Today she can be found in The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz as a member of the acclaimed jazz vocal group, The Ritz, but Melissa Hamilton began her singing career in her elementary school auditorium, singing the National Anthem at first grade assemblies. Years of classical flute study and performances as a folk singer/guitarist ensued, but it wasn’t until college that her jazz epiphany occurred when she heard Ella Fitzgerald sing.
In 1987, Melissa was invited to join The Ritz, a vocal ensemble celebrated for its tight harmonies and inventive arrangements. In addition to performing at many of the world’s notable venues and jazz festivals, Melissa recorded four albums with The Ritz on the Denon label – Movin’ Up (1988), Flying (1989), The Spirit of Christmas (1989) and their final album, Almost Blue (1991), which she also produced.
Melissa opened for Billy Taylor at the Bright Moments Jazz Festival and has performed with numerous distinguished jazz musicians including Clark Terry, Doc Cheatham, Grady Tate and Frank Wess. She toured as a backup vocalist with the legendary guitarist, David Bromberg.
Melissa has appeared at many of NYC's leading venues, including 55 Bar, Birdland, Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, Cleopatra's Needle, Cornelia Street Cafe, Danny's Skylight Room, Fat Tuesdays, Jazz at Kitano, J's, Laurie Beechman Theatre, Lone Star Roadhouse, Metropolitan Room, Midtown Jazz at Midday at St. Peter's, North Square, Pangea, Red Blazer, The Supper Club, Triad Theater, Zinc Bar and Iridium, where she recorded many of the tracks for her first solo CD, Live Songs and Love Songs (2012).
Melissa taught at the University of Maine and has served as a clinician and adjudicator for high school and college jazz programs. In 1996, she received the University of Maine’s Distinguished Achievement Award and was honored to speak at its commencement exercises. She was a finalist in both the 2009 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition and the 2015 HotHouse Magazine Fan's Decision Contest.
Notable Performances
International
Asia: Budweiser Newport Jazz Festival, Madarao, Japan; Blue Note, Tokyo; Blue Note, Fukuoka; Blue Note, Jakarta; Club Bird, Yokohama; Harajuku Quest Hall, Tokyo
Europe: Jazz a Vienne Festival, Vienne, France; New Morning Club, Paris; ZDF Television, Mainz; Votivkirche, Vienna
US / Canada / USVI
Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Clearwater, FL ; Catalina Bar & Grille, Los Angeles, CA: Portsmouth Jazz Festival, Portsmouth, NH; The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH; Regattabar, Cambridge, MA; Scullers, Boston, MA; Nightstage, Boston, MA; The Chocolate Church, Bath, ME, Maine Governor's Inaugural Ball, Augusta, ME; FestiJazz, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada; Jazz in the Moonlight, St. John, USVI