 "I always wanted to be a jazz composer and pianist, it was definitely in my blood after growing up listening to it."  I worked with several R&B groups in the Detroit area after moving from Steubenville, Ohio, but I still wanted to play jazz." 

Pamela bumped into Wendell Harrison in a recording studio while taping some of her compositions. Wendell (who later became her husband) became interested in her music and started featuring her compositions on his recordings as well as featuring her in his ensembles. Pamela was blessed with the opportunity to be performing and composing for artists such as Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Leon Thomas and Eddie Harris (to name a few). 

In 1989, Pamela started forming her own ensemble with saxophonist James Carter, trumpeter Dwight Adams, bassist Jaribu Shahid, drummer Ali Muhammad and percussionist Andrew Daniels. Then Pamela received two Creative Artist Grant awards from the Arts Foundation of Michigan to write compositions demonstrating the link between Afro Cuban and jazz music. In addition, she was still performing with her ensemble and freelancing with other groups. One of her most favorite freelance project in 1994 was co-writing the title track on violinist Regina Carter’s CD I WANNA TALK TO YOU. Regina, Pamela and cellist Akua Dixon Turre took some of the finest music to airwaves at WDET FM public radio on the Kim Heron Show. 

In 1994, Wendell Harrison introduced Pamela to world renowned percussionist Jerry Gonzalez and produced her first compact disc SONGO FESTIVIDAD. You can also find her most recent works; KINDRED SPIRITS, NEGRE CON LECHE, and PAMELA’S CLUB are available at www.rebirthjazz.org and several other digital download sites including CDbaby.com, iTunes and many others.   

In addition to the performances and recorded releases, Pamela also serves as Music Minister at her church, the historical Shrine of the Black Madonna Pan African Orthodox Christian Church in Detroit. 

Reviews
"Wise, an assured bop pianist with a Tyneresque (as in McCoy Tyner) touch, composes strong melodies and braces them with the simmering rhythms of the Afro-Cuban tradition." 
Dan Ouellette-Downbeat Magazine 

"Far from Havana, the Latin jazz movement has taken root in such unlikely places as Detroit, where pianist/composer Pamela Wise displays a thorough understanding of the idiom on SONGO FESTIVIDAD. With special guest Jerry Gonzalez on congas and Wendell Harrison, Detroit’s resident jazz guru on clarinet, Wise has fashioned a hybrid that capitalizes on authentically performed Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms while allowing Harrison and other soloists to flex their avant-garde oriented improvisational style. The inclusion of Gonzalez was a good choice: his trumpet work on the Wise composition HASTA MANANA is one of the albums’ high points, and makes the album worth seeking out."
Mark Holston - JAZZIZ Magazine 

"Pamela Wise’s SONGO FESTIVIDAD is a perfect example of the current trends in Latin jazz. She has written some innovative songs that draw from the influence of Tito Rodriguez and Machito, while the playing of all concerned has the energy of the Fania All Stars."
Leonard J. Bukowski-Cadance Magazine
contact:
Rebirth Inc.- www.rebirthjazz.org
81 Chandler Street
Detroit, MI  48202
313 875-0289
www.pamelawisemusic.com
WenHaJazz@aol.com -e mail


For over fifty  years, Wendell Harrison has developed a musical style in the BeBop and Post Bop Jazz tradition. He has released over 30 CD releases and authored several text books on jazz improvisation that are available in the international market place.  
Wendell has performed at prominent venues, including festivals and universities all over the world.  Now in the fifth decade of his career, Wendell presents new concepts in sounds and textures with his clarinet family, Mama’s Licking Stick and well as his quartet that explores tradition swing to contemporary jazz. The legendary ensemble, Tribe is another one of Wendell’s groups which features various artists of international stature, embracing bebop, Latin, jazz funk carefully orchestrated and arranged with wit and class.   Detroit continues to produce the best talent in the world, and the proof is found in the great Jazz master Wendell Harrison.
For Bookings and more information contact;
Rebirth Inc.
81 Chandler Street  
Detroit, MI  48202 USA
586 770 5764



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