Visaya was born and raised in the south of Sweden. At 18, she moved to Paris, France where she fell in love with the street and cabaret music, the songs of Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour, and the many others who inspired her. But at 27, she packed her bags and headed for Los Angeles, where she gradually earned recognition as a class act singer and performer. While there, she played the starring role in "I Remember Mama", a play about a Norwegian immigrant. She also landed her first major contract as a singer which took her on a tour of Japan. She performed at the Playboy Clubs, and several excellent venues in Tokyo, Nagoya, and all over Japan.

Returning to California, Vismaya discovered a new love...Brazilian music! Partnering with Argentinian percussionist, Luis Peralta (formerly with Dizzy Gillespie) she learned to sing samba abd bossa nova songs in Portuguese, adding Latin flavor to her already Euorpean flare. She has also worked in South Africa, and also in Poland where she connected with local studio musicians, performing on television and in theater. In Germany, she performed pop, jazz and original songs in a duo with the classically trained pianist Nenad Mandic.

Information and music by Vismaya may be found at www.vismayajazz.com.

Joining Vismaya on piano will be the lovely pianist, singer, and composer Rachel Eckroth, who spent the last decade working in Los Angeles and New York City. Recently relocated to her native Phoenix, she is quickly becoming one of the most in demand musicians in the valley. She performs frequently with her own jazz trio and she is the keyboardist with the Khani Cole band. In the last several years, she has produced two CD's. Since returning, she has performed with Joey DeFrancesco, Marion Meadows, Steve Oliver, and Dennis Rowland. In late April, Rachel will be on tour in Denmark, with the last performance on the first of May at the Hotel Fontane in Germany.

Rachel's music may be heard at www.myspace.com/racheleckroth.

Completing the group will be ASU Jazz Studies graduate and Show Low area music educator, Chris Long on upright bass, and Payson's own Gerry Reynolds on the drums.

Advance notice of attendance is recommended to insure seating, and you may return an e-mail to Gerryr@cox.net, or call 602-619-3355 leaving your name and the number who are planning to attend this event.