Knights of Swing

Among her various musical adventures, Valerie began performing as one of the featured singers in the Woody Hite Big Band. Backed by key players from the Hite band, whom she dubbed “The Knights of Swing,” and with husband John contributing arrangements, Valerie went into the recording studio.  The resulting CD, entitled “Beginning to See the Light”, marked a new phase in her career.

“I’ve always been attracted to horn bands, from the Shooz to Earth Wind and Fire to Count Basie,” she says.  “When I heard Sarah Vaughan with Count Basie, it just turned my head around. I would listen over and over again to her note choices and her phrasing, and of course nobody swings like the Count.”

“...Day sings with a warm, assured tone and interpretive depth...”
- The Oregonian

On, Beginning To See The Light, Valerie injects new life into a collection of standards from the Great American Songbook with impressive range and effortless delivery.

From the opening track, a lyrical yet hard-swinging take on “The Song is You,” it's clear that a serious musician is at work.  Backed by an impressive Big Band she has dubbed “The Knights of Swing,” her voice is an integral part of the ensemble, riffing with the horns and sparring with the rhythm section with clear timbre and flawless intonation.

Throughout the collection, there is no grandstanding in Valerie's approach, no superfluous displays of technique.  Instead, like a seasoned jazz player, she searches for, and finds, the musical heart of each song.  Her background as a percussionist comes through in her singing; in her subtle syncopations, skillful use of space and ability to flat-out swing.

And when the tempo slows down, Valerie shines on classic ballads such as “That's All” and “When I Fall In Love,” bringing the lyrics to life like a talented actress.  She sums up the “Knights of Swing” project by saying.  “Doing this record got me reconnected with the reason I do music in the first place – because it brings me joy.”

The Knights of Swing features some of the finest, most experienced jazz musicians in the world today.  The rhythm section alone boasts an incredible lineup of talent, and all have backed quite an impressive line up of stars: Gary Hobbs on drums (the Stan Kenton Big Band, Anita O'Day, Tom Grant), Phil Baker on bass (Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Pink Martini), George Mitchell on piano (Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Phyllis Diller), and John Smith on guitar (Nu Shooz, Suzanne Sommers).

The sessions for Beginning to See the Light came about because of Valerie's love of jazz. Many years ago she discovered the voice of a jazz singer named Sarah Vaughn.  Hers was the first of many voices that would influence Valerie's vocal style along with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald.  This background set the stage for Valerie's musical odyssey and her later success in the world of pop music.

In 1983 she recorded an R&B/Dance single for the band Nu Shooz.  “I Can't Wait” became a smash hit in Europe and soon found it's way back to New York where it landed at the top of the charts.  Nu Shooz went on to record several other hit singles, and after selling more than a million records world wide, was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy in 1987.

Since then, Valerie has become one of a handful of female vocalists who also play every type of exotic percussion instrument known.  She is a sought after session player and has performed or recorded as a percussionist and or vocalist with Obo Addy's band Kukrudu, the Oregon Symphony Pops, Woody Hite Big Band, Tom Grant, Michael Allen Harrison, David Frischberg, Craig Carothers and many others as well as recording for regional and national radio commercials.

The proceeds from Beginning To See the Light benefits arts education in Portland area schools.

The KNIGHTS OF SWING, [a.k.a. the Woody Hite Big Band] has deep roots in the Portland area going back to the 1930’s, when the Big Band sound began to emerge.  The group had great success, but disbanded when band members entered the service in WWII, and was reformed in 1971.  Ever since, they have been thrilling Northwest audiences, winning several “Best Big Band” awards from the Jazz Society of Oregon, and appearing in a wide variety of venues.  Under new leadership of long time band members Mark Gaulke and Ham Howard, the band features a new generation of Portland’s finest professional jazz soloists, backed up by a tight, swinging ensemble.