Cindy Devereaux's music career started while attending the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. She acted with the University theatre group and sang and danced at the Honolulu Community Theatre. After college she moved to Paris where she sang background for French rock 'n roll star Nino Ferrar. She also met many famous American jazz musicians who were living and working in Paris. With their encouragement she decided to leave the world of rock 'n roll and start singing with jazz groups. Pianist Mal Waldron befriended her and agreed to play at her first rehearsal. This is something that Cindy will always be grateful for! One reason for her gratitude/admiration is that besides being encouraged by a brilliant pianist, she found out later that he was the last accompanist for her favorite singer: Billie Holiday - a fact he never mentioned. Her first major jazz gig was at The Jambouree Jazz Club in Barcelona, Spain. She also appeared in many other clubs in Spain and worked for Estudio Esplugas as a film extra. After returning to the US, she had many engagements at The Blue Note in New York City. She was a featured performer at the Dewars Greenwich Village Jazz Festival. Her sidemen/guests for these and other engagements included: Ted Curson, Hod O'Brien, Bob Moses, Loren Schoenberg, Chris Flory, Harvey Swartz and Jerry Weldon. She is often accompanied by guitarist/pianist Howard Richmond. She was introduced to the late vocalist Maxine Sullivan by a mutual friend. Ms. Sullivan soon introduced her as a protégée and featured her in several of her shows. A review written by Mike McDonald of The Daily Press (Norfolk, Virginia) proves to be a fitting tribute to Cindy's relationship with Maxine: "Cindy Devereaux recaptures a style of jazz singing that's nearly forgotten. Like her mentor, the late Maxine Sullivan, Devereaux can make a light novelty tune swing high and hard. It's a skill she polished playing clubs across Europe and New York." Cadence Magazine's review included the phrase: "Naturalness and unassuming grace." A two week engagement at Preacher's Cafe in Greenwich Village was extended to nine months. Many musicians and singers sat in each week and some are featured on this CD. Her duets with Frank Noviello ("Don't Get Scared") and Sabrina Carnesi ("Mas Que Nada") reflect this choice. Also joining Ms. Devereaux on this CD are Howard Richmond on guitar, H. Soderstrom on piano ("Don't Get Scared" and "Lover Man"). Kevin Callaghan on bass, Cosmo Grasano on drums, Loren Schoenberg on tenor sax ("Don't Get Scared", "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" and "Give A Little Whistle"), Mac Gollehon on trumpet ("Mas Que Nada"), Sue Terry on alto sax ("Baltimore Oriole") Tom Nelson on piano ("Mas Que Nada" and "You Took Advantage of Me.") Lindberg Allen on drums ("Lover Man"), Kevin Burrell on conga ("Give A Little Whistle") and Ed Wedberg on bass ("You Took Advantage of Me"). Cindy loves performing all over the world. She clearly feels that "music is the bridge." As mentioned previously she has worked in France and Spain as well as Italy, Germany, Sweden, Japan and Switzerland and is looking forward to visiting many more countries to expand her "musical family". Donnette Magoola of Harlem Weekly attended one of her performances and ended her review with: "New York born, Ms. Devereaux exemplifies all the dignity, beauty and talent historically attributed to our ladies in jazz." This CD is dedicated to Maxine Sullivan.