Shamie Royston

BIO:

Born in Denver, Colorado, Shamie Royston is, according to JazzTimes, “a vigorous, versatile pianist.” She grew up alongside her sister, the award-winning Tia Fuller, in a musical and academically-minded household. The daughters of two public school teachers, the sisters were introduced to jazz at a young age, and eventually joined their parents in the family band. As a teenager, Royston attended the Telluride Jazz Camp, and the University of Denver, mentoring with trumpeter Ron Miles with whom she formed a band and later recorded with drummer Ginger Baker (of Cream). Royston appears on two of Tia Fuller’s albums, Decisive Steps and Angelic Warrior, and has released two albums as a leader. Kevin Whitehead, in reviewing her album Beautiful Liar on Fresh Air, claims that her music is “straight-ahead, tuneful, hard-swinging brand of jazz that’s always in style” and that her “composing really stamps her music.” DownBeat Magazine states that her music is “mainstream post-bop with thoughtful interaction and a deep sense of poise. It swings hard and breathes easy.” Royston has established herself as an in-demand performer and educator in the New York/New Jersey area. Aside from leading her own ensembles, she continues to work with Tia Fuller and Ron Miles and has appeared with Christian McBride, Sean Jones, Lonnie Plaxico, Ralph Peterson, Terri Lyne Carrington, Allison Miler and many others.