature the best of local, national and international jazz artists with seating for 417 in the jazz club and nearly 371 in the restaurant and lounge. Not only will it be a great destination for live music, but it will also be a great place to dine. Executive Chef Kamio will oversee the menus at both San Francisco and Oakland Yoshi's. Chef Sho's menu in San Francisco will feature a slightly different version of his modern take on Japanese cuisine, which will surely enhance the overall Yoshi's experience, making it the only place in the City with great food and world-class jazz.