“Olivia’s vocal work is “to die for” and if you scope out her rendition of “Here’s That Rainy Day“, you’ll hear immediately how true that is! […] It’s high energy tuneage like “Bridge” (my favorite of the 13 songs offered up) that will help you realize that you’re in the presence of a star in the making. A highly impressive jazz vocal adventure that any jazz fan worth their salt will rush to get.”
- Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation Magazine, Issue 132
“Foschi’s warm clear tone throughout her vocal range, and also her relaxed, rhythmic scatting style. Altogether, an outstanding début album. Her lyrics are thoughtful and well written, and the music has a contemporary jazz feel, whilst drawing on jazz tradition.”
- Debra Milne, Bebop Spoken Here
“Foschi hits her marks with impeccable timing and finesse and is a name to watch out for.”
-Brent Black, Critical Jazz
Olivia Foschi was born in San Francisco and grew up in Italy. Although she always loved to sing, she discovered her passion for jazz while studying guitar and music theory with Roy Zimmerman in high school. Her stylistic approach to singing shifted in 2001 when she was given the opportunity to study classical Nepali voice with established singer and composer Aavaas in Katmandu. This experience brought immense musical inspiration and left her eager to explore her voice paying particular attention to color and rhythm. After earning her B.A. in English Literature Cum Laude (John Cabot University, Rome, Italy, 2004), Olivia moved on to study jazz voice with Cecilia Izzi and nonverbal communication with Italian singer/songwriter Grazia DiMichele at the University of Music in Rome. She subsequently pursued undergraduate studies in jazz performance at the Music Academy in Bologna, 2006-2009.
Olivia was awarded first place at the Italian vocal competition “Jazz Women in Blues” (Naima Club, Forlì, Italy, 2009) obtaining a full scholarship to the Venice Voice Academy in L.A. for the 2010 summer-session. She moved to New York in the fall of 2010, studying mixed meter and polyrhythm with Marc Mommaas and voice with Fay Victor and Jeremiah Abiah. She discovered profound passion for vocal percussion around the same time and has been studying classical Indian Konnakkol with Ganesh Kumar since 2014.
Her debut album entitled 'Perennial Dreamer' was released in March 2013, produced by Ulysses Owens Jr. and featuring Gregoire Maret. (Personnel: Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums), Gregoire Maret (harmonica), Miki Hayama (piano), David Rosenthal (guitar), Stacy Dillard (saxophone), Mike Cottone (trumpet/flugelhorn), Michael Olatuja (bass), Cory Pesaturo (accordion). She released her second album, 'Fleeting Windows' in 2018, featuring Gil Goldstein (keys/accordion), Yotam Silberstein (guitar), Billy Test (piano), Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), Daniel Dickinson (sax/clarinet/flute), Joseph Doubleday (vibes), Marco Panascìa (bass), and Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums).
Olivia has performed throughout the US, Europe and Japan and was featured on NPR in 2016, 2017 and 2021 on WPPB’s live broadcast: The Jam Session Radio Hour hosted by John Landes. Olivia taught jazz voice Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and has been teaching at the New York Jazz Workshop since 2012. She has recorded and shared the stage with Gil Goldstein, Chris White, Warren Smith, Joseph Jarman, Thurman Barker, Ulysses Owens Jr., Gregoire Maret, Alex Sipiagin, Mauricio Zottarelli, Helio Alves, Greg Skaff, Mark Egan, Tommy Campbell, Lou Caputo, Erik Lawrence, Stacy Dillard, and Yotam Silberstein among many others.