When the statuesque Oakland native begins to sing, a hush falls over the audience. Whether it’s opening for Average White Band or Lenny Williams, or performing at the Concord Pavilion or the Fillmore Jazz Festival, Odabi’s finely honed instrument is matched by her generous spirit and wit.
“Terrie’s got soul and charm. Her voice soars and draws you in and makes you feel good. She is full of surprises!” enthuses trombonist Steve Turre, a member of the Saturday Night Live Band and professor at the Juilliard School of Music. Turre, who has performed and co-written with Odabi, dubs her “a jewel from the Bay Area.”
Odabi performs original stirring blues straight from the soul. Her compelling arrangements create a contemporary sound that supports her witty lyrics and compelling voice. She takes pride in her urban roots, appealing to a wide, new audience. “Terrie Odabi is easily the most dynamic blues and soul woman to have emerged in the Bay Area since Etta James came out of San Francisco’s Fillmore District in the ’50s,” says music critic Lee Hildebrand. “Terrie has a powerful set of pipes, writes terrific tunes, leads a kicking band, and has onstage movements that perfectly match the rhythms of her material. Surely stardom awaits her.”
When the statuesque Oakland native begins to sing, a hush falls over the audience. Whether it’s opening for Average White Band or Lenny Williams, or performing at the Concord Pavilion or the Fillmore Jazz Festival, Odabi’s finely honed instrument is matched by her generous spirit and wit.
“Terrie’s got soul and charm. Her voice soars and draws you in and makes you feel good. She is full of surprises!” enthuses trombonist Steve Turre, a member of the Saturday Night Live Band and professor at the Juilliard School of Music. Turre, who has performed and co-written with Odabi, dubs her “a jewel from the Bay Area.”
Odabi performs original stirring blues straight from the soul. Her compelling arrangements create a contemporary sound that supports her witty lyrics and compelling voice. She takes pride in her urban roots, appealing to a wide, new audience. “Terrie Odabi is easily the most dynamic blues and soul woman to have emerged in the Bay Area since Etta James came out of San Francisco’s Fillmore District in the ’50s,” says music critic Lee Hildebrand. “Terrie has a powerful set of pipes, writes terrific tunes, leads a kicking band, and has onstage movements that perfectly match the rhythms of her material. Surely stardom awaits her.”
