Staci Griesbach
Vocalist & Producer

1) Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
My name is Staci Griesbach, and I’m a vocalist and musician interpreting the Great American Songbook of Country Music in the style of Jazz.  With influences like Ella Fitzgerald, Blossom Dearie, Sarah Vaughan as well as Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton, my hope is to bridge these two incredible truly American Art Forms of Jazz and Country Music.  Jazz provides a unique setting for these songs, especially working with some of the best composers and musicians in Greater Los Angeles!  It’s been incredible to take some of these songs that were part of my childhood or young adulthood and reimagine them with a new, fresh perspective.

I listened to a variety of music growing up from Country to Motown to Big Band, and after studying and singing Jazz locally here in Greater Los Angeles, I decided to create a series of works that brings these two genres together.  I’ve released two albums now, including the first-ever jazz tribute to Patsy Cline called “My Patsy Cline Songbook” and just last year a tribute to Shania Twain’s 25th anniversary of “The Woman In Me” album, which I called “My Shania Twain Songbook.”  I’m currently working on two more projects coming this year hopefully with two more icons.

2) How did you first become interested in music?
As a young child, I started begging my parents for piano and dance lessons when I started school.  Music always had a pull on me, and so from the age of 7 I started studying piano.  I added alto saxophone and guitar to that mix through my school years along with performing in concert band, musical theatre and touring in a professional collegiate performing troupe as a Singer/Dancer.  I learned early on that I could express myself through music, but more importantly, I could also connect with people through music.  There is a certain feeling a performer gets when they sing in front of an audience, and that feeling is something special.  Especially now as we’ve all been socially distanced, it’s clear how much Live Performance Art brings communities and people together and provides that important sense of connection.

3) How does art enrich a community, and what are some ways people can engage with art in Burbank?
The Arts are an essential part of building and enriching a community.  Here in Greater Los Angeles, we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent, and it’s important to nurture that talent by supporting live music and performances, visiting galleries and showings and engaging with the artists in the community.  I’m a product of great music education through the public school system, and it’s in the schools where we can make a difference by keeping The Arts alive and encouraged for generations to come.

4) If you could share with our community one thing about art, what would it be?
I would encourage every human being to make Art.  Create.  No permission needed.  Find a sense of stillness and follow what comes up. Let the process break you open and explore every emotion, all of your life force.  For it’s through The Arts, I believe, that we can see, experience, and create ourselves.

To find out more about Staci’s work, visit her website stacigriesbach.com, find her on Facebook @stacigriesbachmusic, or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @stacigriesbach.