Shows at 7 &9

Vocalist Atla and pianist Matt DeChamplain were high school sweethearts who have been performing together ever since they met at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. There, they discovered they loved the same musicians—  Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Jon Hendricks, Nat King Cole. Now, with two children, a successful marriage and successful careers, they acknowledge jazz was the foundation for it all.

Atla DeChamplain

In 2003, Atla had the chance to sing with the legendary Jon Hendricks at the Monterey Jazz Festival, after which Hendricks invited her for a year of study at the University of Toledo. Next, she transferred to the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at Hartt School of Music and formed a trio with Matt DeChamplain on piano and Adam Cote on bass. Her mentors at Hartt included vocalists Shawnn Monteiro and Dena DeRose, bassist Nat Reeves and trombonist Steve Davis (in the small-world department, both Davis and Reeves were on the inaugural Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty in 1997).  After earning her BA magna cum laude at Hartt, Atla received a full scholarship for a Masters at Toledo where she served as Jon Hendricks’s research assistant.  In addition to gigging, she teaches jazz voice at Western Connecticut State University, music at Capital Community College, and authors a blog for aspiring Jazz Vocalists.

Matt DeChamplain

Matt, a former Litchfield Jazz Camper (there’s that small world again), studied under Jimmy Greene and Dave Santoro at Greater Hartford Academy, earned his undergraduate degree at Hartt and his Masters at Toledo.

While in college, Matt was selected for the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program where he studied with Dr. Billy Taylor, Nathan Davis and Curtis Fuller and performed at the Kennedy Center. That same year he toured Ireland with Nat Reeves. In 2010, he was a semifinalist in the Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition in Paris.

Matt has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Berks Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Berklee Jazz Festival, at Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center and at the renowned jazz clubs Regatta Bar, Smalls, Yoshi’s and others.

The DeChamplains released their first album as a team, Pause, in 2015.  The album documents their musical journey from its inception and features audience favorites from the Great American Songbook. Jon Hendricks makes a guest appearance. In addition to their teaching gigs, the pair presents clinics for high school and college level musicians.

“Atla has been moving by leaps and bounds towards stardom as a jazz vocalist. Last time I heard her she was soundin’ like someone ready to git up and go wherever she wants to.” – Jon Hendricks “I’ve known Atla for some years now and I must say, she has been moving by leaps and bounds towards stardom as a jazz vocalist. Last time I heard her she was soundin’ like someone ready to git up and go wherever she wants to.” – Jon Hendricks

“Matt DeChamplain plays with amazing dexterity and superb taste while covering the history of jazz piano from ragtime and stride to modern.” – Hartford Jazz Society

For tickets, visit https://www.palacetheaterct.org/shows-and-events/offstage-poli

The Poli shows are co-produced by Litchfield Jazz and New England Arts And Entertainment.