Meet The Musicians
Kaye Kelly
Bandleader, Lead Vocalist, Songwriter
A Colorado native, Kelly has traveled the world as a singer, pianist and songwriter. She calls Boston her home, where she is a senior professor at the Berklee College of Music. She specializes in ear training, teacher mentoring and in cultivating creativity on the Boston and Valencia, Spain campuses.
Before making Boston her home, Kaye was a featured singer at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. Her writing chops can be heard literally "behind the scenes" on ABC, NBC and CBS. She and her husband run a home studio where they regularly record music for film and t.v.
Kaye is proud to be a strong advocate for social justice as well as women's rights. She is the sole songwriter for SheGrooves and her activism can be heard firsthand in her lyrics. She has a long track record of projects that make positive changes in communities in regards to equity and diversity for all. She is the founder and facilitator of the large-scale "Franklin Cultural Festival" and well as the founder of the regional MetroWest Arts and Culture Symposium. The name and theme of the 2023/2024 SheGrooves tour that Kaye has curated is: "Use Your Voice" (for positive change).
Judy Soberanes
Percussion
An award-winning international percussionist, Judy Soberanes plays internationally from Montreal, Toronto, Mexico City, Chiapas, Cancun, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Durango, Chicago, New York and New England. Victor Mendoza, esteemed faculty, saw her play as a teenager and invited her to play at Teatro de la Ciudad Emilio Rabasa. In 2008 she traveled to Berklee to study hand percussion under the tutelage of Eguie Castrillo, Ernesto Diaz, Mikael Ringquist, Ricardo Monzon and Bernardo Hernandez.
Judy is an Assistant Professor at Berklee in Ear Training as well as percussionist and social media coordinator for SheGrooves. She works in the studio alongside legendary artists Kenny Garrett, Donald Harrison, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Darren Barrett, Richard Gruzinski, Don Was, Arturo Sandaval, Latin Jazz Faculty Orchestra, Mark Shilansky and Michelle Mailhot and with the band, Kinazore.
Judy is an avid photographer and videographer whose corporate customers include Lancome, Schilke Music, dB Studios and Berklee College of Music. Because of Judy’s Mexican heritage and upbringing, she has developed a deep and spiritual connection with nature and loves being outdoors.
Kaimy Masse
Lead Vocalist
An all-around entertainer, Kaimy Massé is a force to be reckoned with. Her versatility expands over many generations and genres of music, including Gospel, Rhythm and Blues, Pop, Jazz, Motown, and Hip Hop. On stage, she imbues every performance with energy and elegance that commands attention.
As a recording artist, songwriter, actress, and professor, Kaimy Massé has captivated audiences from all over the world with her powerful, soulful, and anointed voice. She has performed with notable artists such as Nancy Wilson, Andre Crouch, Patti Labelle, James Taylor, Chick Corea, Michael "Moses" Mathis, and Natalie Cole.
A vocalist since the age of three and performing professionally since age nine, Kaimy pursued her higher education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. As a full-tuition scholarship recipient, she went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Music Business Management and Voice.
"Music is a universal language, speaking into the heart and soul of mankind." - Kaimy Massé
As a current adjunct professor in the Ensemble Department at Berklee - and throughout the years in the public school system as a music educator - Kaimy shares this philosophy with her students. In addition to teaching, she also conducts vocal workshops and is a certified voice-over artist.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Kaimy currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Alex Schwarz
Bass
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attending High School in Los Angeles, California, Alex moved to Boston where she earned her degree in Bass Performance at Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. Alex is the primary bassist for SheGrooves.
You can find Alex playing Jazz, Indie rock and many other styles around the world. Available for tours and booking. https://linktr.ee/alexjschwarz
Shirazette Tinnin
Drummer
Born and raised in North Carolina, drummer Shirazette Tinnin’s sound resonates with jazz, soul, and many other styles of music. As an in demand drummer based in New York City, she has recently performed with Alicia Keys on BET’s Black Girls Rock. Shehas been on tour with Tia Fuller at the Umbria Jazz Festival, Molde Jazz Festival, and the Turkish Ambassadors, as well as leading her own goup - The Shirazette Experi-ment Core-Tet. Shirazette is also collaborating with numorous other artists, and is the resident drummer for the Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet.
She strives to keep the motion of jazz music progressive in all of her endeavors.
Besides performing, Shirazette is an active clinician, teacher, health coach and author, writing articles for Modern Drummer and Tom Tom Magazine that involve keeping the musician healthy.
Shirazette is currently working on the release of her debut album as a bandleader, and is signed with the new record label Hot Tone Music.
Shirazette is endoursed by Canopus Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Beato
Bags, and KickPort.
Anna Freitas
Guitarist
Anna Freitas, her ear pressed firmly against the speaker in the "way back" of her parents' station wagon was raised on the music of the 70’s & 80’s. Anna picked up the guitar at 14, and played in her high school jazz band. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music as one of only a handful of female guitarists. She focused on songwriting and music business, and honed her vocal chops as a member of the Berklee Reverence Gospel Ensemple.
Anna was lead guitarist for the rock/funk group Dr. Overseer, had a steady gig at the renowned Wally's Jazz Cafe. In addition to performing, studying music, and being a Mom to a young daughter, Anna truly enjoys working teaching private lessons. She feels great satisfaction in knowing she had helped to encourage an interest in music for a student, whichever direction it may take! https://annafreitasguitar.com/
Alizon Lissance
Piano, Keyboards
An assistant professor in Berklee's Harmony Department since 1997, Alizon Lissance is a well-rounded musician with decades of experience as a multi keyboard player, vocalist, songwriter, and arranger. She won a Boston Music Award as Outstanding Keyboardist and received accolades in Musician Magazine.
As a member of The Love Dogs, a jump/swing R&B band, she released four albums, including the famous “I’m Yo Dog” and "Myanna by Myanna” and toured North America and Europe.
She released her own eclectic collection of original music entitled So What About You, and has performed with Daena Giardella, Shirley Lewis, and Mighty Sam McClain, Girls Night Out and Myanna. Study Online with Alizon Lissance
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Ayeisha Dennise Mathis
Drums
Ayeisha Dennise Mathis is a Boston native born into a musical family and at the tender age of five she began playing drums and percussion through church. Boston’s sought after female drummer she has shared the worldwide stage with renowned artists Sheila E., Kurt Carr, Hugh Masekela, John Blackwell, Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dawaun Parker and is endorsed by Zildjian cymbal company.. She is a Berklee College of Music presidential scholar, graduating in 2009 with dual degrees in Music Production and Engineering and Music Business/Management.
Mathis is making a lasting impact on her local community as founder of Sound Doctrine Company, which support up and coming artists through music production, artist development, and education. She was the music progarm director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester and team leader for the music and Youth Initiative, and volunteers her talents for local clinics and masters classes for the City of Boston, Berklee College of Music, and many other community centers. https://www.ayeishadennise.org/#/
Andrea “Ani” Johnson, Professor of Music Business at Berklee College of Music, is an international lecturer and consultant in Music Licensing, Blockchain and Startups. On campus she is an Equity Partner and a member of the Female Faculty Alliance, who advocate for social justice issues. Featured on CNN Espanol, CNN “The Lead”, MIDEM, InHolland University, and Berklee Valencia and published “WTF are NFT’s, Smart Contracts and Tokens” and “What’s Up with MXSup’s” in the MEIEA Journal. Her company MonoMyth Media licensed 30 albums for Chris Blackwell including Elton John, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Fleetwood Mac, and with Gloria Estefan she managed royalties for their Sony venture. She currently is the business consultant for SheGrooves, the award-winning all-female band from Berklee College of Music. Check out her interview with The Buttonwood Tree,“Metallica Producer Bob Rock Sells Rights” and a shout out from her amazingly talented former student, Amanda Montgomery “Female Disruptors” Follow Ani http://www.linkedin.com/in/recdmavn
Jane Potter
Pianist
Pianist and singer Jane Potter is a renowned musician and entertainer, performing and recording both with her jazz groups and as a soloist. She is a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she recently received the 2014 Distinguished Faculty Award for the Performance Division. She has performed live on National Public Radio, at the Democratic Convention, and on WGBH and WICN radio stations.
Jane’s jazz gigs in Greater Boston include an eight-year run at the Oak Bar in the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, where she was preceded by such greats as Dave Mckenna and Teddy Wilson. In addition to working at the Top of the Hub, Ryles, The Beehive, and Scullers, Jane has accompanied such singers as Joe McIntyre (of The New Kids On the Block), Roland Wyatt (the vocal coach for the Manhattan Transfer), and the Broadway performer Kamal Scott. She performed with baritone Robert Honeysucker for the Aaron Copeland 100th Year Birthday Symposium.
Darcel Wilson
Lead Vocalist
A vocal phenomenon, Darcel Wilson possesses an engaging sound that is powerful and expressive. Since the age of fifteen, she’s lent her talents to noteworthy projects with Branford Marsalis, Paul Simon, Mark Wahlberg, Walter Beasley, Fatwall Jack, Brad Delp, Armsted Christian, Keith Robinson and with Dan Serafini. Her voice can be heard on a multitude of radio and tv jingles including CVS, McDonald’s, The Oprah WinfreyShow, Filene’s Basement, The WB Network, Comcast Cable, Sprint, Eye World, and The Boston Herald.
For the Arthritis Foundation, she wrote a song and sang with Jeffery Osborne, Deniece Williams, Phillip Bailey, Chante Moore, Sheila E., Boney James, Everett Harp, Lori Perri, Howard Hewitt, Rick Braun, Kenny Lattimore, and Lynn Fiddemont.
Since 1998, Darcel has been an instructor of Theory, Ensembles, and Voice for the City Music Program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and joined the Ear Training faculty in 2006.
Internationally, she traveled to Kobe and Nagoya, Japan as a performing clinician at Koyo Conservatory, to Freiburg Germany for a Vocal Summit and to Puerto Rico for the Heineken Jazz Festival. https://darcelwilson.com/
Ani Johnson
Business Consultant
Loren Benn
Lead Vocalist
Erin Daneele
Lead Vocalist
As a singer/ songwriter Erin Daneele was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship.
Erin made her Television debut as a semifinalist on Gospel Music Channel’s reality singing competition, “Gospel Dream” and also received a golden ticket to Hollywood on American Idol Season 10.
Daneele traveled to Japan and completed a four-city tour.
Above all, Erin Daneele has a heart to inspire, encourage and see lives changed. She is a believer in using her gifts not only to make a difference in her generation, in this culture but also to make a difference in the world. Erin Daneele’s album entitled "Yours" is available NOW at erindaneele.com.