– bio

A lifelong learner and lover of music, Jeannine Bonstelle has come into her own as a unique jazz stylist in the Bay Area. Jeannine was born into an artistic, theatrical family and spent her childhood surrounded by creativity, song and nature. Those elemental forces have remained with her as guiding inspirations. Drawn to music at a young age, she developed a passion for jazz and the avant garde. Her influences are gathered from a lifetime of listening to such sounds as Joni Mitchell, Brazil66, Chaka Khan, Flora Purim, Karin Krog, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Miles Davis, Art Ensemble of Chicago, L`Orchestra Di Piazza Vittorio, Johnny Hartman, Kate McGarry and others. Her repertoire includes classics from the American songbook, jazz and Brazilian standards.

Experience

Since the 1980s, Jeannine has studied and performed with a number of renowned artists and ensembles. These include:

• De Ploy Joy, a six woman vocal jazz ensemble led by Molly Holm, former director of Bobby McFerrin's a cappella group Voicestra.
• The Jazz School, Berkeley, CA where she studied with such notables as Mimi Fox, Kitty Margolis and Marcos Silva.
• Jazz Camp West in Northern California
• Janis Borla's Vocal Jazz Camp outside of Chicago
• Jesse Foster's Vocal Workshop in San Francisco
• Jazz Improv with Ray Brown, Cabrillo College, California
  

She has studied vocal technique with Colleen Donovan for over ten years. Jeannine credits Colleen as a mentor and guide throughout her musical journey. In addition, she is currently working under Kate McGarry.

Projects
In 2007, Jeannine collaborated on a musical project entitled "Greenscapes" with Jonathan Rickert and Lukas Vesely. Also in 2007,  she completed three separate recording projects with producers/musicians Lee Bloom, Marcos Silva and Annie Stocking.

Now Performing…
Jeannine Bonstelle performs regularly with jazz pianist Lee Bloom in San Francisco’s Samovar Tea Lounge, and with guitarist Bob Burnett at Gabriella Cafe in Santa Cruz, California.