Haley Peltz ’12 performed at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, Mass., on Jan. 12. Accompanied by local jazz musicians Dan Fox (bass), Joe Reid (piano), and Miki Matsuki (drums), Peltz built the show around songs by female composers.
When discussing her personal journey with music in an interview with The Herald News, Peltz said that her singing career really began while attending Hamilton College. Mentored by Professor “Doc” Michael Woods, the Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Music, Peltz began performing at gigs in Utica. In Utica she met a fellow student, Brazil-native Rafael, who introduced her to the Brazilian jazz genre, Bossa Nova. The two have since married.
Major: Comparative Literature
Campus Activities: Adirondack Adventure, College Democrats, Duel Observer, Green Apple, Heag, Hogwarts At Hamilton, Media Board, Untitled @ Large, WHCL Radio, Womyn's Center
Sports: Ultimate Frisbee Team
After graduating, Peltz and Rafael moved to Natal, Brazil, and then later to Sao Paulo, where Peltz toured with her band. Six years later, Peltz has returned to the Northeast where she will be teaching voice and piano at Amherst College.
Ryles jazz club is the oldest jazz club in Cambridge, and the second oldest in the greater Boston area. It features a mixture of blues, jazz and R&B. Recently, it has become most known for its Latin and Brazilian jazz music, featuring Brazilian music on Wednesday nights. Peltz’s performance last week marks her third show at Ryles.
