Music has been a part of Jeannine’s life since she was born. Having a mother who was a Musical Director and a family that includes the Jones Brothers Hank, Thad, and Elvin formed the basis of exposure to music that began a career that started with Jeannine’s debut as a vocalist with the Detroit Symphony with American Youth Performs at age 12.
She has shared the stage with great musicians of every genre (especially jazz) who have served as mentors including Grover Washington Jr., Arthur Prysock, Kool and the Gang, Pete Seeger, Joe Chambers and Donald Byrd, Rudy Mwangozi, Saul Ruin, Stanley Banks bassist, Finnish Jazz composer Heikki Sarmanto and Vishnu Wood, bassist, and his band Safari East.
She has been a featured vocalist at many jazz festivals including the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, JazzMobile with Safari East, and the Universal Temple of the Arts yearly jazz festival and trombonist Art Baron and Friends. Jeannine has also appeared on Broadway in THIS JOINT IS JUMPIN’ at the Supper Club in the Edison Hotel with Larry Marshall and the Michael E Smith Big Band and the New York Big Band at Tavern on the Green.
Her recording MAGIC SONG with Heikki Sarmanto was re-released by The Warner Group worldwide. Selections from MAGIC SONG are included in over 12 compilations also released by The Warner Group in 2017/2018. She is proud to say that these recordings feature many of her sources of inspiration including Grover Washington, Al Jarreau, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and her own cousin Elvin Jones.
Compilations
Jeannine Otis’s music, in a whirlwind miracle, is included with artists such as Al Jarreau, George Benson, Grover Washington Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn. Josephine Baker, Nina Simone, cousin Elvin Jones, and more. These compilations, released by Warner Group in 2017 and 2018, are available on Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Apple Music, and Amazon.
- Best Jazz For A Cloudy Day amazon|spotify
- 80’s Jazz Classics amazon|spotify
- Jazz Para Correr amazon|spotify
- Jazz pela Manhã para Acordar amazon|spotify
- A natureza no Jazz amazon|spotify
- Coleção Jazz Cantado amazon|spotify
- Four Seasons Jazz Spring
- Four Seasons Jazz Summer
- Women Singing Jazz amazon|spotify
- Orchestral Jazz Hits amazon|spotify
- Rainy Night Jazz (Japan)
- Loving Jazz amazon
Into My Heart (2021)
Vocalist/Educator/Actress/Author Jeannine Otis releases Into My Heart, her first recording in eight years!
Otis shines on this intimate and engaging small combo/duet recording on nine ballad, dance and Latin-tinged tracks featuringoriginal compositions and standards including Billie Holiday’s classic “Lover Man,” Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” and two selections by the late keyboardist/composer Onaje Allan Gumbs.
“Otis’ new album is a good fit for any jazz lovers’ romantic moments.” —philspicks
“It is a nine-track love story that finds Jeanine showing off her singing skills for the first time in eight years.” —JP’s Music Blog
“This is some damn serious velvet soul vocals.” —Midwest Record
Other Recordings
- Pori Jazz 1966-2015 (features Jeannine singing “Fenway Love Live” at the Pori Jazz Festival)
- Roots of Scandinavian Jazz (“Magic Song” title song)
- Pohjala Suite (live recording of Jeannine at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki after a 20-city tour, singing “Beyond the Wind”)
- Jeannine Otis and The Strings of the Helsinki Philharmonic