winterspring
““… a gorgeous collection of imaginatively crafted songs, performed and sung with enormous heart” ”
allison wheeler / vocals & music
david dorůžka / guitar
luboš soukup / soprano/tenor sax & clarinet
daniel bulatkin / piano & keyboards
max makagonov / double bass
petr nohavica / drums
The culmination of four years of writing and vulnerable self-examination, Winterspring weaves a narrative of hope inspired by famous storytelling and personal anecdotes. The title is a term that was created accidentally during a free write session in vocalist Allison Wheeler’s college bedroom, and she has since then been unpacking its parallels in her life. Winterspring tells a classic tale of opposing forces working together towards growth — What was intended solely as an outlet for personal expression evolved into an exploration and understanding of the human condition.
Jazz-like in structure, the album weaves tales of love, light and loneliness into a unique blend of styles driven by sweeping vocals and colorful accompaniment. The album is a glimpse into Wheeler’s inner world, brought beautifully to life with the help of her band. In order to both find peace in the midst of inner struggle and to guide others to do the same, Winterspring is a message of hope and growth in the midst of darkness.
— about the album, Winterspring
About
A SONGWRITER AND INNOVATIVE VOCALIST FROM CALIFORNIA,
Allison Wheeler is a rapidly budding talent on the European jazz scene. She is a “composer of great sonic imagination” (Peter Quinn, Jazzwise magazine UK) and a versatile voice with a love for creative challenge. After being named Undergraduate Vocal Soloist of the Year by Downbeat magazine in 2018, she relocated to the Czech Republic, where she has broken free from her ‘straight-ahead’ roots and is forging her own path. Wheeler cites influences such as Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, and Gillian Welch and has been compared by critics to artists such as Becca Stevens (Jazz Times) and Gretchen Parlato (Jazzwise UK) — and yet she creates a world uniquely her own. Her music seamlessly crosses genre lines, drawing influence from her jazz roots and love of bluegrass/folk tradition, and her talent in the visual arts to construct a realm of imagination fueled by improvisation, nostalgia and a love for impressionism.
A native Californian, Wheeler was involved in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s education program and appeared on the festival with their honors vocal group in 2014 and 2015. She moved on to study jazz at the University of Northern Colorado with Julia Dollison and Kerry Marsh. At UNCO, she was a part of their premiere vocal jazz group “Vocal Lab,” with whom she won three graduate-category Downbeat awards and performed with artists such as the New York Voices, Aubrey Logan, and Vertical Voices, and also sang at the international Jazz Education Network (JEN) conferences in 2016 and 2018. Since moving to Europe, she has notably served on faculty at the Czech Jazz Workshop (2020, 2021) and appeared with Lizz Wright on the Prague Sounds Festival (2021). Her debut album as a bandleader 'winterspring' was released in July 2022 under the UK label Ubuntu Music.
The album weaves tales of love, light and loneliness into a unique blend of styles driven by sweeping vocals and colorful accompaniment. 'winterspring' is a glimpse into Wheeler’s inner world, brought beautifully to life with the help of her band — Daniel Bulatkin (piano/keyboards), Max Makagonov (double bass), Petr Nohavica (drums) and guests David Dorůžka (guitar) and Luboš Soukup (soprano/tenor sax & clarinet). In order to find peace in the midst of inner struggle and to guide others to do the same, 'winterspring' is a message of hope and growth in the midst of darkness.
LIVE SHOWS & workshops
8/11/2023 Private Event - Prague, CZ
9/11/2023 Hlasohled Workshop - Prague, CZ
25/11/2023 Vocal Jazz Workshop @ B-Art, Valašské Meziříčí, CZ
Newest Release - Duo Project “Life of a Song” with singer-songwriter/flutist Andrea Šulcová
NEW RELEASE 06.2023- Glance
TOUR GUIDE BARBIE
When Americana meets sparkly blasé alt pop.
We're Tour Guide Barbie — a brand new band based in Prague, Czech Republic.