TULIVU-DONNA CUMBERBATCH

Tulivu-Donna Lynn Cumberbatch, daughter of Harold Cumberbatch (the baritone saxophone player), is a jazz singer from Brooklyn, and has been compared to Bessie Smith, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughn, Gloria Lynn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, and Aretha Franklin in terms of her singing ability. Her African name "Tulivu" translates from Swahili loosely to "beautiful," and her English name, "Donna Lynn" is derived from "Donna Lee," the jazz piece made popular by Charlie Parker. Cumberbatch participated in church and school choirs, specifically the All City High School Chorus as a child, then studied formally at Herbert H. Lehman College. After training, she began her solo career, influenced by such artists as Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nancy Wilson. Eventually, she was joined by a band of three called "The Magnificent Trio," which consisted of Mark Johnson, Donald Smith, and Rachiim Ausar-Sahu. In live performances, when not performing with her Trio, Cumberbatch has read more...